Forum:
Hi people
Had problems eversince I owned my 4track Independant with the wiring for towing my trailer. Have spent ages trying to figure out why it wouldn't work properly and eventually managed to get it so it all seemed to do things in the right order, ie brake lights come on when brake pedal pressed etc. Anyway I just bought a new trailer and it didn't work when I plugged it in so have spent ages fiddlng about with the wires behind the n/s rear lamp cluster. So it's kinda working now but not quite right.
My current problems/questions are, In amongst the wires there are a couple or relays. There are two together with what looks like 4 wires going into each. At the moment when i have the lights on and press the brake, the tail lights and brake lights stay on till i switch lights off. If I disconnect either of these relays that problem stops. (are they important?) Other thing thats started is when I press the brake there's another relay thats started buzzing while pedal is pressed. All this only happens when trailer is plugged in. It's not the trailer as it's been tried on other vehicles and it is brand new. It's not the indicator relay buzzing either it's a different relay but I don't know what it's for.
Anyway does anybody have any ideas or should I just keep fiddling with the wires?
Thanks Henrietta
That sounds to me like a
That sounds to me like a good case for 'remove all wiering back to the conection under the drivers seat, and rewire it yourself. It would prob be eisier than trying to figure out someone elses old wiering job.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Dodgy electrics
I kinda have tried that to a degree. It's working but maybe not quite as it should. I was maor concerned about the various relays that are in there amongst the wires and why it should be that one of them now buzzes when the trailer is connected and I press the brakes?
Anyway thanks for the advice, Hennie.
if we are taliking single
if we are taliking single socket (12n) electrics then you shouldnt need any relays - if it s twin electrics (with the 12s or even combined 13 pin) then there will be a relay that is voltage sensing to feed the split charge to the trailer (caravan battery).
there may also be, depending on the age of the installation, an audiable buzzer for the indicators which should only be active if it 'senses' a trailer - usually 5 wires yellow/green/orange/grey/white.
if i was doing it id scrap the existing socket(s) - get some new pre-wired ones and 'meter out' the car wiringloom from scratch to wire it in (i do fit the odd towbar or three!!)
the whole towbar assy was in the back of my fieldman when i bought it with twin electrics with a 'plug and play' wiring loom on it - looking at it and the corrosion the connections manage to get i wont be using the wiring when i get to fitting it - i suggest you do the same.
you need any help drop me a line - you may be close enough for a visit if in lancashire area if needed
atb
chris
Fourtrak Fieldman TDL 3" Body Lift on 31"x10.5 MT's
Chugging away nicely on B100 - happy days!!!
Fourtrak Fieldman TDL 3" Body Lift on 31"x10.5 MT's
Chugging away nicely on B100 - happy days!!!
Oh forgot to say it's a
Oh forgot to say it's a standard single socket..
lol - i wish i was passing
lol - i wish i was passing your way some time soon. - the only reason i can think for that many relays on a single socket system is if the vehicle has towed a particularly large trailer with lots of lights that were having a 'pull down' effect on the truck lighting - ie making it act strange / blow fuses etc so instead the relays are given a 'fresh' 12v feed to the trailer lights and switched off the standard truck lighting (although a multiplex relay unit would have been a 'cleaner' option if this is the case and easier to wire). i would suspect if your trailer just has a standard light board on it you can do away with the relays and take your wiring straight to the truck loom.
atb
chris
Fourtrak Fieldman TDL 3" Body Lift on 31"x10.5 MT's
Chugging away nicely on B100 - happy days!!!
Fourtrak Fieldman TDL 3" Body Lift on 31"x10.5 MT's
Chugging away nicely on B100 - happy days!!!
Thanks for that advice. I
Thanks for that advice. I have to say that it does seem the most sensible course of action to start from scratch having spent ages messing about with whats already there. I will have another quick look before ripping everything out and just try bypassing the relays to see what happens. The indicator buzzer relay works just fine when the trailer is connected but as I said, there are 3 others lurking behind the light cluster. I don't have a clue what they are for and wondered if anybody did (should they be a common feature)?
Anyway I'll try again when it stops raining, and I doubt you'll be passing this way shortly, I live in Northern France.
Cheers Hennie.