van brake lights /blinkers

terrola · Veteran Member

van brake lights /blinkers

WAssa41 · Senior Member

I have a gadget that I got on E bay some years ago and it has several led that light up when you use the brakes. indicators etc. I the led don't light up there is a problem with that circuit.

Wassa

Bagmaker · Senior Member

If you fix your wife to the dash she cannot walk back and check.................

darjak · Senior Member

Bag maker X2

terrola · Veteran Member

stupid reply get a life

Cbigtez · Member

Be nice

Yuglamron · Guru

Check your manual,

Lots of modern vehicles have feedback systems that alter the dash responses if for example an indicator bulb is blown, the flashing rate on the dash changes and other feedback if indicator bulbs are blown. Some will show trailer problems too. My MH is a'99 MAN and if a trailer bulb is blown the dash will show up a fault, then you can check.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara was the same if a bulb on the trailer was gone the dash responses were different.

So rather than buy something off eBay check what your manual says first.

Long Weekend · Guru

I think Bagmaker was actually trying to be funny.

Wassa; can you remember the name of the gadget you bought from eBay to monitor the van lights? Would be better than having to find a rock or something to hold the brake pedal down while I check the lights at the rear. (I often travel solo.)

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Tuesday 13th of November 2018 04:25:49 PM

Leshill · Veteran Member

I use a small wooden T that is the length from the brake pedal to the front of the drivers seat. Just jam it in and brake lights are on..put the hazard lights on so that check can be done. Then remove the T piece / turn on parkers & check tail light & clearance lights etc.No rock needed.

For years I have been going to get an adjustable pop top roof suport but they cost ..my wood T piece was free..It lives under the drivers seat and in 40 + years has never moved forward .

Cupie · Guru

The best DIY device that I have seen to address this was a 'mimic' box that fitted on the front of the van & was visible using the rear vision mirrors. If the running light was operating an LED in the mimic box would light.

Unfortunately, it was a one-off by a mate & I don't have access to the design & am not smart enough to make one.

Should be easy for a technology nut to make ... and market?

denmonkey · Senior Member

if you don't have a spare person, I find it handy to pull up near a shop window and reverse into position and you can check them from within the car :)
pick the right time and you're all good.
Can require a little maneuvering but it's free

Sarco Harris · Senior Member

Brakes working should be indicated readily by your controller.

In relation to indicators, why bother, simply don't use them like so many others on the road. Though normally that goes primarily for car drivers, BUT:

Followed a van towed by a 200 series yesterday from outside Yea through to Yarra Glen. Indicators were only used when he turned off to the right just on the Lilydale side of Yarra Glen

Sarco

Long Weekend · Guru

It's not the brakes I want to check - it's the brake lights. Tail lights OK, indicators OK but the brake pedal has to be depressed to light up the light.

Hmm Den Monkey - that might be a bit tricky with a van attached!

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Tuesday 13th of November 2018 09:49:41 PM

Cupie · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
It's not the brakes I want to check - it's the brake lights. Tail lights OK, indicators OK but the brake pedal has to be depressed to light up the light.
Hmm Den Monkey - that might be a bit tricky with a van attached!
Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Tuesday 13th of November 2018 09:49:41 PM

To test that out without an assistant, I use the van broom that has a telescopic handle. Depress the brake & hold it down with the broom wedged between the pedal & the seat headrest. Walk around the back & check the lights, listening to the hum of the elec brakes as I pass them.

For years I did the light checks an hour or so before departure to allow time to fix problems. Since I changed to all LEDs I never have a faulty indicator.

-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 14th of November 2018 12:32:37 AM

Leshill · Veteran Member

My small T beats the broom. Have just replaced my LED 6x4 trailer lights many of the leds in the tail light and blinker had failed. I haven't used the trailer all that much ...but they'd still failed.

denmonkey · Senior Member

Long Weekend wrote:
It's not the brakes I want to check - it's the brake lights. Tail lights OK, indicators OK but the brake pedal has to be depressed to light up the light.
Hmm Den Monkey - that might be a bit tricky with a van attached!
Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Tuesday 13th of November 2018 09:49:41 PM

nah mate. you can do it.

you don't need to be perfect or that close for it to work. I have a place down the road from me that I swing past on the way out. Always make a quick stop just to check the lights.

rgren2 · Guru

Set the camera on your phone to video and place it where it can record the back of your van. Use a sequence of the lights, ie left blinker, right blinker, brake, parkers, then view it.

-- Edited by rgren2 on Monday 19th of November 2018 02:52:51 PM

Cupie · Guru

rgren2 wrote:
Set the camera on your phone to video and place it where it can record the back of your van. Use a sequence of the lights, ie left blinker, right blinker, brake, parkers, then view it.

-- Edited by rgren2 on Monday 19th of November 2018 02:52:51 PM

What a great idea. I'll certainly try that next time.