[VAC] Re: PJM-> fixing tail/break/running lights

[Chris Elliott <celliott@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hiya Jill ,
    First I would locate the junction of the wires coming from the tongue (
the bargman connector that connects to truck ,and the trailer wires) which
is located in the right front corner of the bellypan . There is a
rectangular piece of alum there ,unscrew it and find the white wire (ground
on my trailer). Connect a short piece of say 10 gauge wire to that wire ,
perhaps using a bigger wire nut . Grind sand or scrape a clean place on a
nearby frame member and screw the short wire to it (after crimping an
eyelet on it ) with a stainless sheet metal screw . Now you have a good ground .
    Next go to the autoparts store and by a test lamp ( looks like an awl
with an alligator clamp and wire coming out of the top and a light in the
handle) .
    Poking the pointy end at the connections with the clamp attached to
ground while going thru the functions in truck (blinkers brakes etc) will
tell you which wire does what .Sometimes it helps to have the trailer
setting on the ball hitch , or the jack directly on ground , it grounds
better that way .
    You may have to change some wires around , as airstream was coded
differently than your truck wires will be on the reciever end . Lots about
that in Toms archives . Now would be the time to replace the bargman
connecter on the trailer if its funky looking , or round pins instead of
flat like in the truck .
   If your getting power there ( the lamp in handle lights up) ,go back to
the tailights  poke  it and see if you get a contact there
( make a ground on the bumper for the alligater clamp ). If its not lit up
, there may be a break in the wire , which is the worst case scenario .You
will have to drop the pan to rewire it all the way from the front , and
remove the interior in the back to get at the lamp . BUT its almost always
a bad ground . Sometimes it helps to rescrew or rerivet the lamp to the
body in a fresh hole , or use a star washer if the interior is out for
access. Always check for good ground first BEFORE you give up and rewire !
    Airstream Dreams or Inland has the Grote teardrop lights for the running
lamps , lots of other brands used the same tailights , maybe you can find
them used .
    Hope that helps
Chris 67 caravel