Help - 2013 Ford Transit Brake lights (1 Viewer)

[Clickem]

We were in France and on our first day, after a journey of about 400 miles from home, we got the dreaded message "Engine malfunction". Finding nothing detrimental to the engine we continued to the site, where we stayed for 8 days. In that time I took the van into the local Ford agent, who diagnosed a faulty brake light switch, no brake lights

Returned after a couple of days and they replaced either one or two switches (could be a management switch in there as well as pedal switch) and all sorted

Set off this morning to continue our journey and after about 110 miles we have same problem, malfunction message and no brake lights

I fitted a new tow bar to the van a couple of months ago and used the electrical socket that was already installed and taped to the chassis, and then we fitted a new tow bar mounted bike carrier just before we set off

I am assuming that we have a fault in either the electrical socket or the rack that is causing a large current surge that is burning the switch(s) out. The brake lamp switch is 15 amp fuse, but does not appear to be blown

Not inclined to try another fix in France. We have about 90 miles tomorrow, then a stop of 9 days, then 80 miles for 5 days stop, before setting off home, about 600 miles. Don't want someone shunting me. Anyone experienced this fault or got any simple checks I could do?

TIA

 

[Lenny HB]

What has that got to do with brake lights?

Edit:
Have you just edited your post?
Only the first sentence showed when I posted the above.

Did you have the ECU reprogamed so that it knows there is a tow bar fitted? If not could be the problem.

 

[Clickem]

Yes sorry, I posted before I was ready

Reading Transit forums it appears that a brake light fault can throw up the "engine malfunction" message, and I have both symptoms, the message and no brake lights. Garage replaced switch and message went and brake lights worked - for a while

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[MikeD]

VW polo does the same - daughters brake light switch failed and engine management light came on.

Why would it be is anybodies guess. Does not make much sense to me.

 

[DavidG58]

VW polo does the same - daughters brake light switch failed and engine management light came on.

Why would it be is anybodies guess. Does not make much sense to me.

Seems very sensible to me to give an absolute warning, presuming it doesn't also go into limp mode, now that would be daft with no brake lights

far too many cars running around with no brake lights, having hit one many years ago and got full blame in eyes of the insurers I am far more aware and probably once most months when I get a chance tell someone they have no brake lights, usually to their dismay and horror even disbelief

Sorry to OP cant help, and presuming now the switch has failed again it is too late to disconnect the trailer board lights, which would seem to be the most likely cause of the problem, might still be worth trying, if only the brake light wire, or even just the bulbs. You have a long journey still to do with no brake lights anything must be worth trying

 

[Clickem]

Did you have the ECU reprogamed so that it knows there is a tow bar fitted? If not could be the problem.

@Lenny HB. Absolutely not. The plug and wiring was already provided and folded back and strapped to the chassis. In my naievite I snipped the cable tie, bent the socket cable round and used it

Can you expand on it?

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[Lenny HB]

@Lenny HB. Absolutely not. The plug and wiring was already provided and folded back and strapped to the chassis. In my naievite I snipped the cable tie, bent the socket cable round and used it

Can you expand on it?

Sorry can't help, on some vehicles when the trailer lights are plugged in if the ECU hasn't been updated you can get CANBUS errors which brings up random warning lights.

 

[jonandshell]

More like the socket has a corroded connector causing a bad negative return from the trailer board.
It's probably got indicators trying to find a negative via the brake bulb or visa versa.
I'd pop the trailer socket apart and check all is OK.

 

[andy63]

Just had a quick read through and my first thoughts were as menioned. .
If you have installed the electrics for the tow bar using a socket that was provided then it may have to go on ford's ids and have that configured to work properly...
I would certainly check with ford...
An example was the heated screen I fitted... everything was in place wiring wise ,just no screen...
Had one fitted but it had to go on ford's ids to get it to work...
Andy.

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[Clickem]

Contacted UK Ford agent today who has confirmed that it requires configuration. Thanks for the helpful responses

 

[gus-lopez]

So the Ford agent already used wouldn't have sussed that ?

 

[Clickem]

So the Ford agent already used wouldn't have sussed that ?

Maybe they should have, but they are now 400 miles behind me and the main reason that I intend to return to UK before seeking further assistance from a Ford agent is so that all communications are clear and in English

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[Clickem]

A bit of an update, but also hoping for some more advice, as this problem is still ongoing

We continued our holiday and eventually drove home with no brake lights. Took the van into the local Ford agent, for what I thought was an ECU update and new brake light switch(s)

They informed me that no update was needed - not on my older version of the Transit, and that the problem with my brake lights was a blown fuse. They could give no reason for the cause of the fault other than when they connected their socket tester to my plug it showed a fault - that the indicators were permanently lit, but when the cycle rack is connected, all electrical functions are normal. very difficult to trace a fault that may only happen after a 100 miles or so

Not sure how I can progress this, we are going to Europe with bikes in about 4 weeks

1. Carry a supply of fuses and see what happens

2. Fault seems most likely in wiring to electrical socket, which was installed when the van was built. Could I get more joy from a specialist tow bar fitter?

3. Could the fault be in the new cycle carrier? Is there anyway of testing this?

TIA

 

[Lenny HB]

Not a good idea to just keep replacing fuses, fuses blow for a reason something is overloading the ciruit and you could end up with a fire. Also if it only happens after a 100 miles it sounds like something is running on the limit and probably getting warm.
Should be easy to test the cycle carrier lights as it is only bulbs connected to a plug, first thing to to would be to dismatlethe lights and the plug and check the wiring carefully, you can buy tow bar light testers on eBay.

Unless you can find a towbar fitter who is very conversant with tranie's you would probably be better off going to an auto electrian.