Hi we have the same problem we have an Autotrail GF80 rear LED indicators keep randomly flashing left and right rear only when parked up unlocked or locked did you resolve and if so how
Did you manage to solve this issue. I too have a 2018 Auto Trail Apache and it is exhibiting the same problem with the random indicator activation. Mine is also fitted with a tow bar. Can you help?
Slap Head never came back to reply to finish the story for those who advised them; nor did they reply to Bikerfran, MoAli or T7000, who all asked the same question as you. There seems to be a lot of technical advice in the thread, however. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
My apologies for nor replying. I'm not very good at this sort of thing and not techy with phone messaging stuff!
Yes, problem resolved.
I advise 3 options.
1. You could leave as is. My belief its a excess electrical current "dump" from the solar panel. It causes no vehicle issues, just a conversation on site when people ask why the indicators flash!!!
2. There is a software update from Sargent Electrical. This didn't cure ours.
3. The eventual cure was a new body control unit/ECU that intergrates/communicates with the existing vehicle body control ECU. It communicates through the CAN BUS.
Due to the manufacturers modifying the vehicles rear Electrical components, they install an additional unit. Ours is at the rear of the vehicle.
The new unit totally sorted the problem.
It seems due to the number of people having this problem, in the car world, a recall would happen.
To be honest, Sargent and the company that rectified this issue were brilliant and extremely helpful.
It was a pleasurable experience if it could be called that.
To flip that comment generally, I think the motorhome industry really needs a good shake up. It seems to still be operating as a "cottage " industry.
In the car world, the way the MH industry carries on, just would not be acceptable.
Someone paying 50k upwards for a car, would no be prepared to suffer the poor quality, lack of proffesional ism there appears to be in the industry.
I accept not all areas are in this category, but in general its not good.
I have resolved the issue of random flashing of the rear indicators on my Apache 632. Mine was built in 2018 and following some research on the internet I established that it could possibly be due to an issue with an electronics module that controls the rear lights. For my Autotrail this module is known as the VLM5 and is supplied by Sargent Electrical Services, Beverley, East Yorkshire. I contacted their technical support group and the person that I dealt with was excellent. Whilst the reason for the problem on my vehicle may not be exactly the same for everyone, it may lead you in the right direction. From paperwork received from Sargent it does state that it is used in many Motorhomes to control the LED road lighting.
For my vehicle the problem related to a small manufacturing change that the rear LED light supplier made which Autotrail were not aware of and as a consequence the software in the module was not compatible with the lights hence the random flashing. The solution was actually very simple, the software revision needed to be updated. I was lucky because the dealer who I purchased the vehicle from kindly agreed to provide me with a new module which came with the required level of software already installed. Subsequent to this, Sargent said that I could have sent the old module to them and they could flash the correct level of software onto it. This option would have only costed me the postage to send it back to them but I believe the modules are approx. £100. To determine the software installed it is simply a matter of unplugging the power feed into the module and when plugging it back in, count the number of times the red light on it flashes. This is the software revision, 5 flashes, revision 5 software, etc. For my vehicle I needed revision 8 and the old module was revision 5. Removing and installing the module is very easy and for my vehicle the problem was 100% solved. Hope this helps some of you.
Furthermore to my earlier post, newer vehicles may have the CANBUS control system. The earth/grounding/return path can play a part when the CANBUS interface modules malfunction due to certain reference/logic states not being confirmed in an absolute manner. Would check the grounding points in this case.
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Topic: Indicator problem
via mobile 17/5/2022 at 6:49am
