ALL the lights off in morning

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dr. trinkmann
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ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by dr. trinkmann » October 17th, 2018, 10:35 am

Ok guys, something strange happended today in the morning:

I drove to work in the morning (before sunrise) with the service lights and the dash illumination engaged.
At a crossroad before turning left I had to stop in front of a traffic light and suddenly ALL the vehicles lights quitted working!
Means: no headlights, no turning signals, no sidemarkers, no dashlights, no taillights, no breaklights and no lights at the registration plate!
The engine kept idling fine as usual.
Some seconds, maybe 10 or 15, later all the lights came back to life with a clearly perceptible 'click' from somewhere.
For some luck this happened before the traffic lights switched to green.

First I thought the circuit breaker shutted out due to overload on the lead.
The vehicle's electrical system has been modified to german regulations. Means that there are some more active bulbs at a time than with the original us-version.

I searched the board and found a reply from Rick some days ago that says: there is no light at all secured with any of the two circuit breakers behind the dash exept the dashlights.
A closer view at the electric wirering scheme seems to confirm that.
Furthermore Rick states that there should be a own breaker for the lights in the switch assembly.
If there is one it must be 'self resetting', too.
Can someone confirm that?
Is this Lights switch assembly maintainable and can it be opened up?
What could have caused that failure this morning?

dr.trinkmann

Fil Bonica
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by Fil Bonica » October 17th, 2018, 11:31 am

There is an internal breaker in the switch.
I would be looking for a short circuit or an overload that would cause the breaker to trip.
The switch is a sealed unit and is a “bear “ to open and service.
If you find that it is the problem I would replace it .
Hope this helps.

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dr. trinkmann
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by dr. trinkmann » October 18th, 2018, 1:58 am

There seems to be a bad contact in the lights switch at the 'Service drive' position.
The headlights turn off and on if I slightly jiggle the lever.
So I have to watch out for reclacement...

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rickf
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by rickf » October 18th, 2018, 9:44 am

Sometimes that can be rectified by holding the lockout so you can run the switch through all its positions and then repeatedly run the switch back and forth five or six times. This will clean off the brass contacts and sometimes solves the problems you are having. It is worth a try anyway. Don't stop at each light position, just run all the way up and down in one motion.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Fil Bonica
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by Fil Bonica » October 18th, 2018, 10:20 am

I have one for immediate shipment
NOS .

Pm me for details.

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Horst
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by Horst » October 18th, 2018, 4:10 pm

and absolutely no need to modify the light system for use in Germany, can be used as is, the only requirement is replacing the sealed beam headlights with e.g. Bosch. No change to wiring required.
Horst

1972 USMC M151A2 w/ROPS (ex Barstow) and M416
1962 M201 and trailer
1966 GTO,1982 E350 Skoolie, 1987 SJ413, 1987 911
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kmam
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by kmam » October 18th, 2018, 4:27 pm

Just curious, why is it necessary to change the headlights?
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rickf
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by rickf » October 18th, 2018, 4:50 pm

Different light pattern on the road. I remember many years ago I put Mercedes headlights in my Jeep CJ here is the states and they would not pass inspection because they did not have the correct numbers on the lens. Just like in your country the headlights will have the beams biased towards the left instead of the right since you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. :lol: :lol: ( you didn't think I was going to let that chance go by did you?)

Nowadays I think you can use damn near anything for headlights over here, most of which will blind oncoming traffic. I do not drive at night unless I have to for that very reason.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by kmam » October 18th, 2018, 6:13 pm

Ah! I actually changed my lights in my A2, primarily because I took one out to check the wiring and dropped it so it dangled on the wire and hit the bumper! Ergo no more sealing on that beam!! Actually found 24V sealed beams still for sale so bought two, carried them from the car to the shed - and dropped one! Now a box full of broken glass... Went back to buy another and found I had bought the last two :( Found another shop so bought two more and fitted them. Then found some modern lights I had taken from my Defender when I replaced them with blinding LEDs so installed them and bought two Halogen 24V bulbs off eBay. Ah, the troubles we cause ourselves
Howard

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dr. trinkmann
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by dr. trinkmann » October 19th, 2018, 4:47 am

Thanks Fil, but i suppose shipment cost to germany will be horrible.

Rick, I will try your refreshing method and, btw. here in germany we are driving on the same roadside as you guys in the states.

Horst, i NOW know that, but the guy i bought the car from, stated that he would never pass thru his local TÜV with US combined break-/turn lights.
So theese changes to the wiring were already done when i got the vehicle.

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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by rickf » October 19th, 2018, 8:48 am

dr. trinkmann wrote:Thanks Fil, but i suppose shipment cost to germany will be horrible.

Rick, I will try your refreshing method and, btw. here in germany we are driving on the same roadside as you guys in the states.

Horst, i NOW know that, but the guy i bought the car from, stated that he would never pass thru his local TÜV with US combined break-/turn lights.
So theese changes to the wiring were already done when i got the vehicle.
Doc, My reference the wrong side of the road was for Kman, He lives in Australia.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Fil Bonica
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by Fil Bonica » October 19th, 2018, 9:34 am

If you want I will get a price from post office.

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dr. trinkmann
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by dr. trinkmann » October 19th, 2018, 5:50 pm

So then: Tried Rick's refreshing procedure and....yes, yes...contact in 'service drive' position seems to be a lot more stable now!
One more thing i noticed with this Switch: Everytime it has been sitting for at least some minutes in off-Position and then is shifted to 'Service drive', it takes about 1 second until the headlights come up!

Mark
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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by Mark » October 19th, 2018, 5:54 pm

I leave the lever in the service position all the time
mark


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Re: ALL the lights off in morning

Unread post by rickf » October 19th, 2018, 8:30 pm

I also leave mine in the service drive position, been too many times I have driven off and forgotten to switch it on and had been driving around with no brake lights or turn signals. Just remember to turn off the dash and head lights.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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