Electrical Lights Issue

[jtischer]

Hello Escape Forum
I need a bit of diagnostic help on our running lights.
Currently camped at Prosser Family Campground just north of Truckee CA with two dear Escape friends. On the 3-Escape convoy here, Rick Houston (2019 5C) indicated our brake lights (2016-21 Classic) were malfunctioning. Our first response was that perhaps bulbs had burned out but closer inspection and stationary test (see photos) indicated a deeper electrical issue, hence the question to the Forum.
Any advice or guidance offered would be appreciated.
FYI - Prosser is great HOWEVER because of a broken line, NO WATER is available in the CG. One needs to go to Tahoe NF headquarters in Truckee to tank up.
Regards
Jim & Judy Tischer
Woodland, CA
Photo 1# - Running Lights
Photo 2# - Brake Lights

 

[HABBERDABBER]

Check first

I'd clean and fiddle with your 7 pin plugs, first. Taking a small, thin tool or screwdriver, I'd pry the female contacts closer together.

I've experienced the same issue and that action always does the trick. The contacts are brass and do not have much "spring" to them.

 

[SRS]

Hello Escape Forum
I need a bit of diagnostic help on our running lights.
Currently camped at Prosser Family Campground just north of Truckee CA with two dear Escape friends. On the 3-Escape convoy here, Rick Houston (2019 5C) indicated our brake lights (2016-21 Classic) were malfunctioning. Our first response was that perhaps bulbs had burned out but closer inspection and stationary test (see photos) indicated a deeper electrical issue, hence the question to the Forum.
Any advice or guidance offered would be appreciated.
FYI - Prosser is great HOWEVER because of a broken line, NO WATER is available in the CG. One needs to go to Tahoe NF headquarters in Truckee to tank up.
Regards
Jim & Judy Tischer
Woodland, CA
Photo 1# - Running Lights
Photo 2# - Brake Lights

Along with Habberdabber's suggestion, make sure the connectors on the 7 pin plug and receptacle are clean and free of corrosion. I had an issue with that on a previous trailer I owned. I put dielectric grease on the contacts which solved the issue long term after cleaning.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Along with Habberdabber's suggestion, make sure the connectors on the 7 pin plug and receptacle are clean and free of corrosion. I had an issue with that on a previous trailer I owned. I put dielectric grease on the contacts which solved the issue long term after cleaning.

If you clean the receptacle contacts and things work good, I would agree that putting some dielectric grease on the contacts is a great thing. Stops them from oxidizing again.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Um, what has been suggested would be great if all the lights were failing together, but they have individual LEDs failing within each light assembly, so its not a trailer wiring problem.

I have the exact same problem, I've already replaced the lower two of my Bargmann lights with something else better sealed and next week I'm doing the top 3, they are all failing the same way, individual LEDs going out within each light assembly. Bargmann no longer sells these so I'm using something entirely different, although someone on this forum just told me that Escape now has a matching light from a different vendor, we don't yet know what it is, so I'm using Optronics STL178RBP. This does require you to plug the old screw holes and drill new ones (using ProflexRV sealant, of course).

they are nice and bright. the outer oval is a smooth even light for parking lights, while the inner 6 round LEDs are the brighter stop/turn lights. they also appear to be very well sealed, so should remain waterproof much longer than the original Bargmans, which don't last 10 years.

 

[jack sparrow]

Hey Jim,


Could be a bad ground issue. Notice that when you press on the brakes the top center marker lights go out, and comes back on when you let off the brakes.


Check the grounding as well.


For what it's worth. Good luck!


Cheers to ya.......... and Happy Trails........ Jack

 

[jtischer]

Thanks for the prompt responses folks. Much appreciated.
Rick & I cleaned the contacts with a pocket knife which improved visibility to be safe to get home to Woodland Friday. I’ll pick up a small file to better clean the contacts, check the ground, and use dialectric grease and see if that solves the problem. Failing that we’ll dig deeper per John’s suggestion and replace as necessary.
Thanks again Habberdabber, SRS, trusty Jim Bennet, John in SC and Jack Sparrow for quick response
and sharing your fixits.
Regards
Jim Tischer

 

[Ron in BC]

Contact Cleaner

I'm not a great fan of using dielectric grease in a location where there's the potential for dirt or dust to be in contact. Judging from how dirty my 7 pin connector gets I don't use dielectric grease. Other locations, yes, 7 pin connector, no.

My go to for the 7pin connector is contact cleaner after maybe a little physical abrasion. Contact cleaner is especially useful when moisture is in the connector. One hint of that is when you see that your trailer lights are on when the trailer isn't hooked up. A shot of cleaner gets rid of the moisture or dirt that's shorting out the terminals. I always have a can with me in the trailer.

Ron

 

[HABBERDABBER]

Ditto here

I'm not a great fan of using dielectric grease in a location where there's the potential for dirt or dust to be in contact. Judging from how dirty my 7 pin connector gets I don't use dielectric grease. Other locations, yes, 7 pin connector, no.

My go to for the 7pin connector is contact cleaner after maybe a little physical abrasion.
Ron

I've used dielectric grease at the 7 pin connector and found a lot of dirt and grime there after awhile and electrical contact problems. Contact cleaning, bending the contacts, some scraping and abrasion of them has worked for me, without further dielectric grease use.

 

[ghosthunter]

Refer to thread listed on side bar. Tail Lights.

I have the same issue and I have tried all the items mentioned above. Some of your LEDs have burned out.

Donna D got a response from ETI

Good luck

 

[iamunique127]

Um, what has been suggested would be great if all the lights were failing together, but they have individual LEDs failing within each light assembly, so its not a trailer wiring problem.

I agree with John, it doesn't appear to be a contact issue but more one of burned out individual LEDs. The lights are toast and need to be replaced.

I've replaced some and have a couple spares but will be looking for smaller upper light units.

 

[Donna D.]

This is the information I received from ETI service about replacements for the long LED tail lights... and upper lights:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9/tail-lights-26523.html#post472388

 

[jtischer]

Thanks Donna D.
New lights are on order arrival 7/18.
Your note from Escape saved me a call.
Stay cool in PDX today.
Here in Woodland we saw 115F yesterday but cooling down to 100 today.
Happy Trails
Jim & Judy Tischer

 

[jtischer]

Thanks Immunique127
Per Donna D’s note from Escape, new lights on order. ETA 7/17.
Be Well
Jim & JudyTischer
Woodland CA

 

[jtischer]

Thnks Ghosthunter
New lights on order per Escape email to Donna D.
Happy Trails
Jim & Judy Tischer
Woodland CA

 

[jtischer]

SUCCESS! 21 C Taillight Issue Resolved

Escape Forum
Thanks to all your input, the tail light issue on our 21 was resolved this morning. (See photo). Install of new tail lights went well with only a couple of tricks required.
New tail lights per Donna D, fit well except holes didn’t line up requiring new holes for mounting screws. Wiring for lower 2 lights was reasonably easy to access and use wire connectors. 3 upper lights required outside splices using solder and heated wire wraps to reconnect. Clear calk was used for screw and wiring holes.
We are now good to go and street legal for our 3-week trip to Durango CO via north rim of Grand Canyon and return by way of Sante Fe and Flagstaff.
Thanks to all for quick advice and guidance on the tail light repair.
Happy Trails
Jim & Judy Tischer
Woodland CA
Photo 1# - Success!
Photo 2# - “75%-Lights Out at Prosser Family Campground, Truckee, CA)

 

[jjdeluca]

Jim & Judy,
Glad to hear that your lights are working again & you can continue safely on your trip. But I'm wondering if you ever figured out what caused some LEDs to burn out on all of your taillights?
Safe travels!
Jim

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Jim & Judy,
Glad to hear that your lights are working again & you can continue safely on your trip. But I'm wondering if you ever figured out what caused some LEDs to burn out on all of your taillights?
Safe travels!
Jim

I had the same problem, individual LEDs going out over time, i had to change the lower two about 3-4 years ago, and just changed the upper 3 a few weeks ago.

I suspect the original lights weren't very well sealed, and moisture could get into them. The new ones are encapsulated in epoxy or something.