Marker Lights Don't Work

[sealevel_ram]

I have a Winnie 04 Ultimate Freedom, which I have driven on several trips for several years.


Just decided to check all my chassis lights, and find out that my marker lights don't light. I am assuming that they come on when the headlights are activated.
I am also assuming this is the name for the lights on the very top in front and on the spoiler in the rear. Never really checked them before.



Checked all fuses, OK.

There is a relay space on the fuse panel labeled "MRKR LTS", which does NOT have a relay in it. The space above this one ("DRLM") has a relay that looks like it might fit, but I am afraid to try it.



The only thing that I have changed regarding lighting was to put in a new Smart Wheel controller package a couple of years ago.



Some of you smart guys or girls probably are experts on this.

Thanks for the help.

[sealevel_ram]

Executive wrote:
Looks like a previous owner "borrowed" that relay earlier. 🙂 Glad it was an easy, and inexpensive fix. I hope you replaced the one you borrowed this one from....Dennis

I actually found a new relay in my bag of spare parts.

I wasn't sure it was good until I tried it.

[Executive45]

Looks like a previous owner "borrowed" that relay earlier. 🙂 Glad it was an easy, and inexpensive fix. I hope you replaced the one you borrowed this one from....Dennis

[sealevel_ram]

Put in the relay.

Problem solved.

Thanks to everyone.

AG

[sealevel_ram]

Thanks for all the replies and good advice.

My motorhome is on a Spartan chassis, and the fuse/relay panel is part of the Spartan responsibility. I found a relay diagram on their website.

It appears that there IS a relay for the marker lights, and for some reason mine is missing. So I will do a test with a swapped relay and see what happens.

[mchero]

Time to break out the test light. Great suggestions, especially the "check the ground"

Keep us posted.

Thanks

[D_E_Bishop]

JaxDad wrote:
With a lot of Ford chassis’ the marker lights are on the same circuit as the trailer lights.

This so that, in the case of a dually for instance where you can’t always see the trailer behind the wider fenders, you see that your fender markers are out and know your trailer is out too.

If your unit is on a Ford commercial chassis check the trailer fuses.

The WUF is a pusher and there may even be a switch for the DOT lights on the dash. They are often used to signal a passing big rig or other vehicle it is safe to return to the right lane.

Go to Winnebagoind.com/resources and find the electrical schematics for the UF. It may be in the owners manual also found on line as mentioned above.

[JaxDad]

With a lot of Ford chassis’ the marker lights are on the same circuit as the trailer lights.

This so that, in the case of a dually for instance where you can’t always see the trailer behind the wider fenders, you see that your fender markers are out and know your trailer is out too.

If your unit is on a Ford commercial chassis check the trailer fuses.

[midnightsadie]

X2 then I,d be checking the ground to those lights, take one apart clean the connections up see if it works.

[FIRE_UP]

sealevel ram wrote:
I have a Winnie 04 Ultimate Freedom, which I have driven on several trips for several years.


Just decided to check all my chassis lights, and find out that my marker lights don't light. I am assuming that they come on when the headlights are activated.
I am also assuming this is the name for the lights on the very top in front and on the spoiler in the rear. Never really checked them before.



Checked all fuses, OK.

There is a relay space on the fuse panel labeled "MRKR LTS", which does NOT have a relay in it. The space above this one ("DRLM") has a relay that looks like it might fit, but I am afraid to try it.



The only thing that I have changed regarding lighting was to put in a new Smart Wheel controller package a couple of years ago.



Some of you smart guys or girls probably are experts on this.

Thanks for the help.

sealevel,
Your assumption that your marker lights come on with the headlights is slightly off. In a combination switch, either on the dash or, as part of the turn signal arm, there's usually at least two positions for lighting. The first one, will turn on everything on the exterior EXCEPT the headlights. The second position, activates the headlights.

So, no, you don't have to have the headlights on, to activate the marker lights. Yes, those lights waaaaaaay on top of the coach, ARE the marker lights. Now, you indicate that you may be missing a relay for them, in the fuse panel, correct? If so, in most cases, if there's more than one relay in panel, the odds are that each of those relays are of equal value.

I'm no automotive electrician for sure but, I have "swapped" relays in order for tests to be accomplished in the past, several times and there has never, ever been any negative effects of using alternate relays for testing purposes. If it were me, I'd use an adjacent relay in a heartbeat, to satisfy my curiosity. But, that's just me.
Scott