Just picked caravan up with new tow car. Once 13 pin socket connected and car ignition on the caravan reversing lights come on and stay on! All other lights and electrics ie fridge appear in order. Is this an issue with the 13 pin wiring, or something else.
As a short term fix until I can get back to dealer can I remove the reversing light bulb from fitting.
Car is Hyundai Sante fe with Alko detachable tow bar. Any advice thankfully received.
H
------------- Hugh and Penny
2014 30+ nights.
2015
Jan 3 nights Chatsworth
Feb 2 nights Bridlington
March 3 nights Greatham Retreat CL
April 4 nights Crofton Hall CL
May/June Germany 15 nights
If the caravan reversing lights were working okay with your previous towcar then it sounds very much like the reversing lights have been connected to a constant feed such as the fridge and battery charging circuit and vice-versa that's why the lights remain illuminated constantly. The first thing I would do is if you have a multimeter is switch the charging system on in the caravan and check at the battery connections to detect whether there is a power feed or not to the battery and if there isn't then you have detected the fault that the wires have been connected incorrectly in the 13 pin socket. The advice then is to return the car to the towbar electrics fitter with your findings that it's evident that there is a fault.
Hi yes caravan has been towed with other car and all lights electrics in order, two different cars have towed it all ok. Regarding checking with charger switched on do you mean with car hooked up and ignition on.? Van now on drive and on Ehu everything working fine. Other than leaving bulb holder as live would taking bulb out cause other issues?
------------- Hugh and Penny
2014 30+ nights.
2015
Jan 3 nights Chatsworth
Feb 2 nights Bridlington
March 3 nights Greatham Retreat CL
April 4 nights Crofton Hall CL
May/June Germany 15 nights
Yes with car hooked up and connected with ignition on as you would when towing as you are trying to determine if the leads have been incorrectly connected. It may not be the cause but it's just a case of trying to eliminate the possible cause. If the previous car was okay then it has to be something in the car socket and not with the caravan 13 pin plug that connects to it.
Was the previous towcar fitted with the same set up ie. 13 pin connection or twin 12N & 12S connections?
Definitely car socket. I had this problem too. A local trailer and towbar dealer sorted it out for me for £10. Worth taking to a specialist as the towcar electrics on a modern car often have a CANBUS interface which can cause problems to a DIY enthusiast!
Well as its a new car returned it to dealer who got the tow-bar fitter to check it. They said it was sorted and was a sticking relay!! Having been stung once took it to the storage place and hooked up. Voilà reversing lights work when reverse selected and go off the rest of the time. Result or so i thought, wanting to double check i went into the van turned power only to be met with a clicking electric box. Fridge came on went off came on went off in sync with the clicking. So its back to the dealers next week. If its not sorted this time think i will be getting the chap who fitted our previous tow-bars back and billing the dealer. Anyone any idea why its clicking on and off in the van.
------------- Hugh and Penny
2014 30+ nights.
2015
Jan 3 nights Chatsworth
Feb 2 nights Bridlington
March 3 nights Greatham Retreat CL
April 4 nights Crofton Hall CL
May/June Germany 15 nights
I don't know about the clicking but the fridge will only operate off of 12 volt when the engine is running at normal operating speed. The relay will not cut in at idling speed.
Suggest you try again with someone revving the engine slightly ( in neutral of course !! )
Spot on DaveS1, more revs sorted it and we are now tickety boo and raring to go. It was the Canbus electrics that don't just start with ignition and the higher revs start the caravan electrics correctly. The original reversing light issue was an operative error and is now sorted.
Thanks for the advice and comments
------------- Hugh and Penny
2014 30+ nights.
2015
Jan 3 nights Chatsworth
Feb 2 nights Bridlington
March 3 nights Greatham Retreat CL
April 4 nights Crofton Hall CL
May/June Germany 15 nights
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Topic: Reversing lights on caravan staying on
