karter25stemen
21.04.2021 14:01:47
Known problems with LED trailer lights on later cars.
LED Lights are getting a lot more popular on trailers for the following reasons:-
See full version: Why do my led trailer lights not work
Known problems with LED trailer lights on later cars.
LED Lights are getting a lot more popular on trailers for the following reasons:-
We do find compatibility problems with LED trailer lights and high-end vehicles since 2000 fitted with ‘plug-in’ wiring kits.
Vehicles fitted with aftermarket towbars usually are not fitted with these plug-in systems. Towbar fitters are usually trying to do the job as cheap as possible and use a bypass system instead as this is a lot cheaper. With all bypass relays fitted on cars the lights work as they should but LED lights do not draw enough power for the indicator buzzer to work on most of these relays.
There are 2 problems that plug-in systems can give. Some systems send test pulses to check that the vehicle lights are functional, this is what causes LED lights to flash. Other systems are not activated until a load is detected. The problem here is LED’s are so sensitive they don’t have sufficient load to trigger the sensors on the plug-in system. Therefore they are not detected, and as a result no lights work.
The vehicles that we have seen the problems on are as follows.
Mercedes. Most models from 2000 both problems dependant on the kit fitted.
BMW. Flashing LED lights on most models but some can be cured by introducing a load, others need bypassing.
Discovery 3. Flashing on indicators only.
Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Flashing indicators only.
Iveco Trucks. All lights flashing.
We have had various other reports but we have only experienced the list above for ourselves.
Towing and Trailers Ltd will plug an LED Lightboard into your car at their premises to test your vehicle free of charge before you buy LED lights. here
If you are looking to buy trailer lights, choose from a large selection at [links]
Trailer light problems can be traced to any point in either the tow vehicle’s electrical system or trailer wiring, so visual inspection and testing are the first things to do. Because the most common reason for trailer lights not working properly is a bad or missing ground, check the trailer’s and truck’s ground connection first. A poor ground often becomes the culprit when only some lighting functions are working and when lights go out when you push the brake pedal. This means that using several functions at the same time creates the load that a weak ground can’t handle. Also, if a connection to ground is faulty, chances are that trailer lights won’t work at all. more
Downtime is money, and when your trailer lights are giving you troubles, your trailer is not road legal. When it is sitting in the garage, you are losing time and money. Use the following general guidelines on trailer lights troubleshooting that will help you find and solve the issue and get your trailer back on the road with its lights performing exactly as expected.
To find the reason for trailer lights problem, you may need to check a fuse box on a tow vehicle for blown fuses. If you have a power converter or a T-connector, disconnect the trailer and use a circuit tester to check whether a signal is going into and back from the converter or Modulite box on the appropriate wires. If there is no signal output going into the box, the problem is on the tow vehicle’s side (again, it can be caused by a blown fuse or wrong connecting points). If the output is going into the box without coming out at all or goes on the wrong wires, check the grounding location. If the output is going in and back on the right wires, the reason may be wrong trailer wiring, including improper ground wire connection, dirt or rust buildup, pinched or cut harnesses.
The cause for only some of lighting functions working may also lie in “hot” wire issues. Use the circuit tester to see if current is going to the light fixture itself. Begin with checking the harness that goes into the fixture in question and move all the way back to the tow vehicle to find the point where the circuit breaks. You may need to clean the brass terminals using steel wool or wire brush to restore a good connection.
If no error can be detected here, the most likely cause is the LED Stripe Controller. Most controllers are supplied via a plug-in power supply. To avoid a defect of the power supply, you may be able to use another power supply with the same voltage (usually 12V) for testing. If the LED strip is still dark, the controller is probably broken. here
Your LED lights always go on and off? If the lamp has worked properly so far, it’s probably broken and needs to be replaced. If the error occurs with the newly installed LED lighting, the reason is usually one of the following conditions. more
A broken LED strip usually doesn’t glow at all. On the one hand this can be due to the wiring. You should check the connection from the controller to the LED strip. Especially the connector between cable and LED strip has to be checked, because this connector is very sensitive. There must be a solid electrical connection to the contact surfaces of the strip. here
Permanently installed lights can also be connected to a different circuit if problems occur. Here the effort for disconnecting and connecting is naturally greater.
If your LED strip doesn’t work anymore, it’s rarely the LED Stripe itself. LED Stripes have a variety of LEDs, which are all connected in parallel on most stripes. Even if individual LEDs fail here, this is hardly noticeable, because the majority of the LEDs still glow. Most LED strips have a controller with a remote control. This is usually the cause of a defect. here
The next test you would have to carry out would be to the lighting connector to determine the problem with the wiring system. To do this, you have to test the resistivity of the system. more
You should disconnect the wirings and connect the lights directly to your tow vehicle to be sure that you are not having a wiring problem. Test each light to know the ones that are not working right, then be sure you do not have a burnout bulb. [links]
It would be a wrong choice to be in traffic without running lights, brake lights, left and right lights. Apart from the risking accidents, you would be subject to some fining.
Keep reading! We have some steps you can follow that would guide you while you use your multimeter to carry out this test.