Clicking & flicking trailer relay / light

Hi,

I've got a freelander with a tow bar but haven't used it with a trailer at all, . Lights and indicators all functioning perfectly but yesterday whilst driving the indicator relay starting clicking quickly and repeatedly and the green tow bar indicator flashed to match. However the left right dash indicator lights didn't come on.

When I used the indicators left or right it stopped and everything works as normal inside and out, but it starts again immediately I switch them off.

Checked when stationery externally nothing is flashing whilst it's fast clicking, use indicators, everything functioning normally, but fast clicking returns when I switch indicators off.

I pulled the relay under the dash, then nothing works, back in...same issue.

Would you think this could be a faulty relay in dash, or is there another trailer relay that's giving a faulty signal.

I'll head to pick up another relay but thought I'd ask in the meantime.

Much appreciated

Rob

Hobbesy said:

Hi,

I've got a freelander with a tow bar but haven't used it with a trailer at all, . Lights and indicators all functioning perfectly but yesterday whilst driving the indicator relay starting clicking quickly and repeatedly and the green tow bar indicator flashed to match. However the left right dash indicator lights didn't come on.

When I used the indicators left or right it stopped and everything works as normal inside and out, but it starts again immediately I switch them off.

Checked when stationery externally nothing is flashing whilst it's fast clicking, use indicators, everything functioning normally, but fast clicking returns when I switch indicators off.

I pulled the relay under the dash, then nothing works, back in...same issue.

Would you think this could be a faulty relay in dash, or is there another trailer relay that's giving a faulty signal.

I'll head to pick up another relay but thought I'd ask in the meantime.

Much appreciated

Rob

Click to expand...

I found similar-ish issues but nothing quite as specific.

Hobbesy said:

I found similar-ish issues but nothing quite as specific.

Click to expand...

And lastly it's a 2005 model with what looks like a factory fitted Landrover tow bar

The clicking relay is this Lucas SFB191, it's electronic so I guess more likely to have a strange repeated fault than a good old fashioned electromagnetic one....which would (probably) work or not.

Anyway I'm off to try and get one. Quite enjoying answering my own post....hahaha...

I know nothing of freelanders. but does it have a factory tow bar plug that you can just unplug and check how things are?
So you could rule out the wiring at the tow bar socket or not .

J

Thanks for the reply. In the meantime I've just popped down to an indépendant Landy place, they didn't have one but the nice garage owner let me take one out of a similar Freelander with a towbar and try it in mine. Perfect.... All working fine. Didn't let me keep it though....hahaha.

Anyway, ordered one for tomorrow from a factors...

So a faulty electronic relay can indeed lead to rapid clicking errors.

I'm rather chuffed I've answered it myself.


Cheers

Rob

Hobbesy said:

Thanks for the reply. In the meantime I've just popped down to an indépendant Landy place, they didn't have one but the nice garage owner let me take one out of a similar Freelander with a towbar and try it in mine. Perfect.... All working fine. Didn't let me keep it though....hahaha.

Anyway, ordered one for tomorrow from a factors...

So a faulty electronic relay can indeed lead to rapid clicking errors.

I'm rather chuffed I've answered it myself.


Cheers

Rob

Click to expand...

Well done. Could it be that there's a short in the trailer wiring, which caused the flasher unit to fail?

Not the same problem but I have just bought Led rear lights for the trailer now the trailer light on the dash doesn’t light up with the indicators on progress

Insufficient current drawn by the LEDs to operate the trailer indicator circuit in the flasher. Some fit resistors across LEDs to increase current.