2004 Patriot Thunder Bay Lights

[Zach Daniels]

Hey All,

For the life of me I cannot get my bay lights working on my 04 Patriot Thunder with the C12. I have checked multiple lights and do not have 12v at any of the lights (assuming they are 12v) It would seem there is a switch somewhere that is not on because there's 0 voltage. But I have no idea where it is. I have checked the fuse in the master bedroom that is marked bay lights. It's not blown. Even swapped it with another one and nothing. So either there is a switch I don't know about or I just have a complete break in a wire somewhere.

Anyone have any advice on what to try?

Thanks!
Zach

[Frank Bergamo]

Have you looked around the cockpit area? That’s where it is usually located. Hope this helps.

[Zach Daniels]

I have. Extensively. So either I am blind as can be or some switch does a double function. All the switches around that area seem to be engine or driving related. Seems weird that it would be tucked under the dash or something.

[David T. Richelderfer]

Our bay lights' toggle switch is on the right side of the dashboard above the dash heat/AC controls.

Also, I believe the bay lights' and shore lights' switches are side-by-side on the far right side of the dashboard in front of the driver's seat.  All the other switches for the generator start/stop, fog lights, etc., are on the left side of the dashboard in front of the driver's seat.  On the horizontal console to the left of the driver's seat, there are numerous other switches for the Aladdin screen, power mirrors, power visors, transmission shift, air dump, tag raise/lower, air leveling, hydraulic leveling, big/little Jake Brake, etc.

[Zach Daniels]

Our bay lights' toggle switch is on the right side of the dashboard above the dash heat/AC controls.

Thank you for that info. Unfortunately I have 0 switches on the right side of my dash and no blank spots either. It goes ac controls, little 2"x6" cubby, then the radio slot for the kenwood, starting from the bottom and going up.  Farther to the right where the cup holders are in the center of the dash I have generator, step close out and pedal adjust. And then all the way to the right in front of passenger I have porch lights, ceiling lights, coach power and step switch. My dad thinks there is a switch somewhere as well but, man, they hid it well if there is one.

[Joel Ashley]

Our bay lights switch is along the dash side of the entry stairwell wall, in with the step switch, porch light, and others you noted, which is conceivably where they should be if you’re going outside to the bays.  Are there switches on the passenger’s right console where it might be?

Joel

[Bill Lampkin]

No switches for bay lights on our 05 patriot thunder. Each bay light has its own switch as part of the light fixture. I would check for voltage in the front run bay, left side forward compartment.

[Zach Daniels]

No switches for bay lights on our 05 patriot thunder. Each bay light has its own switch as part of the light fixture. I would check for voltage in the front run bay, left side forward compartment.

I pulled the light out of that particular bay. No voltage there. I'm guessing there is a terminal in that bay that runs the bay lights, however, my diagram does not specify which one and it seems they all have voltage at the terminal.

[Joel Ashley]

Like a car’s courtesy lamps and cigarette lighter (aka. “power port”), bay lighting is part of the chassis 12v system.  Any switch is there to help keep us from forgetting and leaving a bay lamp on to run batteries down when dry-camped, etc.;  not that we can’t forget to turn the switch off too…

As Bill noted, check the electrical bay, streetside front most, for voltage at the Bay Light Circuitbreaker and terminal buss.  Corrosion or looseness may be playing in there, but auto-resetting circuitbreakers are normally not an issue in themselves;  still worth checking.  And at least you’ll know if the failure is there or somewhere in between there and the bays.

You’ll likely need a legend sheet to tell what’s what in there, so check in Coach Assist (under the Technical tab at the main BAC site via the big blue URL at the top right of this page) for any such legend, or perhaps another member with an ‘04 Thunder can provide it, although they should also be able to direct you to any switch. 

On our coach the bay light and power port breaker (it’s gonna be on a buss to the left of any ignition solenoid so it gets voltage even if the ignition is off) is #CB9, and the terminal is on TB1 #11.  But your coach is probably not the same. 

Joel

[Joel Ashley]

Zach, I see there may be no listed bay light circuit in the electrical bay, after perusing your ‘04 manual found in Coach Assist.  There are several pages of legend starting on page 364.  I did not check them in detail, so it might be worth your looking.  It could be on the same circuit as the “Lighter” breaker, or the “Accesory” terminal.  Is there voltage at your “dash lighter”?

Sorry if it’s little help.

Joel

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Zach,
Probably a bad connection as there would be no reason for a 2nd in line fuse. Suggest you check for 12v at each bay light switch as a bad connection there could cause complete supply to go dead.
Steve

[Zach Daniels]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the help and advice! I apologize for my tardiness in replying. I caught a nasty stomach bug that put me flat in bed.

I have come to the conclusion that I must have a break in a wire somewhere. I do not have 12v at any of the lights I have checked, including the light in the front "electrical" bay. The bay lights must piggy back off one of the terminals in that bay but none of the diagrams I have found specify which one and they all seem to have 12v. Therefore, as I said, I am back to tracing wire as I don't see much other option at this point.

Thanks again!
Zach

[Fred Brooks]

     Zach,
Beaver has traditionally powered the compartment lights off of the chassis battery. On 05 thunders, it was the 8th circuit breaker down on the chassis row of breakers. 04 thunders do not show this. If it was me, I would temporally run a jumper wire (fused) from the chassis feed of breakers to the nearest compartment light. If they all light up, then perform an amperage test to see how much current they all draw. Install an inline fuse rated at 120 percent of the load. Example would be: 12 amp load times 1.2 equals 14.4 or 15 amp fuse. Hope this helps, fred

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Zach,
Might want to invest in a toner. Can save a lot of hassle. See "wire toner tracer" on Amazon. Alternately, verify the wire # on the insulation of the supply lines to one of the bay lights. All wires on that circuit will have a variation of that # (e.g. 215m 215-1, etc).
Steve