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Subject Topic: ATC not working on new caravan Post Reply Post New Topic
13/3/2013 at 5:38pm
 Location: Southampton
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570SE & Kuga 2l TCDi
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When we took our new caravan out a few weeks back the ATC light didn't come on.  We asked the dealer to take a look and he assures us that the ATC is fine, the two pin to one pin adaptor is fine and that the fault must be with the tow bar.  The tow bar electrics have always been fine.  I spoke the the fitter today (it's two years old) and he said he would take a look, but a new one socket conversion would be £95+VAT. 

Though this would be a lot tidier, I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem?  All lights and trickle feed are working fine.

Thanks in advance



13/3/2013 at 5:48pm
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Never had any light not come on. The only problem we had was after it's first service the red light would not go out upon connecting up. Nipped in and spoke to a mechanic and he said pull it forward about 10-15 feet, disconnect then reconnect, all was fine. It was just its brain needing to reset.

That has been our only issue.



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13/3/2013 at 6:29pm
 Location: nr Derby
 Outfit: Phoenix 440+
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Maybe your man needs to check that the earthing is correct for the ATC. I had anew bar fitted to a new car a couple of years back and specifically mentioned the ATC and when we picked it up the ATC didn't activate, I reminded them about the ATC and they had to quote 'through-wire the earth'.
Has it ever worked for you?
We've had the same issue as above too.


13/3/2013 at 7:06pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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When connecting up the caravan to the car the ATC goes through a "pre flight" self check. This is very audible, and if you look carefully you see the brake draw bar twitch; is it happening?
If not happening and with your lack of green LED light my first check would be the car's wiring. If you know somebody with an ATC try his car on your van and yours on his to find out where the problem lies.

Edit: I see you have a Ford, they are amongst others that don't wire up the sustained 12 volt supply the ATC requires.


13/3/2013 at 7:45pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent
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My guess it is the adapter that is not providing power to the ATC. As the ATC is normally powered via the 12s on a two plug system I have a sneaking suspicion that you don't have the required pin active. Get a GOOD auto electrician if you are not confident of checking yourself and explain to him what the problem is and show him the pin connections required for the ATC. If you do not want to pay for a rewire you might just get away with a 12n 12s to 13pin converter but it depends what your car is wired for. If it is only wired for 12n you are going to have to pay up or learn how to do it yourself.

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


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13/3/2013 at 9:33pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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I had this snag when we had our new van with a 13pin plug. I also used an adapter but it wasn't succesful.
I had to have the car rewired which solved all the problems.

-------------
John



14/3/2013 at 12:25am
 Location: Near Alton Towers
 Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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I had trouble with the actual LED indicator when new, it sometimes failed to light up at all which was worrying. However I could still hear it activating whilst doing it's pre-flight checks as JTQU mentions, a new indicator assembly fixed it.

Dave



14/3/2013 at 9:30am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Jeep Grand Cherokee
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Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 13/3/2013
When connecting up the caravan to the car the ATC goes through a "pre flight" self check. This is very audible, and if you look carefully you see the brake draw bar twitch; is it happening?
If not happening and with your lack of green LED light my first check would be the car's wiring. If you know somebody with an ATC try his car on your van and yours on his to find out where the problem lies.

Edit: I see you have a Ford, they are amongst others that don't wire up the sustained 12 volt supply the ATC requires.



I had a similar problem and this is what I did. ATC worked fine on a friends Land Rover. In my case the fuse on the 12v supply was at too low a rating for the ATC and had blown.

-------------
Tony C


14/3/2013 at 10:17am
 Location: None Entered
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I'm in the same boat as you Rizzo. We picked up our new caravan a couple of weeks ago and the ATC did not work. Dealer tested it on an auxiliary power source and it worked fine. I was using a 13 pin adaptor to the 7 pin plugs on my car (2005 Mondeo).

Going to get the 7 pin sockets on my car changed to 13 pin. Have been quoted £60 and £75 all in so far. Although this is changing the sockets only not a complete rewire. I have had advice on another forum that I should consider going for a complete rewire as a better solution. Does your £95 +  vat quote include a complete rewire?

Have to say if it weren't for the insurance discount I probably would not bother with the ATC. The caravan is incredibly stable to tow. Some people have said to me that the ATC can cause problems when it goes wrong and also worsen fuel consumption. Don't know if that's true or not.

Good luck with your new van.   



14/3/2013 at 10:59am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Jeep Grand Cherokee
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Quote: Originally posted by Andyorp on 14/3/2013

Have to say if it weren't for the insurance discount I probably would not bother with the ATC. The caravan is incredibly stable to tow. Some people have said to me that the ATC can cause problems when it goes wrong and also worsen fuel consumption. Don't know if that's true or not.

Good luck with your new van.   





If your caravan is stable ATC will be inactive and only apply breaks in an emergency so can't see how it would reduce fuel consumption except for a tiny amount due to added weight.

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14/3/2013 at 4:15pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Atc is not there to cure instability in a towing combination but arrest instability should it arise, so it is needed however stable a unit you might believe you have.
All even the most impeccable of towed units can go unstable; just try the ELK test if you doubt it but I would strongly advise you simply take my word for it. Whilst you might never intend to try anything like the ELK test, a swerve to avoid a vehicle or child could lead to you one day needing to do so and that swerve does not need to be that severe.


14/3/2013 at 7:42pm
 Location: Southampton
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570SE & Kuga 2l TCDi
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I've had one of the fuses replaced on the actual car, I took it to the tow bar installer and the fuse that doesn't work the caravan lights had gone (they were working fine) so hopefully that's sorted. Many thanks for all the replies, I'll keep you posted if I get any more probs.

Not sure if the £95 includes a complete rewire but it is going to take 2 1/2 hours!



14/3/2013 at 7:50pm
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Must be a complete rewire at 2 1/2 hours, thats about how long it was for me.

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.



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