BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Bart Mix on October 31, 2016, 01:41:44 AM
-
I have owned a 2003 Beaver Monterey for 9 years or so. Recently I noticed none of my Bay lights are working. The bulbs test good. I haven't found a source of the problem & have not been able to locate a fuse for these lights. Anyone have an idea where I should be looking? Thanks!
-
Check for a GFIC button on an outlet box in the bay. It may be in the bay on the passenger side just above the water pump box.
-
Thanks, but the Bay Lights are 12V & as far as I know I only have GFIC resets on my 120V circuits.
Bart from VA
-
So you're certain the Bay Lights switch in the entry area is "ON"? If so, I'd initially dismount and check the switch for in and out 12v.
Joel
-
I found the fuse! It was in the 12V fuse panel in the bedroom! DUH! I guess I had just missed it the first time? Thanks for the responses.
Bart from VA
-
Well RATS! I posted too soon! I replaced the 20 amp fuse & checked the Bay Lights & they still don't work but the fuse hasn't blown yet. I think my fresh water 12v dump valve is tied to this same circuit because I can't get it to function either? Therefore, back to step 1 to try to track down the problem. Wiring is wonderful as long as it is working!
Bart from VA
-
Joel - I don't understand your comment? My bay lights are operated individually in each bay. Not sure by what you mean when you ask if the bay light switch is on in the entry area? All of my other 12v lights in the coach operate properly. Only the outside bay lights are not operating by their individual switches. Could you provide me with more information as to what you are describing?
Many Thanks!
Bart from VA
-
To Joel's point, I have a pair of toggle switches on the center dash above the dash fan/ac switches that say Aisle Lights and Bay Lights. The Bay Lights switch allows power to go to all the Bay Lights at once even though each individual Bay Light has its own on-off switch. I leave all the individual Bay Light switches in their ON position and use the dash toggle switch to turn them all on and off at once.
Without the dash Bay Lights switch in the ON position, none of the Bay Lights will turn on. Thus, with my setup I can turn them all on and off with one flip of the Dash Bay Lights toggle switch.
-
Dave reiterates my point, but illustrates that the Bay Lights switch varies in location with model and year. On our '06 Monterey it's among a row of switches on the entry wall below the passenger side dash.
Sometimes I'm reluctant to comment about the obvious for fear of insulting someone's knowledge, but the master rocker switch being off comes to mind as a #1 reason all the bay lights are unresponsive. I guess it's possible your coach doesn't have one, or at least not in an obvious place, but after 9 years I'd think you'd have seen it if it was placed like most of ours is. You may need to look harder for it. Hopefully someone else here with an '03 Monterey can help.
Joel
-
Joel/Dave - thanks for the clarifications. I do not have a separate Bay Lights switch in the interior of my coach that I am aware. I do have a separate Ceiling Lights Switch & none of the Bay lights work - regardless of the Ceiling Light switch position. I do have 12v passing through my Bay Lights 20 amp fuse in my bedroom 12v fuse box. Therefore, it appears to me I am dropping power somewhere after the fuse panel & prior to the individual Bay compartment light fixtures? I have yet to find the appropriate 12v wiring diagram to confirm how they are wired or if there may be another fuse somewhere that I have yet to locate? As previously stated I think some time ago my fresh water 12v dump valve motor is also non functional & it appears they all stopped working about the same time? I thought I was told a tech moved my dump valve motor power source to the Bay Light fuse several years ago & all worked perfectly until the past few months. Still searching!
Thanks again for your input & suggestions!
Bart from VA
-
There is on some coaches a switch for the bay lights that is on a panel by the front exit door. I thought I had a similar problem till I realized that rocker switch for the bay lights. Have you checked there?? It is where the switch is for the step in/out switch.
-
Leah - I do not have such a switch as explained above to Dave & Joel. Thanks for the suggestion!
-
My Bay Lights master switch is located on the left side of my driver's instrument panel.
MJ
-
I do not have a separate Bay Light master switch. Monaco states the Bay Lights are all daisy changed one to another & I might possibly have a faulty ground issue somewhere since the fuse is not blowing. Still haven't found the source of my power loss to the Bay Lights. Other suggestions?
Thanks!
Bart from VA
-
Bart,
I have an 03 Monterey and have the wiring diagrams for it. Monaco was right there is no master switch on the 03 Monterey. They are connected directly to the fuse panel circuit #5. But since you earlier said that a tech connected the dump valve to the bay circuit and neither are working, I think I can guess your problem. The tech probably cut the bay circuit and spliced the three ends with a wirenut. I suspect that the wirenut came loose and broke the circuit. I would suggest you crawl under the coach and follow the dump wire to find the splice to see if it is loose.
Larry
-
Larry's on to something there, Bart. Since I asked him and another '03 Monty owner, and all 3 of you confirm there is no switch like other models have, the symptoms point at a break in the common wire between the fuse and the dump valve.
I'd expect 12v wiring to use one of those little blue clamp splice devices, which wouldn't cut the main feed but often provide a susceptible and fragile connection to the added device. But if a wire nut was used instead, the main would've been cut and has vibrated loose, or corroded through with too much current resistance.
Good prognosis, Larry.
-Joel
-
Larry - that makes sense. I had originally found a blown 20 amp fuse in 12v circuit #8 (Bay Lighting) & replaced it & that didn't correct either issue, but it hasn't blown again yet. So, a loose or broken connection somewhere could be the problem? I have previously tried to look for such a connection under the coach, but the wire from the dump valve goes up into the middle of the coach (forward of center) in what appears to be a factory install & disappears behind spray foam insulation. The insulation looks original & undisturbed. I do not see a separate 12v fuse listing for a fresh water power dump valve in the 12v fuse panel located in the bedroom where the bay wiring is fused? Just trying to figure out where the tech could have tied in the dump valve to the bay lighting power? Since the dump valve wiring goes up into the middle of the coach - nowhere near bay lights - it is a mystery to me where a tech could have "easily" accessed to tie them together somewhere? I may just have to wire a temporary 12v circuit directly to the dump so I can winterize for a month & later do a water change to please the DW? Bay lighting is not essential as long as I have a flashlight at night. I appreciate your response to my dilemma! Thanks!
Bart from VA