Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: bigfoot on October 10, 2018, 12:48:12 pm

Title: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: bigfoot on October 10, 2018, 12:48:12 pm
My lights and instrument gauges have been flickering. Probably cannot address myself. Ideas that you may have and are there foretravel type mechanics close to Surprise, Az. Thanks in advance
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Old phart phred on October 10, 2018, 12:50:43 pm
Loose ground wire to grounding bar?
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: bigfoot on October 10, 2018, 01:27:03 pm
Where would the grounding bar be located
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Subsilked on October 10, 2018, 02:10:59 pm
My lights and instrument gauges have been flickering. Probably cannot address myself. Ideas that you may have and are there foretravel type mechanics close to Surprise, Az. Thanks in advance

We have had pulsating headlights, dash lights, etc since we purchased our 86 GV...  i will watch this posting and see where this goes to locate the ground ...  the dash pulsating doesn't bother us much inside the coach driving at night but i wonder what the cars in front of us are thinking with our pulsing headlights... LOL.  Maybe thats why they change lanes...
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on October 10, 2018, 02:47:53 pm
Where would the grounding bar be located...?
Don't know, exactly, on your (older) model coach.  Try raising the dash cover, in front of the driver seat.  Look in the area behind the instrument panel where all the wiring is located.  The grounding bar will be aluminum, probably 3 to 4 inches long, with 2 or 3 threaded studs attached to it.  The studs will have a bunch of green and perhaps black wires secured on them by nuts.  These are ground wires for the circuits under the dash.  The aluminum bar will also have a wire going from one of the studs to a chassis ground point.  This is the common ground for all the circuits.

If you find the grounding bar, check all the retaining nuts to be sure they are tight.

While you're under the hood, also check the ignition solenoid to be sure all the wires attached to it are tightly secured.  Be careful if you put a wrench on the large studs - one of them is "HOT" all the time and carrying some hefty amperage.

See thread linked below for a photo of a ignition solenoid (yours may look slightly different):

New Ignition Solenoid Update (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=28456)
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Protech Racing on October 10, 2018, 02:56:28 pm
Mine is all the way to the left, next to the dash hinge.  I have 2 studs with green, white and brown wires to it.
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: bigfoot on October 10, 2018, 03:57:51 pm
Thanks. So I guess that if one of the post stays hot and can provide a nice shock then the batteries have to be locked out/disconnected
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Subsilked on October 10, 2018, 04:40:46 pm
Thanks. So I guess that if one of the post stays hot and can provide a nice shock then the batteries have to be locked out/disconnected

Bob.. i think I understand the HOT post is referring to the solenoid.... the ground aluminum rod is NOT hot.. we just need to insure that all of the connections that are grounded to the rod are secure and tight... might be the answer to our non working driver and passenger fans...
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: nitehawk on October 10, 2018, 04:51:00 pm
Alternator functioning correctly? Connections tight? Belt tight? Regulator functioning correctly?
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on October 10, 2018, 04:59:28 pm
So I guess that if one of the post stays hot and can provide a nice shock then the batteries have to be locked out/disconnected
No, not necessarily.  If you are simply checking to see if the nuts on the ignition solenoid are secure, pay attention to where you place the wrench and don't let it touch anything (else) that is metallic.  No problem!
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Protech Racing on October 10, 2018, 05:42:37 pm
He was asking about the ground stuffs  They are along the front end of the dash.  The starter solanoid is on the driver side wall about 6 in from the ground posts . Starter stuff has hot wires. Ground stuff does not. 
Studs  Stupid fone

Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Protech Racing on October 10, 2018, 07:48:13 pm
 Sorry. I was on my stupidFone and made an incomplete response . If the battery is connected and some circuits are on. Then by all means the ground wires will show power until they are well grounded.  They will arc a little as they are connected .
 Short story; If the entire bus or much of it, is flashing , look at the large cable connections. If only a few small amp items are flashing look for smaller wires. 
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Old phart phred on October 10, 2018, 09:32:04 pm
My 1/2 wide tinned flat braided ground cable from the studed aluminum angle ground busbar terminates at the main chassis negative ground stud in the battery bay. Check that connection also as it's easy to get to. Chasing that one wasn't easy.
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Lon and Cheryl on October 10, 2018, 11:23:10 pm
Where does the main chassis ground terminate on the frame?
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Old phart phred on October 11, 2018, 02:42:31 am
On the ORED  there is a main chassis ground stud on the oshkosh frame in the battery box for all of the negative cables to connect.
Title: Re: All lights flickering/pulsating
Post by: Protech Racing on October 11, 2018, 12:37:32 pm
My front ground strap is  right under the driver side headlight, on the frame , and runs up to the back of the dash.  Maybe 3 ft or more of open braided strap .