[SVRACER01]

my bus has developed this electrical issue. when i turn the lights on everything works fine for about 10 minutes then the taillights go out. just the tail lights. if i turn the lights off for a few minutes and then turn them back on, the same thing happens (work, then dont). the brake lights work, headlights work, clearance lights work and turn signals work. but not the taillights. it doesnt blow a fuse, they dont flicker... they just stop working. ive checked the bulbs and grounds. ive even pulled off access panels to check wires behind the taillights and along the roof line. ive found nothing out of the ordinary. i cant find any kind of electrical schematic or repair manual (which i believe are $200+). im stumped. i NEED to get this fixed as i usually drive up to Loudon at night and i dont want to get stopped. someone thought it might be the headlight switch but i pulled the switch and brought it to the store and they said it looked fine (usually they have burn marks on them when they go bad), not to mention the switch is between $30-40. so i want to make sure i explore every avenue before i blow $30 on something that might not work. any ideas will most likely be tried. thanks.

[elwood206]

when you had the switch out can you jumper/bypass it to turn the tail lights on? that should eliminate the switch as a possibility. any corrosion on the bulb sockets back there? or a common ground wire that they both use?

[SVRACER01]

Originally Posted by elwood206

when you had the switch out can you jumper/bypass it to turn the tail lights on? that should eliminate the switch as a possibility. any corrosion on the bulb sockets back there? or a common ground wire that they both use?

i dont know if i would know which ones to jump. no horrific corrosion, just the usual and its not bad as for a common ground im not sure. again, i dont have a schematic so i dont know what goes where and is attached to what.

[KB]

I'd go with the switch. Fords are known for this problem. The switch will appear fine but inside it will short out and not work. Usually happens when the switch warms up from use then you shut it off and it cools down and your good again. It's fun when it's the headlights and it's at night and this happens.

KB

[elwood206]

do you have a multimeter? even without the schematic you can make some long test leads and poke around until you find the right wires. are the taillights separate from the brake lights? (separate bulbs)
if that doesn't work
Drink 2 beers while looking at it
Hit/Pull/Tug/Cuss at it
Drink another two beers
Cuss louder, Hit pull and tug harder
2 more beers
Repeat.
eventually youll either fix it or get drunk enough not to care.

[Mystic]

i work with 12v all day and my quess would be the switch ... you never said what make bus it is but someone said Ford if it is a ford just by looking at the switch you cant tell anything ....back in the day ford had a recall on the headlight switch on the T-birds , the switch with the knob that pulled out first pull is parking lights 2nd pull is headlights ... i would say it is the switch ...if it was a bare wire it would blow a fuse .

i would go with the switch

[SVRACER01]

thanks KB, i think that the guy said it happens in fords. that was my thought. something was heating up and shutting the lights off. i guess ill give the switch a whirl unless there any more ideas.

[SVRACER01]

its an Internatinal but it is the pull type switch.

[wylee]

The clearance lights and the tail lights are on the same switch position aren't they? How many terminals on the switch?

[TLRMan]

Originally Posted by rmbbikes

I'd go with the switch. Fords are known for this problem. The switch will appear fine but inside it will short out and not work. Usually happens when the switch warms up from use then you shut it off and it cools down and your good again. It's fun when it's the headlights and it's at night and this happens.

KB

+1

[SVRACER01]

Originally Posted by wylee

The clearance lights and the tail lights are on the same switch position aren't they? How many terminals on the switch?

actually... no.
i dont know.

[reiobard]

If you can't figure this out i will help you just run new wires to the tail lights. We can do it all simple like and just hook them up to switched power so they will be on all the time while the Bus is turned on (just like daytime running lights, but for the tail lights). You said all the other functionality works so this might be the easiest way to bypass any problems altogether.

I guess i also could help you test and fix it the "right way". Let me know either way. Just as long the bus is heated and lit then we can look at it any night after work.

-Rob