Trailer brake lamp fault on tow -help please

[Tony60]

Picked up new caravan with LED Brake lamps on van , Volvo dash shows "Trailer lamp fault " ,this is because the Volvo electrics won't pick up LED resistances so shows fault , Volvo Dealer says Volvo electrics not designed for this ,The dealer knew I was having a new van to hook up on my Dec.2009 XC60 when they fitted the genuine Volvo Towbar,anybody else came against this fault.

[Daleman]

Do the lights work ok on the caravan even with the fault notification?

[Tony60]

Originally Posted by Daleman

Do the lights work ok on the caravan even with the fault notification?

all lights work ok.

[Daleman]

Why I ask is I have ordered the genuine Volvo tow bar and I wondered if it would be a problem with regard to lights on the caravan not working .It would seem not but a permanent fault notification is a pain to live with!

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by Tony60

Picked up new caravan with LED Brake lamps on van , Volvo dash shows "Trailer lamp fault " ,this is because the Volvo electrics won't pick up LED resistances so shows fault , Volvo Dealer says Volvo electrics not designed for this ,The dealer knew I was having a new van to hook up on my Dec.2009 XC60 when they fitted the genuine Volvo Towbar,anybody else came against this fault.

This could be sorted by getting the software corrected, problem is that you will need to convince Volvo that they need to rewrite that part of the code

If the dealer will not help you then call Volvo Customer Services and explain to them. I have found them very helpful in the past and I find it difficult to believe that something as simple as this cannot be rectified easily.

In fact I find it difficult to believe that there is a fault in the first place ...

Good Luck, don't give in

[Tony60]

Originally Posted by Daleman

Why I ask is I have ordered the genuine Volvo tow bar and I wondered if it would be a problem with regard to lights on the caravan not working .It would seem not but a permanent fault notification is a pain to live with!

The problem is, that most of the lights are bulbs ,so, the car reconises them ,as the Brake Lights are all LEDS and run on very low wattage the car don't think one or more of the said Brake lights are working . I can get over the problem by putting a say, 5 watt bulb in the caravan circuit , but why should I? it seems that I have bought a towbar electrics , " Not Fit For Purpose ". ie. Sale of goods Act .

[Tony60]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

This could be sorted by getting the software corrected, problem is that you will need to convince Volvo that they need to rewrite that part of the code

If the dealer will not help you then call Volvo Customer Services and explain to them. I have found them very helpful in the past and I find it difficult to believe that something as simple as this cannot be rectified easily.

In fact I find it difficult to believe that there is a fault in the first place ...

Good Luck, don't give in

thanks for comments having been in the motor trade all my working life I can assure any one that this is a Volvo problem ,but my caravan dealer says some Volvo Owners have added a bulb in the caravan circuit .

[wimorrison]

The fact is that Volvo can sort this out easily as they are already doing it on the car

The LED lamps at the front or rear of the car do not cause a circuit failure as the software is correctly monitoring the lower current drawn because the lamps are LEDs and remember that the circuits on the trailer are separate from the car, making the job even easier for them

Ergo, an easier argument to have with Volvo!

[Gravy]

Bud

Dont know why you Brits inherit so many issues with your Volvos.

I have 2 boat trailers fitted with LED lights which I tow with my XC60 T6, vehicle has never indicated any problems. Vehicle is fitted with a genuine Volvo tow bar and electrics. You need to talk to the installer who fitted these devices to your vehicle.

Gravy