Ken worth wiring grief

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Grease monkey, Apr 1, 2014.

  1. Grease monkey

    Grease monkey Bobtail Member

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    Apr 1, 2014
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    Does anybody know where I can get free wiring schematics for a 1997 T800 Kenworth? I am specifically looking for the running lights circuit. The circuit breaker keeps getting hot and tripping(only when moving). The relay does not act up at all. Also, how do I get to the back side of the fuse block? I think I can get to it from the engine compartment side, but the cove seems to be glued down real good. I just want to ask the question before I break something.... Thanks for any help you all can give.
     
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  3. RSQ20

    RSQ20 Medium Load Member

    I would use a non destructive tone generator to trace the circuit...

    ... Philip
     
  4. Grease monkey

    Grease monkey Bobtail Member

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    Apr 1, 2014
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    I agree. Any idea where I can get a schematic? Thanks for the reply.
     
  5. Green-eyed Lady

    Green-eyed Lady Light Load Member

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    This is a link from searching on Google. There are images you can look at also.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=ken...WLs3yqwHsmYH4Dg&ved=0CCUQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=608
     
  6. Grease monkey

    Grease monkey Bobtail Member

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    Apr 1, 2014
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    Thank you for the thought. I spent hours last night going through images and never did find one. That helped. God idea though....
    Thanks for trying.
     
    Green-eyed Lady Thanks this.
  7. kwswan

    kwswan Road Train Member

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    To get the fuse panel out you have to unplug the wiring harness inside the dash and then it will come out under the dash. You can't get at it from outside.
     
  8. pup

    pup Light Load Member

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    Its likely the problem is not behind the fuse panel. It's a huge pain to access & probably a wasted trip anyways. Is the problem the same with or without a trailer connected? Unplug the trailer cord from the truck to try to isolate one from the other. Look for damage to any of the lights. Any impact is a place for a short circuit.
     
  9. Grease monkey

    Grease monkey Bobtail Member

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    Apr 1, 2014
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    Thanks everybody for the great ideas. I am still at a loss... Today I actually decided to rewire from the firewall back to the plug and lights. It almost has to be a short to ground somewhere, right? Anyway, that didn't fix anything. With or without the trailer hooked up, it will do it. I even swapped from the low boy to the belly dump. So I am sue it is on the truck side, and I think I am pretty sure it's on the cab side of the firewall.....maby, lol. I have also swapped out the circuit breaker (twice). Sometimes withe truck just sitting there running, the darn thing won't heat up at all. But as soon as you start driving, it heats up and trips. Iw will cool down, work, and repeat the cycle. The relay and switch seem to work fine. The circuit breaker input seems to keep at around 12-ish volts. So I am guessing it is grounding out somewhere between the circuit breaker and the relay. Am I nuts? Am I missing something simple??? I really don't want to crack open that fuse block, but I don't know what else to do at this point...
     
  10. RSQ20

    RSQ20 Medium Load Member

    Still wondering why you have not used a tone generator, This is non destructive, meaning you dont have to pull or disturb any wires... The pickup is run on the loom and will change tone when it detects any anomaly...(break/short/ground).

    No need for a schematic.....

    ..... Philip
     
  11. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    I would say you have a light itself grounding out, a bad switch not letting proper voltage thru creating heat, also look for any mods like a radio added, new mic hanger in roof, etc. I wouldn't think its behind fuse panel. also if I remember correctly all the swicthes in kenworths provide ground not power. Power is in the circuit all the time, functions have switched grounds.
     
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