Towbar wiring problem

[StewA]

Hello, I hope someone can help me with a small problem I have with my towbar electrics.
I recently fitted a towbar to my car, 2006 Ford Focus estate, and fitted a car specific wiring kit.
Everything was working ok until I replaced the tired old tungsten trailor lamps with some nice new LED lamps.
Now the stop and tail lamps work fine but I have a problem with the indicators.
If I indicate right, the right hand trailor indicator flashes ok (5 LEDs) but the left hand indicator also partialy flashes (2 LEDs). The opposite also happens when I indicate left.
The wiring kit includes a 7 way relay and a C2 module, which is where I think the problem is.
Is there a simple fix for this?
cheers

 

[davesparks]

The simplest fix is to put the filament lamps back in, the LEDs do not provide enough of an electrical load for the circuit to work properly.



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[telectrix]

What he said. ^^^^.

 

[ruston]

Me too, ^^^^^^ not worth clarting around with wiring systems , it may be canbus,and poor ECU is confused.
Some cheap led's may not suit the system.

 

[StewA]

The simplest fix is to put the filament lamps back in, the LEDs do not provide enough of an electrical load for the circuit to work properly.

I think I might have to go back to filament lamps then although I was looking forward to having trouble free LEDs fitted.
It does seem strange though that the more modern LED lamps won't work with modern car electrical systems.
Can anyone recommend some decent 4 function trailer lamps as the ones I had fitted were trailer board type and had to be fettled every time I used the trailer.
cheers

 

[ruston]

Most caravan sales sites have a decent selection of accessories.
There is on Sandyford Lane if that is close to you.
Or maybe even Halfords

 

[StewA]

Most caravan sales sites have a decent selection of accessories.
There is on Sandyford Lane if that is close to you.
Or maybe even Halfords

I often go into UBC on Sandy Lane and the lamps they sell are pretty much the same as the ones I had on. The problem with them is that the contacts for the bulbs are steel and they corrode.
I may try putting some 6.8ohm 25w resistors in parallel with the indicator LEDs to try and fool the car into thinking they're filament bulbs.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

[ruston]

Sorry I meant to say Sandy Lane.

 

[PEG]

I often go into UBC on Sandy Lane and the lamps they sell are pretty much the same as the ones I had on. The problem with them is that the contacts for the bulbs are steel and they corrode.
I may try putting some 6.8ohm 25w resistors in parallel with the indicator LEDs to try and fool the car into thinking they're filament bulbs.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.

This is a common issue,especially with newer vehicles,and the resistor fitment will address this,just be aware that without suitable additional devices,a failure of any illumination downstream of these resistors,will not not show up,via vehicle diagnostic units.

I did some R&D for a well known national trailer equipment supplier,and identified an issue with a range of LED trailer combination lamps.

They were variably voltage critical,on the brake/tail lamp assemblies,and had caused ructions,with lamps being returned,and customers accused of incorrect fitment (which isn't uncommon...)

I have also been involved with modifying existing lamp units,which use filament lamps,but have tail,brake and indicator lamps,"doubled up",with paralleled LEDs'. The minor benefit of this adaption,is a failure of any standard filament lamp,is indicated by the vehicle diagnostics,whilst the LED allows continued operation of the function...

There are issues regarding min/max illumination,in terms of lumens/wattage,with reference to VC&U,but it is generally no lamp operation,which tempts VOSA and the dibble,to interrupt your journey :bobby:

 

[StewA]

This is a common issue,especially with newer vehicles,and the resistor fitment will address this,just be aware that without suitable additional devices,a failure of any illumination downstream of these resistors,will not not show up,via vehicle diagnostic units.

I understand that an LED failure will not be detected but as they are very reliable and that there are 5 LEDs on each function total failure is very unlikely.
It wasn't until I started searching for 6.8ohm resistors that I discovered these were available as a "fix".
As this appears to be a very common problem you would think that the manufacturers of these LED lamps would include some electronics that would talk to the vehicle.
cheers

 

[davesparks]

The five LEDs will most likely be wired in series, because that's how LEDs work, so a failure of one will mean they all go off


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