ATC led problem

[woodsieboy]

Just been to caravan and the LED is flashing red.

Caravan is not connected to the car

Caravan is connected to EHU and charger was on

Turned the charger off red light still flashes

Disconnected the lead to the LED and it went off

Any ideas please, could this be heat related perhaps?

Thank you

 

[rich0805]

Had this several times.
Connect,disconnect, reconnect, make sure the handbrake is OFF, pull forward maybe even reverse.
If the green light is flashing drive a bit and stop and check again.

Do the okey cokey and shake it all about.

 

[Mr Plodd]

If that doesn't do it, connect up to your car and leave it connected for 12 hours, that clears the ATC's fault memory apparently.

 

[birdman101]

Obviously a wiring fault if car not connected to the caravan. Worth checking the habitation relay

 

[woodsieboy]

Update
I went to move the caravan with the mover today and red light was still flashing, even though not conneced to car, moved the caravan backwards ATC jammed the brakes on and the caravan wouldn't move on the mover
Backed the car up to the van, connected the 13 pin plug and light went from flashing red to green then started flashing, brakes freed so moved the van with the car but still green flashing.
Need to take it tomorrow for roof crack fix, so have left it and will see what happens in the morning.
Not really any wiser as to what has been happening, as the red flashing led is presumably picking up small amount of electric from the caravan when not connected to the car, but no idea where it is coming from, but obviously enough to affect the ATC working

 

[Hutch]

Just re read your post,
Your caravan is NOT connected to the car, so it must be a wiring problem with the caravan.
My previous suggestion would not help. A phone call to AlKo would be my next step.

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Hutch
Plan is to hopefully get it to the repairers, ask them what they think and contact Alko when I get home, no idea when the red light started flashing, but assume the LED will only need a miniscule amount of power to set it off, still wondering whether it has been affected by the heat recently

 

[Hutch]

Hi Hutch
Plan is to hopefully get it to the repairers, ask them what they think and contact Alko when I get home, no idea when the red light started flashing, but assume the LED will only need a miniscule amount of power to set it off, still wondering whether it has been affected by the heat recently

It is a possibility, but I thought the ATC was powered from the cars Electrics, I have heard that the unit has a memory , but that would require some sort of power supply. A rechargeable battery in the unit, maybe not as SD memory cards do not require a power supply after being written on. Got my grey cells working now.
Electronics people might know.
Question, how old is the ATC unit, old or newish. Might have differences.

 

[woodsieboy]

It is a possibility, but I thought the ATC was powered from the cars Electrics, I have heard that the unit has a memory , but that would require some sort of power supply. A rechargeable battery in the unit, maybe not as SD memory cards do not require a power supply after being written on. Got my grey cells working now.
Electronics people might know.
Question, how old is the ATC unit, old or newish. Might have differences.

Hi Hutch

The van is 2019 Swift, and ATC is original fitment, like you I cannot fathom why the red was flashing when not connected to the car, just been out to check it connected the 13pin plug and now showing solid red, which according to handbook means van is towable but ATC won't be operative.
Also as suggested by Mr Plodd handbook says that solid red indicates memory full, cure is to leave for 12 hours connected to 12v supply, so I have left it hooked to car for now, and will see what it shows in the morning.
Handbook also says ATC is sealed no maintenance unit, so hoping it will clear, but knowing my luck it will be 'never seen that before sir' fault

 

[Hutch]

I wish you luck, it's horrible trying a remote rescue, to a problem, had that many times with a broken down Helicopter on an oil rig, Get flown to another nearby rig, 2 hour boat trip to the rig, winched up in a Lobster Pot, ( boat to rig crane) standing on the outside, only to find it is a dirty contact on a low pressure oil switch. And the aircraft has an oil gauge as well. As long as one is working the Aircraft can fly.
I think the pilots wanted to stay overnight on the rig as the steaks were fantastic, followed by Ice cream.

Sorry about the Fred Drift.

 

[Hutch]

Lobster pot transfer. Scary , esp when the crane driver is a "Friend" and makes the pot sway a bit. 300 ft up.

 

[IanB1485]

The ATC should only be powered from pin 9 on the 13 pin plug ( permanent +12V) and pin 13 -0V) and should not be active when uncoupled from the car, it sounds like there is a back feed from the leisure battery to pin 9 within the caravan. The Alko ATC instruction manual says to disconnect the supply to reset it , which given you are are getting a red warning flash even when not connected to the car, then disconnecting the leisure battery ( and solar panel) may get the desired result of resetting the system. I have seen red flashing of the LED when powering up pin 9 on my test box with the handbrake on. It seems the ATC, when doing its self test doesn't sense enough resistance when it tries to apply the brakes by pushing the balance bar , which has already been pulled forward by the handbrake. On a training course the instructor told us that if the handbrake cable /rods are out of adjustment the rod of the ATC can move too far forward and jam causing the brakes to lock on. This occurs if a red line on the ATC's push rod is visible.