Insurance Quotes
Insurance Discount Campsite Offers All offers
UK Sites French Sites European Sites Map Search Text Search Near your Location Popular Searches Leave a Review My Saved Sites Add a New Site
All Sections Caravanning Camping Tent Talk Motorhomes Trailer Tents Backpacking Equipment Statics UK Campsites Camping Abroad General Chat News More Sections Latest Posts
All Adverts Tents for Sale Caravans for Sale Motorhomes for Sale Equipment for Sale Post an Advert Campsite Jobs
All Categories Caravanning Advice Caravan Equipment Tents and Camping Motorhomes Towing and Towcars Equipment Furniture and Cooking Electrical / Gas Shows and Events General More Categories
Join for Free Log In

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register  Log In  Search  Latest Posts
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Beware of Alko ATC failure
Post Reply
Personbazwilson
20/6/2012 at 7:47pm
 Location: Poole dorset
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 462 View bazwilson's Profile View Profile   Reply to bazwilson Reply   Quote bazwilson Quote  
Joined: 30/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   6
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
the ATC unit on my Bailey Olymopus 462 has a problem.
The indicator light is flashing red, and my dealer as advised that I cannot move my caravan fron the site i am on in Cornwall untill i have laid underneath and removed the unit's push rod.
I have looked at this and it looks like I will have to wait untill I take my awning down before I can jack up the van to get at the unit.
What a good job I have 17mm spanners with me otherwise I would be in real problems!!!
Thanks Alko for making my holiday


Personbirder99
20/6/2012 at 8:03pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1862
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
There are instructions in the ATC manual about Red Flashing light. To paraphrase - If it flashes red remove 12s or 13pin plug and wait 5 sec. If it resets then the light will go green, if it still flashes red you need to get the tool box out.
"In the unlikely event that you receive a red flashing LED light and disconnecting and re-connecting the power
does not alleviate the problem, check the push rod
position as detailed below.
Locate ATC on the axle and check the position of the
push rod.
If no red line is visible, ATC is not active, and can be
driven. However, we recommend that you contact AL-KO
at the earliest convenience.
If the red line is visible on the push rod, the caravan should not be moved.
The push rod needs to be removed to deactivate ATC."

Beware you will probably need two 17mm spanners.

In summary a red flashing light MAY mean you can't tow with ATC push rods connected, but you can not if the red line is visible.


-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


Personhugorune1965
21/6/2012 at 9:14am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View hugorune1965's Profile View Profile   Reply to hugorune1965 Reply   Quote hugorune1965 Quote  
Joined: 18/6/2012

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   13
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Might be a aft question, but you didn't have the caravan handbrake on when you were checking it did you?


Personbazwilson
21/6/2012 at 11:27am
 Location: Poole dorset
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 462 View bazwilson's Profile View Profile   Reply to bazwilson Reply   Quote bazwilson Quote  
Joined: 30/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   6
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
%Thanks for your reply, the alko atc manual emailed by my dealer only talks about the red line in the event of a complete power failure i.e no indicator light. The decument sent to me stated if the light flashes red after disconnecting and reconnecting the power :- do not move, remove the push rod.
anyway I have now taken the plunge slacked off the awning, jacked up the side, and removed the push rod.


Personbazwilson
21/6/2012 at 11:30am
 Location: Poole dorset
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 462 View bazwilson's Profile View Profile   Reply to bazwilson Reply   Quote bazwilson Quote  
Joined: 30/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   6
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
In reply to hugorune1965 no the handbrake was not on when I first noticed the fault light.


Advertisement



Personold chap
21/6/2012 at 3:33pm
 Location: Sitingbourne
 Outfit: baily champaign View old chap's Profile View Profile   Reply to old chap Reply   Quote old chap Quote  
Joined: 19/2/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1098
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
there have been a few reports where incorrect wiring & or incorrect wire sizes of the car side to the tow hitch have created a situation where the ATC partially causes the brakes to be applied & refuses to reset the system even when disconnected
I sorry but as I do not have ATC I did make a note of which caravan forum I read these reports on.It just struck me that as most cars are European the manufacturers are not always supplying tow bar harnesses designed for the British caravan systems as most European caravans do not have connections for battery charging or fridge operation while being towed & the 12v supply wire for the ATC is either under sized or incorrectly earthed


Personbazwilson
21/6/2012 at 3:46pm
 Location: Poole dorset
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 462 View bazwilson's Profile View Profile   Reply to bazwilson Reply   Quote bazwilson Quote  
Joined: 30/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   6
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
I am convinced that there is not a wire size problem to the 13 pin connector, I ran a seperate heavy wire from the car battery to pin 9 and pin 13 as its earth, and aseperate heavy feed to pin 10 via a split charge relay,using pin 11 for its earth. The caravan is 2 yrs old and is towed about 30 times a year, and has not shown any sigh of a problem in the past.


Personbirder99
21/6/2012 at 5:31pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1862
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
There was something a while back about connecting up and then starting the engine causing a problem but I thought that had been resolved some time ago.

-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


Personfuzzypiggy
18/4/2015 at 1:21pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View fuzzypiggy's Profile View Profile   Reply to fuzzypiggy Reply   Quote fuzzypiggy Quote  
Joined: 18/4/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   1
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Had my van in storage for 4 months over Winter. Got it out the ATC was flashing red. Took me about 15 plug in/out and it finally went green! It's always been a little picky if left standing for too long. All I can say is that after 3 years of dealing with an ATC ( never had one before ) it can be a right pig sometimes but it's just lazy most of the time and needs a kick up the backside, don't we all! Ha ha!


Personbilly
18/4/2015 at 1:54pm
 Location: North Essex
 Outfit: Caravelair Alba 400 View billy's Profile View Profile   Reply to billy Reply   Quote billy Quote  
Joined: 19/4/2002

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4367
Site Reviews Total: 39
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 9 
Site Reviews 2023: 6 
Site Reviews 2022: 7 
Site Reviews 2021: 10
Site Reviews 2020: 7 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 121
Site Nights 2023: 45
Site Nights 2022: 91
Site Nights 2021: 112
Site Nights 2020: 84
If the system is not designed to fail safe, ie with brakes off then it is unsafe.


Advertisement

Handiworld


Personjoecroft2
18/4/2015 at 10:53pm
 Location: Swansea South Wales
 Outfit: lunar lexon 640 T A Kia Sorento View joecroft2's Profile View Profile   Reply to joecroft2 Reply   Quote joecroft2 Quote  
Joined: 20/12/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   644
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
glad I don't have it , so no problem

-------------
Luvly Jubbly



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance - Top of Page

     Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...















    Upcoming Event

UKCS Meet Elvaston Steam Rally 2026 03/07 to 06/07

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.


5508 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Special Offers]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Tent Reviews] 

[Contact Us] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2026


Advertisement
Advertisement

Advertisement