Trailer light malfunction error message

[MattG]

So, I added two 1N5408 (3 Amp, 1000V) diodes to the two tail light cables in the trailer wiring loom (joining them together downstream) before I then completely rewired the 7 pin flat plug with wire colours that suit the Australian standard. Unfortunately this didn’t initially fix the problem. I was still getting the “Trailer light malfunction” error/warning. So I then I added in the “jumper box” I made (that contains five 21W Narva LED Load Resistors across the 5 light circuits) and hey presto, the error message/warning has disappeared! I can easily mount the jumper box on the drawbar of our camper trailer and use this with any other trailer with LED lights. Phew! Fingers crossed it keeps the Grenadier happy!

 

[Rainydaytoast]

So, I added two 1N5408 (3 Amp, 1000V) diodes to the two tail light cables in the trailer wiring loom (joining them together downstream) before I then completely rewired the 7 pin flat plug with wire colours that suit the Australian standard. Unfortunately this didn’t initially fix the problem. I was still getting the “Trailer light malfunction” error/warning. So I then I added in the “jumper box” I made (that contains five 21W Narva LED Load Resistors across the 5 light circuits) and hey presto, the error message/warning has disappeared! I can easily mount the jumper box on the drawbar of our camper trailer and use this with any other trailer with LED lights. Phew! Fingers crossed it keeps the Grenadier happy!

Hey.

I just got a trailer that does similar issues to this. Turn signal plays up etc. I think i need what you've done here. Looking at your tidy work i can't quite see what you did with the negative wire from the resistors. If my understanding is correct i need 1 resistor per circuit and its hooked to that circuits positive and negative. I see your negatives are in parallel. I assume they connect to the main negative?

Thanks

 

[Rainydaytoast]

I am not an electrician or an artist but this is how i see your set up.

 

[MattG]

I am not an electrician or an artist but this is how i see your set up.

View attachment 7857405

Yep, the resistors are all connected in parallel with the trailer wires from the Tail lights, Stop lights, Left and Right Indicators and Reverse lights. The trailer wires each connect to one terminal of a 21W resistor AND to the corresponding wires exiting the setup heading for the vehicle. The other end of each of the 21W resistors is connected to ground along with the ground wire from the trailer and the ground wire heading off to the vehicle. There is no resistor on the ground wire nor on the electric brake wire. I have since simplified my setup (having worked out that I only need resistors to the tail and reverse lights). The attached photo probably shows the setup a little better. Hope that helps?

 

[Rainydaytoast]

Yep, the resistors are all connected in parallel with the trailer wires from the Tail lights, Stop lights, Left and Right Indicators and Reverse lights. The trailer wires each connect to one terminal of a 21W resistor AND to the corresponding wires exiting the setup heading for the vehicle. The other end of each of the 21W resistors is connected to ground along with the ground wire from the trailer and the ground wire heading off to the vehicle. There is no resistor on the ground wire nor on the electric brake wire. I have since simplified my setup (having worked out that I only need resistors to the tail and reverse lights). The attached photo probably shows the setup a little better. Hope that helps?

Thats brilliant. Saved me buying a bunch of resistors I dont need!

Thank you

 

[Rainydaytoast]

@MattG

Thanks for your help. I managed to set mine up. Not as tidy as yours. But it works. Also learnt a bunch about trailers electrical systems, plug types, drilling into steel etc etc.

 

[Mountain4x4]

Everything is LED these days, seems odd

 

[Rainydaytoast]

Everything is LED these days, seems odd

I bought an older trailer second hand which was upgraded with led lights at some point but it must not of had the resistors.

 

[T5Ineos]

Having changed my 13 pin Euro towing plug to a 7 pin flat plug and installed a Redarc Tow Pro Elite electric brake controller (with diode kit), with the headlights turned OFF, the trailer lights and electric brakes all work as expected. When the headlights are switched on, although the trailer lights and brakes still all work as expected, a warning light comes on in the heads-up display and a "Trailer Light Malfunction" warning message appears on the centre display. As all of the lights in our trailer are LED lights, I suspect this is a CAN BUS error related to the much lower resistance associated with LED lights. Has anyone else experienced this error? I'm hoping that with enough consumer pressure, Ineos might get to work on a software patch. If our LED trailer lights are the cause of this issue, it seems strange that Ineos haven't thought about this already, given that most modern trailers have LED lighting as standard.

It occurs with traditional blinkers/break lights and LED versions. I just tested it on two trailers using the 4 pin. Except the traditional blinkers will sometimes not illuminate or only blink once then stop. I get the same message. Frustrating but at least i can tow. I just have one rear light on (right side) and one off (left side) on my actual grenadier. Then when i disconnect, turn off the vehicle and restart the light functions go back to normal and the “light position error” dashboard warning goes away…. Would love to correct this if anyone figured it out.

 

[Snipewench]

Hey @MattG, how much would such a box cost for you to produce one off's for us? Going from female 7 pin to your box of tricks to male 7-pin, including the diodes in-circuit too?

 

[OzyGrenie]

Having changed my 13 pin Euro towing plug to a 7 pin flat plug and installed a Redarc Tow Pro Elite electric brake controller (with diode kit), with the headlights turned OFF, the trailer lights and electric brakes all work as expected. When the headlights are switched on, although the trailer lights and brakes still all work as expected, a warning light comes on in the heads-up display and a "Trailer Light Malfunction" warning message appears on the centre display. As all of the lights in our trailer are LED lights, I suspect this is a CAN BUS error related to the much lower resistance associated with LED lights. Has anyone else experienced this error? I'm hoping that with enough consumer pressure, Ineos might get to work on a software patch. If our LED trailer lights are the cause of this issue, it seems strange that Ineos haven't thought about this already, given that most modern trailers have LED lighting as standard.

An auto electrician will easily fix it it's common knowledge you need a resistor tobe added to one tail lamp.

 

[Craig]

https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn-Category/Shop-our-Full-Range-by-Brand-at-Autobarn/Voltage/Voltage-Adaptor-13-Pin-Euro-Socket-7-Flat-Plug---VTADAPTOR8/p/113833?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAABwoqnvfpHI1t88j7daeCTb-hXHIJ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zu77qvITJO4fdEOxnK-ez99iEJRNXCe428uTSd1TCZxIPTnAjXNj1kaAos-EALw_wcB

Check out my, and another Ineos related review regarding this adapter. It explains a cause of the 13 pin tail light issue (diodes wrong way round) and a fix.