Dodgy lights

[Newsreader]

Yes I have finally managed to get my horse trailer producing a light show every time I indicate, you know, stop tail and indicator lights alternately flash in time with each other ... :D

Is this usually a bad earth, and if so where? Or a problem in the plug? I put a new plug on a while ago and it has been working fine up to now.

I think the landy's wiring is OK, had no problems with a different trailer the other day.

Any ideas gratefully received! :)

[Lighting90]

Normally an earth problem at the back of the trailer.. worth just taking the light covers off and cleaning all the connectors up...
Also just have a visual check where the cable runs, just to check to make sure it has not got caught on anything underneath.

[Newsreader]

Thanks again, will check that. :)

I wondered if water getting into the plug (when not in use) is ever a problem, and whether anyone had handy tips for storing the plug to stop rain getting in. I thought about a plastic bag (how ingenious of me :D ) but then I thought condensation might cause just as much of a problem... :dunno:

[Lighting90]

The one on horse box we had plugged into a blank socket fixed to the front of the box..

Other than that don't know, we often just left them wrapped around the jockey wheel pointing down the way..

[Bush Tucker Man]

More than likely an earthing problem as 'Lighting' states.

[paul thomas]

plastic bag and a elastic band works.But it just as easy to give it a good squirt of wd40 and leave hanging down to let water run of.give mine a quick squirt each time i use it and never had any probs.Also works on dodgy lights sometimes.Had same light show as you.Took lenses of took bulbs out and give a squirt never had any further probs.Its amazing what a little can of wet stuff can do.
Cheers Paul

[Newsreader]

Thanks guys, I'll let you know how I get on - when I get A Round Tuit :D

[R0Y]

Here you go Bernie, one to call your very own.......

Now you've got no excuses! :smallprin

[Newsreader]

Here you go Bernie, one to call your very own.......

Now you've got no excuses! :smallprin
:hahaha:

[Michelle]

It's usually water and rust in the tail light assemblies of the floats Bernie. I dont' know what sort of float you have but some of these hand made oens, or even those that have had lights replaced in the past, are often done with cheap cruddy replacements. Sometimes it's dirt in the plugs. Best way to look after the plug is to make sure it's always hangin downward facing, but off the ground to keep it out of grit.

[Newsreader]

Thanks Michelle! :)

[DEANO3528]

Here's a tip for you!
When I replace/wire a trailer plug, I always force loads of grease into the terminals as that is a weak point due to corrosion of the terminals/screws.
And yes, some WD sprayed in and the plug left to hang downwards works fine.
Down the other end, expect rust and general corrosion/dampness to have taken over. As mentioned above, redo all the connections and if not already present, run an new earth in to the light units, it takes very little time.

[Newsreader]

Thanks Deano :)

That figures about the plug - when I replugged it not long ago, the old one was just piles of rust inside, and I guess when a trailer doesn't get used that much it is just sitting around gathering up moisture.

As for the rest of the lighting, it has worked fine for quite a while so I knew it would all go to pot sooner or later... :D

A job for a quiet Sunday afternoon, obviously.

[Bush Tucker Man]

When packing the back of the plug with grease, don't do the same as a friend did.
He coudn't figure out why the previously working trailer lights had gone crazy.

He'd used grease alright.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Coppergrease! (it's conductive, so everything shorted out)

[Newsreader]

He'd used grease alright.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Coppergrease! (it's conductive, so everything shorted out)
:hahaha:

[Tim in Scotland]

If you don't use the trailer frequently I can recommend wrapping the plug in some stuff called Denso Tape. You can also wrap it over the socket on the back of the Landie. We use the stuff on lecky bits we need to keep seawater out of on the ship. It's loose weave cotton with waterproof greasy stuff on it in a roll like sticky tape. Big drawback is your hands get sticky after you have used it so some plastic gloves are "handy" too!

[Newsreader]

Thanks Tim :) Denso ... sums up how my brain feels right now:D

[Newsreader]

Finally got round to looking at the lights yesterday evening.

Lenses off, bulbs out and everything looked fine. Completely dry, removed vast amounts of cobwebs and made a few creepy crawlies homeless. The lenses were filthy on the inside, so gave them a good wash and scrub up. Blasted everything with WD40, put it all back together, and hey presto! Still just the same problem. :(

Got underneath to look at the wiring, and it's pretty ropy. Different sizes and types of connector blocks all over the place, wadges of insulating tape everywhere, and a lot of very brittle wires. Re-wire time.

I naively phoned Rice and asked if they did such a thing as a complete loom, which of course they don't. :D So I think I need to map out what's there now, and just replace it all...?

[Renny]

Here's a tip for you!
When I replace/wire a trailer plug, I always force loads of grease into the terminals as that is a weak point due to corrosion of the terminals/screws.
And yes, some WD sprayed in and the plug left to hang downwards works fine.
Down the other end, expect rust and general corrosion/dampness to have taken over. As mentioned above, redo all the connections and if not already present, run an new earth in to the light units, it takes very little time.

You could use good old... Vaseline (http://www.vaseline.com/vpjpure.shtml)

[Newsreader]

You could use good old... Vaseline (http://www.vaseline.com/vpjpure.shtml)
... one for the links database ... ? :D

[Lighting90]

Couple of options for you Bernie, one is to replace the rear lights with something like this http://www.towsure.co.uk/default.asp?d=28&t=100&p=0&op=

The other option is to re-wire, and towsure can supply this too, http://www.towsure.co.uk/default.asp?d=40&t=118&p=0&op= though you may find it available more locally..

[Newsreader]

Lighting,
That's brilliant, thanks :thumbsup: Autow in Perth do the cables and connectors etc, but I never knew you could get pod boards like that. Much neater than having a big long board dangling all over the place! And a helluva lot easier than rewiring... :D
Cheers :)

[Newsreader]

Well I decided to have a look and see what's what. The main cable from the plug is fine. The lights and wires / connections form them are fine.

But the junctions are all pretty ropy, lots of corrosion, wires hanging by a thread etc. so I started pulling them all apart and stripping back the wires to remake the connections. Had to replace some of the connector blocks where the old ones were corroded solid and couldn't undo the screws! Done the offside, all nice and neat, opened up the main junction ready for redoing, then it started pouring down. Still, half way there!

The main earth from the junction box didn't have much wire left on the end of it, and seemed to be just wedged between the chassis and the floor. Should I find a nice big bolt to fix it to?

Meanwhile Mrs H is stripping off all the paint section by section, applying wood hardener and filler to rotten bits, and repainting. Gonna look great when it's finished :)

[Lighting90]

Looking forward to the pics of the finished article.. :)