Technical problem

KerryandBruce · Veteran Member

Technical problem

Cropper · Veteran Member

Gremlins of some sort, dont know what the problem is but for the vehicle you might find some answers on here;

http://www.australianxtrail.com.au/Forum.htm

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Pop your question in "Techies Corner" Kerry and Bruce, you might get more replies in there. Good luck.

Keith19837 · Senior Member

KerryandBruce wrote:
Our car indicators work when connected to the caravan but as soon as the car starts, the indicators stop working. We've even tried a new plug. Can anyone possibly help?
Our car is a 2010 XTrail and the van is a Jayco Freedom.

Just so I'm clear on this; do your indicators work properly when the caravan is not connected? If so then the wiring to the tug connector (or connector itself) may have developed a short. Try plugging into another tailer plug of the same type and see if the problem persists. If it does then it must be your tug plug. If there is no problem then the problem must lie with the caravan plug. Usually when a problem like this occurs, it's in the plug or the wiring immediately into the plug (corrosion, loose or shorting wire at plug). It's fairly simple (but fiddly) to take either off and trim back the wires to a 'clean' position and reinsert. Just make sure that you rewire correctly (five and seven pin wiring use the same plug in most cases, but are wired differently). I had a similar problem with a trailer and changed the trailer plug only to find that the tug plug had some corrosion causing a couple of strands to brush against another wire. If it's more serious (Japenese wiring is usually very good) you may be looking at financing your auto electrician's retirement fund. For what it's worth.

ozjohn · Guru

I'm not real swish with most things electrical, but Indictaors not working in the vehicle, but will work then the van is hitched up, sounds like an earth issue.
Earthing connection being made back to the vehicle through the van allows the indicators to work.
Just a guess.
Ozjohn

jimricho · Guru

This question that may seem strange but....

Do you have a solenoid switch (or relay, same thing, different name) in your 12v circuit to the van fridge? Does this circuit pass through the trailer connector or is it on a separate Anderson connector?

PS: By the way, we have a "Techies Corner" forum where topics such as this "stay alive" longer and don't get buried under newer topics as quickly.

KerryandBruce · Veteran Member

Thanks, will put my question there. Have outstanding travels everyone

KerryandBruce · Veteran Member

jimricho wrote:
This question that may seem strange but....

Do you have a solenoid switch (or relay, same thing, different name) in your 12v circuit to the van fridge? Does this circuit pass through the trailer connector or is it on a separate Anderson connector?

PS: By the way, we have a "Techies Corner" forum where topics such as this "stay alive" longer and don't get buried under newer topics as quickly.

Yes Jimricho, I do have a relay and it is on a separate Anderson Connector.

jimricho · Guru

Ok, try (temporarily) disconnecting the Anderson connector and see what's happening. Where I'm coming from is to see if there's some sort of strange wiring fault that's causing this circuit to interfere with indicator operation. This wire will have voltage on it when the engine is running but not when the engine isn't. (That was the rationale behind my question, not to query the integrity of your installation)

Another test would be to test all your trailer lights, including the hazard lights, simultaneously. (This, by the way, is the correct way to check the lights each time when hooking up.)

Another (albeit remote) possibility is the compatibility of the indicator's flasher relay for use with trailer wiring. Experienced auto sparkies on the forum may be able to shed more light on this. (the voltage on the flasher will be higher when the engine is running)

Jim

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 26th of June 2012 08:26:41 AM

KerryandBruce · Veteran Member

jimricho wrote:
Ok, try (temporarily) disconnecting the Anderson connector and see what's happening. Where I'm coming from is to see if there's some sort of strange wiring fault that's causing this circuit to interfere with indicator operation. This wire will have voltage on it when the engine is running but not when the engine isn't. (That was the rationale behind my question, not to query the integrity of your installation)

Another test would be to test all your trailer lights, including the hazard lights, simultaneously. (This, by the way, is the correct way to check the lights each time when hooking up.)

Another (albeit remote) possibility is the compatibility of the indicator's flasher relay for use with trailer wiring. Experienced auto sparkies on the forum may be able to shed more light on this. (the voltage on the flasher will be higher when the engine is running)
Jim

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 26th of June 2012 08:26:41 AM

Excellent suggestions Jim. It seems the person who installed the tow bar has erred somewhere. Have a great day

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Cropper wrote:
Gremlins of some sort, dont know what the problem is but for the vehicle you might find some answers on here;

http://www.australianxtrail.com.au/Forum.htm

Cropper, not sure if you are aware but you can make your link clickable by putting [ u r l ] in front of your string and [ / u r l ] after the string, when you click submit post it will show as a clickable link.

Don't put in the spaces, I had to do that to make them show.

http://www.australianxtrail.com.au/Forum.htm

jimricho · Guru

That's handy to know Wom as I've been going into the advanced editor and using the link icon above the text box. This way one can do it from the quick reply box. We learn something gnu every day!

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

jimricho wrote:
That's handy to know Wom as I've been going into the advanced editor and using the link icon above the text box. This way one can do it from the quick reply box. We learn something gnu every day!

Hi JR, yes , I find it easier to do from the quick reply box also