No Audible or Visual Warning in Vehicle

[WilliamTups]

Hi,

I've recently brought a Saab 9-3 (07 model) fitted with a Saab Towbar and 13 pin electrics, but when I connect up the caravan I seem to have no audible or visual warning in vehicle when signalling.

Has anyone else experienced this? Since I understand that I am required to have some form of audible or visual warning in vehicle whilst towing

Regards, Bill

 

[ColinA]

Not sure about this one william but I have read that you dot need someting to tell you if your turn signals are working as long as you have something to tell you if they are not. obviously if thid id the case with your car you would see or here nothing if they are working. im sure someone will be alng soon who can tell you if this is the case. lutz maybe?

Colin.

 

[WilliamTups]

Thanks Colin,

In the handbook its says that the car has a bulb warning system that extends to the trailer when connected and can tell you which particular bulb has failed. Also the signals do have a slight audible tone (without the trailer) and also there is a visual direction flash warning in the Driver Information Systems (Speedo to me)

But in all my other tow cars there has been either a louder tone when signalling (coming from a secondary buzzer) or a trailer light that flashes - hence why I am unsure about the Saab.

 

[Damian]

William, there is a legal requirement to have either a visual or audible indication that the indicators are working on the van when towing.

It would appear that either the towbar fitter has not fitted the warning device or the feed to the device has become disconnected.

In any event you should get it rectified.

 

[ColinA]

Not sure about this one william but I have read that you dot need someting to tell you if your turn signals are working as long as you have something to tell you if they are not. obviously if thid id the case with your car you would see or here nothing if they are working. im sure someone will be alng soon who can tell you if this is the case. lutz maybe?

Colin.

Bloody hee whits tet speelin aboot

 

[RogerL]

If the Saab had a factory-fit towing system, it would use a bulb in the dashboard to show the indicators working properly when towing. If it was a dealer-fit (or later) it probably won't use the dash bulb as it's too fiddly to retro-fit.

It's a legal requirement to have a audible or visual signal to show the indicators working when towing but I doubt it's ever checked - most of my cars haven't had one working, despite wiring by me! My present one has an audible.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi William .

It looks as tho this one may go on for a bit .

I bought a 4X4 with only one plug fiteed , answer fit your own grey plug .

Towsure , split charge relay. no audiable sound from relay , now im not sure but one our techies on here will be sure to put you right in the end.

Now the only thing I am sure of is.....If A bulb on the flasher of caravan or traler fails it shows up on the dash like one side or the flashes fast.

Best I can do. Regards Stewart

 

[vernon]

The Saab will have multiplex wiring, like my VW, and I'm not sure if your can fit buzzers to cars with multiplex wiring. It may be a case of car electronics design advancing faster than the regulations writers.

 

[WilliamTups]

Update:

I've found out from the Saab Dealer and also this has been backed up by a tech sheet from the Caravan Club (Towbar Wiring, Section 3.5.8) that some cars (like my Saab) which are fitted with bulb failure systems that extend to the trailer comply to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 and as a result of using the manufacture "plug in" towing electrics there is no need to have an additional audible or visual warning fitted to the vehicle since the cars on board computer systems will warn you of bulb failure.

 

[RonD]

Update:

I've found out from the Saab Dealer and also this has been backed up by a tech sheet from the Caravan Club (Towbar Wiring, Section 3.5.8) that some cars (like my Saab) which are fitted with bulb failure systems that extend to the trailer comply to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 and as a result of using the manufacture "plug in" towing electrics there is no need to have an additional audible or visual warning fitted to the vehicle since the cars on board computer systems will warn you of bulb failure.

I had a Vauxhall fitted towbar and electrics and had the same situation. In fact if a bulb fails on the trailer the dash indicator flashes faster to warn you. Try removing a bulb from the van and see what happens. This confirms Colin A's posting.

 

[David_374346284]

Update:

I've found out from the Saab Dealer and also this has been backed up by a tech sheet from the Caravan Club (Towbar Wiring, Section 3.5.8) that some cars (like my Saab) which are fitted with bulb failure systems that extend to the trailer comply to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 and as a result of using the manufacture "plug in" towing electrics there is no need to have an additional audible or visual warning fitted to the vehicle since the cars on board computer systems will warn you of bulb failure.

I don't have a Saab but had the same worries with a Honda CR-V.

When towing there is no difference in the way the indicators work. There is no extra light for the caravan indicators and no obvious fail buzzer or lamp. However, as I discovered when I towed a caravan with a blown indicator bulb, if one of the indicators is not working it flashes at double speed.

Perhaps it is the same with your Saab.

 

[Mike_5040866]

I concur with Ron D I recently bought a new vectra.

No different indicator sound or action when van in tow.

took this up with the Vauxhall garage who confirmed by email ( Which i have kept) that I will notice the difference from the cars warning system should there be a failure

 

[RogerL]

The GM (Vauxhall, Opel, Saab) bulb failure system (check control) will only detect trailer bulb failure IF the factory-fit GM towing electrics are fitted.

If third party electrics are fitted a conventional audible or visual warning device is needed.

 

[Charlie25]

The GM (Vauxhall, Opel, Saab) bulb failure system (check control) will only detect trailer bulb failure IF the factory-fit GM towing electrics are fitted.

If third party electrics are fitted a conventional audible or visual warning device is needed.

You will also find new plug-in systems that use a "double flash rate" on the standard dash indicator warning light to show a bulb failure