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Old 10-12-2018, 12:21 PM   #1
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1990 25' Excella
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Stumped! Left Turn Signal

Suddenly my left turn signal/brake light stopped working. I fooled around replacing left with right, no love.

Here’s the thing that makes this so mysterious...

My TV is a Mercedes ML500 and a while back I got an error message about the left trailer lights - and the trailer wasn’t hooked up. How do it know? And for a short time the TV’s left rear signal didn’t work properly. Since then the error message doesn’t appear when the trailer is not hooked up and everything works fine. But when the trailer is hooked up, the error message returns and the TV lights work fine but the trailer lights do not.

So far I’ve checked fuses in the TV and found no bad ones. Circuit breakers in the trailer, none tripped. I thoroughly cleaned the umbilical cord socket, no change.

In any event it appears the problem is with the TV since it once sent error messages when the trailer was not attached. Any ideas? I’m going to send a nice gift to anyone who figures this out.

Cheers,
John
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:29 PM   #2
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Zzzzz 👍

Engage dormant grey cells...ummm.

First ck all connections, TV to AS. Especially the grounds.

German TV= wiring adaptor for the trailer umbilical wiring.

If one was installed that may be the second thing to ck.

Bob
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:33 PM   #3
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Flip the hazard light switch on and off a few times. The turn signals are wired thru this switch.
With a 12 year old TV there could be dust etc on the switch contacts.
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:32 PM   #4
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Hazard Switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by TG Twinkie View Post
Flip the hazard light switch on and off a few times. The turn signals are wired thru this switch.
With a 12 year old TV there could be dust etc on the switch contacts.
Thanks for the recommendation. I tried it hoping there would be a simple fix in the offing - no luck. Any other ideas?

Kind of ironic that my business, AudetteCollection.com, restores lights for vintage Porsches.

Cheers,
John
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:33 PM   #5
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Time to get out the multimeter and trace wires. Not my favorite pastime either, but only way to do it.
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Old 10-13-2018, 09:27 AM   #6
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Trailer lights in my years of experience has mostly been faulty grounds along the path. The volt/ohm meter at this point is your best pal.
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Old 10-13-2018, 09:37 AM   #7
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You might check the TV ground at the left turn signal lamp. Sometimes the light will actually try to ground through the other filament. This would not affect the Trailer lighting as it comes off ahead of the TV lamp.
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Old 10-13-2018, 09:53 AM   #8
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Just a thought

You might see if you can find anyone near you and try plugging it in to their TV and see if it works or drive to a campground or RV dealership without your TT and try your TV on a different TT.
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Old 10-13-2018, 10:05 AM   #9
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I purchased a new 2012 ML350 and had the towing package added. Well the package did not come with a brake controller. Was told I could have that added at a local shop for about $800. Consequently I have never towed with it. I could use it on my boat with surge brakes or a small utility trailer but not electric brakes. So, if you have a brake controller and you bought the car used, there may have been some after-market monkeying with your wiring. I have no idea what they would have connected to but I just wanted to point out that my car didnt come with a brake controller for electric brakes. Good luck
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Old 10-13-2018, 10:14 AM   #10
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Taking a fresh chicken claw and feathers of a turkey .... oh wait, wrong issue.

If I am reading this correctly, the dashboard indicated a fault in the left turn signal circuit. But there was no trailer connected at the time.

Two things come to mind. Integrity of the conductor going into the contact on the TV side of the 7 way connector (bad contact) or the relay that supplies power to the left turn/brake circuit to the 7 way connector. (Lose or failing).

If I recall the history of this concern, the problem “just went away” and left turn circuit continued to work for a while.

So, Murphy’s Law indicates the issue will be either the assembly that is hardest to get to or the assembly that is most expensive.

The turn signal switch in the steering wheel tree may be the culprit.

This part gets the most use and can work then stop working then work again.

Also, the ignition switch assembly can also contribute to the failure especially if there is a pound of keys on the key ring.

If available, test the AS systems by connecting it to a known working TV. If all working it is the European equipment.

Keep the claw and feathers handy.

Safe travels.
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Old 10-13-2018, 11:43 AM   #11
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Try this adapter. I had strange trailer signal operation (not same as you) with my truck and trailer. This solved it. I was at the Airstream dealer for some stuff and picked the service manager’s brain. He recommended it; let me test out on another trailer on the lot before I bought it since I didn’t have my trailer that day. Massive headache solved. Most auto parts stores should sell it. Would also recommend connecting to another trailer to see if the same issue occurs as it did with mine.
https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tow-Ready/20142.html
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Old 10-13-2018, 03:25 PM   #12
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Try trailer umbillical cord

Take a jumper wire and find hot wire on cord then move to each lug and see what light up to clear trailer problem.


QUOTE=John&Vicki;2167408]Suddenly my left turn signal/brake light stopped working. I fooled around replacing left with right, no love.

Here’s the thing that makes this so mysterious...

My TV is a Mercedes ML500 and a while back I got an error message about the left trailer lights - and the trailer wasn’t hooked up. How do it know? And for a short time the TV’s left rear signal didn’t work properly. Since then the error message doesn’t appear when the trailer is not hooked up and everything works fine. But when the trailer is hooked up, the error message returns and the TV lights work fine but the trailer lights do not.

So far I’ve checked fuses in the TV and found no bad ones. Circuit breakers in the trailer, none tripped. I thoroughly cleaned the umbilical cord socket, no change.

In any event it appears the problem is with the TV since it once sent error messages when the trailer was not attached. Any ideas? I’m going to send a nice gift to anyone who figures this out.

Cheers,
John[/QUOTE]
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Old 10-13-2018, 05:19 PM   #13
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Have you tried the adapter first?
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Old 10-17-2018, 11:41 PM   #14
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I assume it's your turn signal and also the left brake light that are inop. That's the red wire. Assuming your TV 7-pin connector checks out. Then ... go inside the aft compartment, drop straight down from the tail light and find a hole in the aluminum inside body with a rubber grommet. Pull the grommet off and then pull the wiring out to find the square white plastic connector. It may be that the red wire (or even the white ground wire) have vibrated loose. Reconnect/secure them and you will be back in business, again assuming it's not a burnt bulb or LED in the tail light assembly. Good luck!
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Old 07-17-2019, 05:00 PM   #15
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LED Bulbs not working - Solution

This is an old post, but I figured it out and thought I would go ahead and post the solution.

Some cars, especially German cars (I tow with a MB ML500), don't always find LED bulbs due to their low draw. At that point the computer is programmed and you receive a fault code. There are two ways to remedy this.

The first is to install a resister on the line that powers the bulb.

The second is to install a wiring adapter like this:

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tow_Ready/20142.html

About $25.00.


Cheers,
John
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Old 07-19-2019, 07:18 PM   #16
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Exactly!
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Old 07-20-2019, 03:27 PM   #17
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Ummm...nutt'n's changed, same problem different year.😂

Bob
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