Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
D5 towing electrics - hook up test
Don't know if any one has mentioned or seen this .. but there is a button in the boot to test the lights on the hooked up trailer / caravan etc
Quite good idea I thought
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7th Dec 2016 9:20 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
That's useful
7th Dec 2016 9:49 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Yes and if you have the electrically deploy able tow bar there is a built in nose weight gauge that gives the weight on the sat nav screenMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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7th Dec 2016 9:50 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
Even better
7th Dec 2016 9:53 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Not much good if you have a Nato hitch though G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
7th Dec 2016 9:59 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18561
Can it be retrofitted to a D3 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
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8th Dec 2016 10:48 am
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18561
From the handbook
Quote:
Trailer bulb check button: Press to start a 3 minute sequence for both the vehicle and the trailer's light testing.
For the test to operate, all of the vehicle's lights should be switched off. Also switch the ignition off and apply the Electric Parking Brake (EPB).
NOTES
The trailer bulb check can also be enabled via the Tow Bar extra feature on the touch screen. Switching the ignition off also switches the touch screen off. Operate the media power button to switch the touch screen on again. Follow the on-screen instructions.
The vehicle and trailer lights operate at the same time, allowing a visual check for correct operation of all the lights.
Press the trailer bulb check button again to stop the test cycle. Alternatively, manually switch on the vehicle's lights, or switch the ignition on.
NOTES
The bulb check feature only allows an observer to check that the lights are illuminating. The vehicle does not perform any measurements during this test and does not display any trailer light faults.
06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
The trailer bulb check can also be enabled via the Tow Bar extra feature on the touch screen.
If that convenient button thing is too intimidating for you! Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
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8th Dec 2016 1:18 pm
CraigP
Member Since: 22 Feb 2010
Location: East Yorks
Posts: 41
Russell wrote:
Yes and if you have the electrically deploy able tow bar there is a built in nose weight gauge that gives the weight on the sat nav screen
Only available on HSE and above.
8th Dec 2016 6:51 pm
JAB
Member Since: 22 May 2006
Location: Near Apeldoorn
Posts: 96
"For the test to operate, all of the vehicle's lights should be switched off. Also switch the ignition off and apply the Electric Parking Brake (EPB)"
Does not look really real life usefull.... Reverse, get out with running engine, only in park, quickly attach Ifor, run around for lights and hurry away... Thats our normal procedure...2012 D4 sdv6, mapped & 2016 D4 sdv6
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That quick hook up and check of the lights sounds OK for the road lights - how do you test the brake light? If your on your own, do you have a brick or something to place on the brake pedal so you can check that? And then have to go back, remove, it and go back and check the normal rear light is fine too? And the indicators / hazards - without relying only on the trailer light in the dashboard?
I would think hooking up without the engine on is far safer (no exhaust gas pumping into your face for example) and then pressing the button, seeing the car and trailer lights activating simultaneously is going to be useful - especially with a long trailer/caravan (ours is ~8m long).
When hooking that up on my own, testing all the lights in a sequence is: do action at car, go to back of the 'van, check and confirm the specific light, go back to car, next action, check the 'van and so on.
Tests that I run through to check:
Right hand indicator
Left hand indicator
Hazards
(these 3 above should be separate checks)
Road Lights on
Brake lights (use a brick on the pedal)
Fog light
Reverse light (this can be done with lights on to cut down on a trip to the back of the 'van) - if engine is on, then this loads up the transmission so best to do with the engine off.
So I do see the light check as useful and would be something that I would use. And it may justify the price differential of the factory fit electric deployable towbar vs the detachable towbar. Unless you could get the light check with the detachable but I don't see how that would work as it seems that the deployable loom and switch pack would need to be fitted and that's ~£200 anyway.
When using the 'van, the number of people I see at camping sites that hook up and do no checks on the lights is more than the ones that do some form of check - which is rather poor. Complacency, or just lack of awareness to do it, whatever it is it is rather poor that this is what people see as acceptable. And before anybody jumps on this, I don't check the car lights every time I use it, but the 'van is used intermittently, the bulbs can and do fail without you realising it. So the check is required (in my eyes anyway) every time I hitch up.
Just my thoughts......
9th Dec 2016 8:11 am
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
The pulsing lights are there to check there is a feed getting to the trailer. If you switch it on and walk to the back of your van you'll see all the lights pulsing on the back. Job done. It's not checking the brakes just that there's a feed to the brake lights. If there is, then off you go. I check my current van on my own by using a my Go Pro hero and my phone. Works a treat.
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I agree - as the check is the function of the lights, you do not check the function of the brakes themselves. But to activate the brake light currently (excuse the pun) you need to press the brake pedal with something, foot, wedge, brick, for you to then see the light.
Like the idea of using a camera/phone combo - but would need to get the camera, Christmas is coming.....
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Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
)
Thats our normal procedure...
