Hi there I have a fault when the trailer module is plugged in. When there is no light board connected it says check trailer lights ... when there is it works fine... any ideas? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

If you have a 13 pin socket check the contact that closes when a plug is inserted. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

I have the standard 7 - is there a similar thing on that? I just have a rubber cover? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

not that I know of. I would certainly check the back of the socket and make sure its clean and dry though. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

When you say no light board is it the case you have the socket plugged in but there are no lights for the socket to “talk to”. If so then that seems intuitive and it is just saying lights aren’t working as intended? In which case nothing to worry about? I get the warning but that is because I have a duff lead in one trailer indicator.

I would say nfm is right. Mine is slightly different in that, if I have the trailer attached and I switch the engine off, I get the "check trailer lights" message but I just assume it is a reminder to do so before towing. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Interesting so it knows a trailer is connected even without electrics? I don’t have a genuine towbar though? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

Just to throw fuel on the fire.....

Gen wiring in my 07 with the fag packet.

Never had the check trailer lights message in 4/5 years of caravan towing. Connected or not. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

I don’t think it will know if just hitched and no electrics plugged in. My suggested scenario is that the electric socket on the trailer is plugged in but then, with no light board, it throws the code - as it should.

Still trying to track this down...

Looking at it from a different angle - what triggers the green dash indicator? Is there one or two circuits it checks? If so it would be good to know as there would likely be a short? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

You could be onto something here.
If I hitch up the car transporter trailer with conventional tungsten bulbs, the vehicle recognizes it, requests selection of the type of trailer, and also the indicator repeater operates on the dash.
The caravan has LEDs and does not register at all. The lights work fine but no stability program option or towing repeater (naughty).
I will set up a dummy test board in the spring to test which trailer lights actually trigger the towing software.
Until then, any info would be useful. Forty years of progress. 1972-2012

The car senses a trailer is attached by the brake lamp circuit... That is how your car knows the tungsten equipt trailer is there and NOT when the LED trailer is attached, sir... (as the LED's do not draw enough current!)

So, if you're having an issue with a car faulting, telling you there is a trailer when there is not? Then you need to look at the trailer brake lamp circuit on your towing electrics sir

nfm wrote:

I don’t think it will know if just hitched and no electrics plugged in. My suggested scenario is that the electric socket on the trailer is plugged in but then, with no light board, it throws the code - as it should.

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

The car senses a trailer is attached by the brake lamp circuit... That is how your car knows the tungsten equipt trailer is there and NOT when the LED trailer is attached, sir... (as the LED's do not draw enough current!)

So, if you're having an issue with a car faulting, telling you there is a trailer when there is not? Then you need to look at the trailer brake lamp circuit on your towing electrics sir

Thanks Cam-Tech-Craig.
In my case, I can add a dummy load to the LED circuit, increasing the current drawn, and hopefully trick the sensors. Forty years of progress. 1972-2012

Siftah wrote:

nfm wrote:

I don’t think it will know if just hitched and no electrics plugged in. My suggested scenario is that the electric socket on the trailer is plugged in but then, with no light board, it throws the code - as it should.

Could it not sense this though? Extra weight/pressure on the rear air shocks would point to a trailer being hitched, even without the electrics being connected.

Um... No sir... Far too "Hi-Tech" an idea for FF's I'm afraid...