Hi,
The lights on my trailer are a bit temperamental... The indicators/hazards always work fine but the tail lights can be none, one, or both working depending on the how I jiggle the connection to the car.
I've opened the plug (i.e. trailer side) and all seems to be firmly connected and dry. Before I start opening up the socket I was wondering whether this is a common problem with common solution (i.e. I was wondering whether it could simply be the pins and holes that require a little, erm, something or other)?
Cheers.
i would check the socket,open it up and look at the terminals/wires inside,water/damp does get inside and corrode the fittings in there causing shorts etc.
if possible change the socket and fit a socket cover when not in use,cleaning all the wire ends and making good connections is a start,checking the cable all the way back to your tail lights and making sure its all ok and not trapped anywhere as well.
The best cure for this is to fit the 13 pin plug and socket, I did and have never had this problem since - used to happen every time I took the caravan out
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
Hmmm... 13-pin plug and socket? What makes a plug and socket with more pins more reliable than the current 7-pin configured plug and socket? I thought there was only one type?
The 13-pin system was adopted by UK caravan manufacurers from 2009. As well as providing a connection for reversing lights (now apparently compulsory on new caravans and other trailers) without the need for two 7- pin - N and S - sockets, it is designed to be more waterproof, easier to couple/uncouple and to have "good fitting quality terminals that avoid any pin burnout or voltage failure"
(I'd try a good squirt of WD40 first, then if that doesn't help, the options above in order of posting!)
Quote: Originally posted by mr_b_ugs on 31/8/2010
Hmmm... 13-pin plug and socket? What makes a plug and socket with more pins more reliable than the current 7-pin configured plug and socket? I thought there was only one type?
Simple, when you push your 12n or 12s in you don't push it in straight, you wiggle it up and down while pushing on it, this has the effect of opening the pins up causing bad contact and burn out.
With the 13 pin system first all the connections for your van (old 12n & 12s) are in the one plug/socket. The pins are slightly pointed to aid alignment so when you plug in you can easily line the pins up and then twist the outer of the plug, this pushes the plug home in a straight line and locks it in solid. Include the fact that the whole plug and socket is water proof as well - with 'O' seal between plug and socket and you can see how good it is.
In fact the only fault may be that you could become so complacent knowing that your lights will work every time you plug it in that you don't bother checking for blown bulbs
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
If you are only towing a trailer its not worth fitting a 13pin. You can probably fix the problem in 10mins If trailer plug connections are definately clean, check if trailer is earthed to its chassis. Look underneath, if you can see a wire screwed to chassis somewhere & its rusty, clean & use new connector & screw.
Still no joy, then you will have to dismantle car socket. This more likely to be your problem as they get full of water. If socket is corroded inside buy a new one including rubber seal that goes behind it. When making connections strip wires back a bit to get clean metal.
Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 01/9/2010
If you are only towing a trailer its not worth fitting a 13pin. You can probably fix the problem in 10mins If trailer plug connections are definately clean, check if trailer is earthed to its chassis. Look underneath, if you can see a wire screwed to chassis somewhere & its rusty, clean & use new connector & screw.
Still no joy, then you will have to dismantle car socket. This more likely to be your problem as they get full of water. If socket is corroded inside buy a new one including rubber seal that goes behind it. When making connections strip wires back a bit to get clean metal.
Well actually it is worth fitting a 13 pin socket even if your trailer only has a 7 pin as you can get a 13 to 7 pin adapter that plugs in to the 13 pin socket and allow the 7 pin to plug in to it.
So when you burn out the 7pin socket on the adapter you just have to plug in a new one - no wiring whatsoever
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
check also the lights at the rear of the van are not filling with water,this can give intermittent lights.rusty or rotted fittings inside the lights give same result.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.