Wonky M101 turn signals...

[shankspony]

Hello all. I have started work on my M101 and recently addressed the tail lamps. Everything seems to be connected correctly as per this thread:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/trailers/31824-civy-truck-mil-trailer-wiring-info.html

(I made a basic lead harness adapter from Mil 12 pin to Civ 4 pin.)

...however, when parking/marker lamps are on and a turn signal is engaged both lamps flash. They don't flash at the same rate though. I would have figured they should flash like civvy tail lights (one solid and the other flashing) but I don't have previous experience with military lighting.

I engage the turn signal, the corresponding signal flashes as expected (one flash per second). The other signal alternates turn and brake lamps (two flashes per second). Is this to be expected? I suspect there's a short somewhere or an incomplete ground. Hopefully someone has run into this before and can bless me with wisdom.

 

[KsM715]

Probably a ground problem. Are you using the original MV lights with 12V bulbs or civiy trailer lights?

 

[shankspony]

Probably a ground problem. Are you using the original MV lights with 12V bulbs or civiy trailer lights?

The original MV lights with 12v bulbs. It looks like the internals have been updated with shock absorbers and IR LEDs. Maybe one light is trying to ground through the other?

 

[KsM715]

The MV housings use 2 seperate grounds. One on each mounting bolt. I would remove and check/clean each bolt mounting surface. It sounds like your lights are finding a ground through the other bulbs.

 

[shankspony]

The MV housings use 2 seperate grounds. One on each mounting bolt. I would remove and check/clean each bolt mounting surface. It sounds like your lights are finding a ground through the other bulbs.

That must have been it exactly. I removed the right signal... brushed off some rust... reinstalled and they worked as intended.

Thank you!