Alaskan CO 09 Marker running lights and center light wiring gremlins

dainvita

New Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2025
Messages
4
Location
CA
Hi All,

I just recently picked up a new to me 09 Alaskan CO and became a first-time owner. I love everything about this thing compared to my old Lance. The only thing that has been bugging me is the side marker running lights and center oval marker lights.

When I first bought this and took it home, the only light that worked was the front driver's side right next to the 110 outlet. All other lights did not work and I figured it was just old bulbs. Picked up new LED assemblies to replace and started to change it but it turned out it was not bad bulbs and the brown wires were not getting 12v. The only marker that was getting 12v was the driver front next to the 110 shore power outlet.

Fast forward to a week later, I didn't have time to further troubleshoot so I just took it on a trip as is. After coming back from the forest roads. All side markers no longer work but the rear center oval light now works. I'm fairly certain something shook loose and made things worse or better (depending on your view).

I've taken apart the seat area and iota cover and can not figure out where the wires are going and where the break is. Does anyone have a detailed wiring schematic available?

I know from what I have read on this forum is that the running lights are daisy chained. All lights have 2 wires coming out of them except for the front driver-side marker right next to the 110v shore power plug (that only has 1 brown).

Note: I used a power probe and all brown wires do not have 12v. No voltage and dead flat at 0v.
The 7pin from the truck has proper voltage for the running lights and 12v for charging.

When I power the wire brown directly from the driver side above the 110v shore plug. I am able to confirm that all my led markers get 12v and light up.

This has been driving me crazy for a few weeks and any tips on where I should look or how to get past the wood to the lights wiring is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Correction: single wire coming out of rear driver side by the water heater.

Driver front side by 110v shore power as 2 wires
 
Good troubleshooting so far! What happens at each light location if you add power to that location? You might be able to find a break that way. Also, the location that has two wires, can you confirm that the other wire has a good ground? What happens if you add a good ground to one of the lights?

I've never owned or taken apart an Alaskan, but I understand that all the wires go up to the top section through the wire bundle behind/over the counter. Can you peel that open and find the brown wire?
 
Figured it out. Whoever did the 7-pin wiring on the camper side did it wrong and did not follow the standard RV pin out.

Now it's fixed and works for all running lights.

Alaskan Camper (female)
Pin 4 = 12v (10ga RED inside color)

pin 3 = Running Lights (14ga RED inside color. This wire goes to the center oval rear light (which should have been wired as a 3rd brake light. Instead was wired to the running light pin)

Pin 2 = ground (10ga white inside color. Attached to wrong pin compared to standard RV pin out. This is connected to the blue trailer brake on the truck side)

Pin 1 = brown (14ga brown inside color. This wire goes around the cab to the side markers. This is also attached to the wrong pin. This was connected to the vehicle side ground. Explains why I was getting no power and double ground signals.)

I cut the brown in half. Truck side of the brown is now grounded to the white internal grounding system. The other end of the brown that pigtails to the lights are now T tapped into the red wire that's feeds the running lights.

I will eventually fix this the right way and redo the 7pin female wiring at the Alaskan wall connector the right way and wire up the 3rd brake light.

It must have been wired up originally on a Friday end of day. All they wanted to do was GTFO of the shop.


I referenced this thread for the 7pin diagram for the Alaskan. https://www.wanderthewest.com/threass/alaskan-7pin-3wire.24170/#post-275188
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20250123_010303666.jpg
    PXL_20250123_010303666.jpg
    130 KB · Views: 10
  • PXL_20250123_002420838~2.jpg
    PXL_20250123_002420838~2.jpg
    158.4 KB · Views: 12
  • gallery_4841_1080_22168.jpeg
    gallery_4841_1080_22168.jpeg
    52.7 KB · Views: 12
Last edited:
Pic of where the wire comes from outside to my inside. Remove 4 bolts on each seat pad.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20250123_010434246.jpg
    PXL_20250123_010434246.jpg
    122.7 KB · Views: 18

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom