The roadlights on my caravan appear to have deteriorated in that the plastic coverings are a smokey grey colour and not a clear plastic as you might expect. This applies to both the front and rear lights
The caravan is currently in for repair and I thought it would be a good idea for the repairer to replace all the plastic covers for the lights.
However, the repairer assures me that all the plastic covers for these lights are sold as either red, amber, or smokey white.
The indicators on the caravan, whilst working, appear to be very dim in bright sunlight, and the hazard warning lights can hardly be seen at all. Surely this can't be right.
I am concerned that when I am travelling, the motorists behind cannot see effectively what my intentions are.
The questions that arise in my mind are,
are there any plastic covers that will fit the existing light fittings/clusters that are in clear plastic?
do I need to look at the electrics of the caravan to improve the overall brightness of the caravan lights.
The caravan is a 1996 Buccaneer Elan 15.
Any help/ suggestions would be gratefully received.
Normally a faded lamp will cause the lights to look white, not affect the brightness. It sounds to me like you have a problem with excessive voltage loss through the wiring. This may be a fault on the caravan, car or the plugs or sockets. I have known bulbs blacken but it seems unlikely it would happen to all of the. Another thought is that you may have 5 watt bulbs fitted to the indicators rather than the 21 watt ones. Easily distinguishable by the disproportionally small glass on the 5 watt variety.
It's not the wrong bulb in the indicators -I've checked.
However, I take on board what you say about voltage pressure drop. I think it is the caravan that is at fault as this problem has been the same over two tow vehicles.
When I get the caravan back I will have a look at the problem in depth.
What happens if you press the brakes while the hazards are flashing, do they all dim? if so, probably a bad earth, to prove it put jump leads from caravan chassis to your towbar or even better the negative post of the car battery if you can reach.
if they are smokey grey, they may be supposed to be like this (either origional or added to look better) the normal ones will probably give more light.
older lenses look whiter, the red brake/tail seem to fade first going pinkish
My old caravan did this with two tow cars - on the third tow car we had a 7 way multipass relay fitted as the car was CAN-BUS , all the lights were LOADS brighter.
My old caravan did this with two tow cars - on the third tow car we had a 7 way multipass relay fitted as the car was CAN-BUS , all the lights were LOADS brighter.
It wouldn't bee difficult to fit separate relays, you could get the relays from a car breaker for next to nothing.just use the wires you currently use to feed the 12n plug to switch relays instead, then use the relays to switch a heavy wire from the battery to each of the 12n wires. I must admit, the standard system of wiring is asking for trouble. particularly on the sidelights. The cars wiring is designed to power 2 rear side lights and 2 number plate lights. A total of 20 watts. Then we attach a caravan with 2 more side lights, 2 more number plate lights and 4 marker lights. An extra 40 watts on top of the 20 watts used by the car,on a circuit intended to only carry 20 watts. Overloaded by 200%
Might be quicker just to change the w-h-o-l-e lot. By that I mean the entire light cluster in their covers? We had to replace a set of ours once, (some years back), when some so and so's tried, (and mercifully failed!), to nick our tin tent off the front of our house and we ended up with one completely smashed light unit thingy where it had run backwards into our neighbours low wall.
Didn't cost much to change 'em either and as luck would have it, our tin tent was still relatively new at the time so got a perfect match for the remaining one anyhoo, but it wouldn't be that dear to change both sets...I don't think?
Mind you, it transpires that we had driven home from Cornwall at the weekend with NO NEARSIDE BRAKE LIGHT WORKING on our tin tent! Well....we don't actually know how long it hadn't been working coz it was when we did the hitching up light check. Looks like yet another bit of maintenance for hubby to get his tools out onNatch, I'm hoping it's just a bulb needing changing coz the buzzer thingy was still going everytime it was used!
Mind you, it transpires that we had driven home from Cornwall at the weekend with NO NEARSIDE BRAKE LIGHT WORKING on our tin tent! Well....we don't actually know how long it hadn't been working coz it was when we did the hitching up light check. Looks like yet another bit of maintenance for hubby to get his tools out onNatch, I'm hoping it's just a bulb needing changing coz the buzzer thingy was still going everytime it was used!
possibly the stop and tail light bulb has gone,easy to find its the one with two filerments in it,if the buzzer was working it means both indicator bulbs are ok.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I did wonder if your Pajero is a Diesel Engine as I have found that the Diesel fumes, the black stuff that comes out when you put the power on, has a habit of getting into the rear lights causing them over a period of time to become dimmer!
I ended up taking the rear lights off our van which is 2002, washing them out and putting some foam around the holes where the cables went in which has made over the last 12 months a heck of a difference.
The electrics were fine it was Diesel Fumes Contamination that scuppered me!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Roadlights
Natch, I'm hoping it's just a bulb needing changing coz the buzzer thingy was still going everytime it was used!
