Volvo Towing Sockets

[XC70Bob]

So your faults all seem to be related to the brake lights.
Sorry But I don't think that's rights for a start you should not get any warnings just for putting bake lights on , you are only adding 2 x 21w bulbs to the circuit and that is no way going overload anything, and if the indicators work fine until you brake that you cant be overloading the indicators as they would be flashing fast all the time. ( if you use the hazards you will have all the bulbs in circuit and they should still flash at normal rate. ) all the lights on the caravan will be supplied from there own fused supply or may be even 2 supplies with a 20-25a fuse backing it up so the trailer control unit will be rated to handle that. I think you may have an earthing problem or high resistance connection probably related to the brake lights.
I would start buy getting some one to work the brake/light switches for you and see if you can see any other lights lighting on the caravan when they should not be , will probably only be dimly lit..

sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you get stopped at one of those road side caravan checks they will jump on faults like this.

[60041]

It would be worth seeing if you can plug another trailer or caravan into your socket to see if the problem is still there or, alternatively, try connecting your caravan to someone else's car. You should not be experiencing this problem.
As Bob says, I would suspect an earth fault on your caravan.

[Westyman]

Towing electrics are fine on when hooked up to my daughter's Swift and the caravan electrics have been checked out as regards earth problems. That similar issues happened when hooked up to another tow car suggests the caravan, yes.

There are 4 brake lights plus high level LED, so that's another 84W or another 7A which is also going though the earth along with the other 19 side lights, say 5W each is another 8A ish plus the winkers another 42W (2 each side) is another 3.5A making 18-19A which is quite a lot!

Volvo says car is fine must be caravan. Caravan service say caravan fine, must be the car. Sod it, I have a work around that is safe.

[GJB]

Originally Posted by Westyman

Towing electrics are fine on when hooked up to my daughter's Swift and the caravan electrics have been checked out as regards earth problems. That similar issues happened when hooked up to another tow car suggests the caravan, yes.

There are 4 brake lights plus high level LED, so that's another 84W or another 7A which is also going though the earth along with the other 19 side lights, say 5W each is another 8A ish plus the winkers another 42W (2 each side) is another 3.5A making 18-19A which is quite a lot!

Volvo says car is fine must be caravan. Caravan service say caravan fine, must be the car. Sod it, I have a work around that is safe.

Suggest you change all the caravan lights to LED !

[Westyman]

That is a plan I had considered and may well do so.

[micky1uk]

Originally Posted by Westyman

That is a plan I had considered and may well do so.

May be that the led's on the van are not canbus friendly I don't have a problem with mine tho on the senator but don't the relay take the full loading direct to an independent live so the system wouldn't monitor it anyway it would only be what the relay was taking regards mick

[IainMcL1970]

Having had my car for a couple of weeks now I spent some time on Sunday preparing it for our first towing trip weekend after next. (Strathclyde Park Caravan Club Site - for caravan show weekend!)

Plugged in the electrics first ... ATC fired up straight away, lights all fine, phew.

Then took black paint off towball .... always a faff .... and set up the Milenco Aero mirrors.

So all ready for the first tow .... need to sort out Swifty next weekend, though ALde is already on to air it off.

[Lamp Swinger]

Ian,

That is good news that the electrics are all active.
We are still to try out our outfit, it will be a few more weeks yet. We are going to the NEC for the first day, without the caravan.
You just jogged my memory re the towball black paint, I used brake fluid last time and it worked well. I have tried the Milenco Grand Aero's, which fit perfectly.

Enjoy your first trip, and have a safe tow!!

David

[micky1uk]

Originally Posted by Lamp Swinger

Ian,

That is good news that the electrics are all active.
We are still to try out our outfit, it will be a few more weeks yet. We are going to the NEC for the first day, without the caravan.
You just jogged my memory re the towball black paint, I used brake fluid last time and it worked well. I have tried the Milenco Grand Aero's, which fit perfectly.

Enjoy your first trip, and have a safe tow!!

David

if its the thule oem hitch it was like an hard glaze (powder coated) paint stripper or brake fluid wouldn't take it off I had to use the dremel with some scotch brite bits in (& no I didn't reduce the size of the ball) & then washed it with brake cleaner also put new pads in my hitch mick

[sunshinetours]

Originally Posted by IainMcL1970

Having had my car for a couple of weeks now I spent some time on Sunday preparing it for our first towing trip weekend after next. (Strathclyde Park Caravan Club Site - for caravan show weekend!)

Plugged in the electrics first ... ATC fired up straight away, lights all fine, phew.

Then took black paint off towball .... always a faff .... and set up the Milenco Aero mirrors.

So all ready for the first tow .... need to sort out Swifty next weekend, though ALde is already on to air it off.

Iain

Glad all working fine and hope first trip out goes well.

Need to get ours back from storage some point to get serviced and set up for the year, so like you I need to get tow bar cleaned off and sorted for first tow

Did you use wet and dry paper or anything stronger?