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Topic: towing electrics problem

acampingwewillgo

31/8/2016 at 8:33pm
Location: Chiltern Hills
Outfit: Bailey Senator Wyoming

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Hi. We came home from holiday today and hitched up as normal. When Hubby checked the back of the van the electrics all seemed well. The towing indicators illuminate on my cars dashboard so I knew they were ok. However every time I braked my cars display screen turned to 'night-time' mode meaning the cars automatic lights had come on, odd as it was sunny and early afternoon. My headlights didn't come on (didn't reflect back from the car in front) but the caravan front side lights also came on every time I braked. I'm thinking that actually when my hubby was checking the lights instead of the brake lights working it was actually the side/rear lights coming on when I applied the brakes. When we got home we tried the electrics again and couldn't get the brake lights to work. I'm going to try one of our bike carriers tomorrow to see if the fault is with the car or caravan. I'd welcome any advice. Thanks.

G#Winger

31/8/2016 at 8:54pm
Location: south yorkshire
Outfit: coachman Amara 450

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sounds more like a poor earth, or poor connections ,maybe in the plug/socket. have you changed any bulbs recently. a dual filament bulb , put in crossed,would cause the symptoms you describe.
stu

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acampingwewillgo

31/8/2016 at 9:04pm
Location: Chiltern Hills
Outfit: Bailey Senator Wyoming

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Hi Stu. Thanks for the response. No I haven't changed any bulbs recently. They worked perfectly fine on Friday! Do you know how I can check if there's a problem with the Earth and if there is, how do I fix it!!

albee

31/8/2016 at 10:04pm
Location: None Entered
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Hi, earth fault will almost certainly, be in one of the caravan rear lamps. connect up to caravan press brake pedal look at caravan brake lights one may be dimmer than the other this will be faulty one, if not remove one caravan brake lamp bulb at a time to see which one causes the problem. very often new bulbs will solve it as contacts get dirty & corroded over time, also while lenses are off the lamps look to see the connection of the white cable at the lamp this is the earth connection. I take it you tried a wriggle of the plug in the socket to make sure there is a good connection there while the fault is occurring. Hope this helps

acampingwewillgo

31/8/2016 at 10:11pm
Location: Chiltern Hills
Outfit: Bailey Senator Wyoming

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Thanks Albee, I'll give that a go. Oh yes I gave it a good wriggle!! :)

chrisn7

02/9/2016 at 12:46am
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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What albee says is right. Earth faults can generate what appear to be weird effects. You sometimes see this on cars when someone indicates and the brake light flashes instead, as the system tries to earth any way possible.

When you take the rear light covers off, remove each bulb in turn, and look for any green or white deposits on the side of the bulb. Clean off with fine wire wool, also check the bulb holder in the same place and clean this up too. Check the soldered pins on the bottom of the bulbs, and buff these up. With everything assembled spray with WD40 (avoiding any plastics and sealant) to reduce future corrosion. Look for any algae inside the light lens indicating water is getting in

yotanka62

02/9/2016 at 6:22am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Kia Sorento + Sprite Major 4

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We had the exact problem and had to get a caravan engineer to check them out as we had already had the car checked. He found it was the fog lights that was causing the problem. Apparently the lights are very flimsy he said and it's easy for them to cause problems. He corrected it but the same thing is happening again. He told my husband to just cut the blue wire if it happens again though as it was last weekend we haven't done this yet. so maybe check them out on your van.

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