Help Headlight’s keep turning on!

[Nedge68]

Hi Funsters,
Found my cab battery warning light flashing this morning, then noticed headlights were on, ignition was off, dash in darkness. Turned then off, only to be told they had come back on again, engine started ok and now at Chatsworth for 2 nights. The lights keep turning back on, went to set the non-starter but got error telling me it won’t block as the Ignition is ON. Strange when the key is in my pocket. Called Vanbitz and MetaTrak and now booked in with dealer, I have disconnected the battery negative to stop the battery draining. Any ideas anyone? Battery is current showing 12.43V Ford transit Mk8 2022

 

[EricS]

Hi Funsters,
Found my cab battery warning light flashing this morning, then noticed headlights were on, ignition was off, dash in darkness. Turned then off, only to be told they had come back on again, engine started ok and now at Chatsworth for 2 nights. The lights keep turning back on, went to set the non-starter but got error telling me it won’t block as the Ignition is ON. Strange when the key is in my pocket. Called Vanbitz and MetaTrak and now booked in with dealer, I have disconnected the battery negative to stop the battery draining. Any ideas anyone? Battery is current showing 12.43V Ford transit Mk8 2022

Hi
There have been a number of reports of this happening on Chausson motorhomes, it would appear that condensation can run down the inside of the windscreen and get into the 'body control module'. Not sure if this would be your problem given the recent warm weather, but something to check.

 

[Pausim]

Not sure if this would be your problem given the recent warm weather, but something to check.

Plenty of rain at Barnard Castle when I was there last week.

 

[Nedge68]

Hi EricS
I will get the BCM checked had some heavy condensation the other morning…

 

[Sasbo]

Does your Mk8 have the auto headlights option. If so, disable on the rotary light switch.

If it doesn't, ignore this!!

 

[ROCHESB]

We had a similar experience with a Transit MK7 based Hobby van we had some years back. In our case it was caused by water getting into a socket under the van (intended for towing electrics wiring loom) that was wrapped in a plastic bag which had filled up with water. In our case we had problems turning the engine off too, I had to stall it to stop. We had both lights and wipers activating by themselves too.

 

[Nedge68]

been to the dealers today but they were unable to find anything, which I appreciate is difficult because the fault wasn’t showing when they had it, hopefully just a CANBUS gremlin that won’t happen again, here’s hoping…
EricS where did you hear about a number of reports?

 

[EricS]

been to the dealers today but they were unable to find anything, which I appreciate is difficult because the fault wasn’t showing when they had it, hopefully just a CANBUS gremlin that won’t happen again, here’s hoping…
EricS where did you hear about a number of reports?

This was reported on the Chausson owners group Facebook page. I will not copy across from that page as it is a private group. However some detail below.

"With further discussion with Ford the source of the short is the C311 connector which is located on the passenger side of the van in the dash under the cup holder. " "This happens from condensation from the windscreen" "This damage causes the BCM to go into safe mode. The flashing headlights indicates this."

Hope this helps

Eric

 

[Nedge68]

This was reported on the Chausson owners group Facebook page. I will not copy across from that page as it is a private group. However some detail below.

"With further discussion with Ford the source of the short is the C311 connector which is located on the passenger side of the van in the dash under the cup holder. " "This happens from condensation from the windscreen" "This damage causes the BCM to go into safe mode. The flashing headlights indicates this."
View attachment 666246
Hope this helps

Eric

Thanks Eric - I don’t have Facebook. That is really helpful information.

 

[Beck]

been to the dealers today but they were unable to find anything, which I appreciate is difficult because the fault wasn’t showing when they had it, hopefully just a CANBUS gremlin that won’t happen again, here’s hoping…
EricS where did you hear about a number of reports?

Thank you hopefully we can resolve issue.

 

[pxh38257]

Plenty of rain at Barnard Castle when I was there last week.

Gods country

 

[PhilMary]

Gods country

Gods country for blind Government advisors, so I heard.

 

[Jonno1103]

Hi Funsters,
Found my cab battery warning light flashing this morning, then noticed headlights were on, ignition was off, dash in darkness. Turned then off, only to be told they had come back on again, engine started ok and now at Chatsworth for 2 nights. The lights keep turning back on, went to set the non-starter but got error telling me it won’t block as the Ignition is ON. Strange when the key is in my pocket. Called Vanbitz and MetaTrak and now booked in with dealer, I have disconnected the battery negative to stop the battery draining. Any ideas anyone? Battery is current showing 12.43V Ford transit Mk8 2022

It's water in the BCM. Ford will replace it under the terms of the 3 year warranty plus there's also a recall for the auto relock time span.
Don't bother booking it in with the dealer, it needs to go to a Transit Centre and you'll be quicker sorting that yourself.
No dealer is equipped to touch an early 8th Gen', 2019 Facelift or 2021 MK 8.5 base vehicle.

 

[David and Sally]

Guess what? Heavy condensation on the screen yesterday and tonight the lights keep coming on every ten mins. Go off if I click the fob.

On a site in Cirencester so not too far from home so I guess we will have to contact Ford in the morning to get the BCM checked.

Bloody annoying as off to Spain at the end of the month so needs sorting. Any updates from any Ford Transit based motorhomes please?

 

[Wibs]

Guess what? Heavy condensation on the screen yesterday and tonight the lights keep coming on every ten mins. Go off if I click the fob.

On a site in Cirencester so not too far from home so I guess we will have to contact Ford in the morning to get the BCM checked.

Bloody annoying as off to Spain at the end of the month so needs sorting. Any updates from any Ford Transit based motorhomes please?

Ditto here, lights coming on every 10 mins requiring a reset.

Battery disconnected overnight (a pox on Ford for no having a manual lock on the passenger door), battery now being charged and will have a go at the offending connectors once I can move the driver’s seat backwards.

Very unimpressed with Ford’s poor reliability and over-complex design.

 

[IanW18]

Is this similar to adamo23’s issue?
Water Ingress Transit mk8 sorted

 

[David and Sally]

RAC disconnected the battery. Said BCM was wet
Left it a few days and when dry it was ok.

 

[David and Sally]

Is this similar to adamo23’s issue?
Water Ingress Transit mk8 sorted

No. That is injectors.

The BCM is under the driver’s cup holder. Water runs down the inside of the screen and tracks onto the BCM.
We always use the outside and inside screens now to avoid condensation on the screen

 

[DT9447]

Our intermittent light issue was due to water dripping from a poor gully design within the engine bay below the windscreen drains. Wiring loom multiplug positioned directly under the dripping gully. Fashioned a 'shoot' for the water and haven't had a problem since. Ford / Bailey Alora poor design for sure https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/bailey-alora-electronics-water-on-loom-plug.316126/

 

[Wibs]

Ditto here, lights coming on every 10 mins requiring a reset.

Battery disconnected overnight (a pox on Ford for no having a manual lock on the passenger door), battery now being charged and will have a go at the offending connectors once I can move the driver’s seat backwards.

Very unimpressed with Ford’s poor reliability and over-complex design.

(Can’t edit that post…)

After disconnecting the battery overnight and charging it today, it’s been reconnected and the light problem seems to have gone away all by itself. Hmm, turn it off and on again works for computers, maybe that now applies to motor vehicles which all seem to have more computers than the Apollo Mission Control.

I tried to take a look at the BCM (Body Control Module — the computer which runs the lights, wipers, immobiliser, etc.) which is often mentioned as having issues with dampness along with some connectors in that area. No avail for this novice!

Also, that old issue with the gulley under the windscreen getting filled up with water was there. Had a closer look under the bonnet and there’s a couple of drains on either side of the moulding which open on to some trunking that routes the water out between the front wing and inner wing. Both drains blocked with leaf litter; poking it with a finger and sticking a key into the hole let the small pond drain out (with a whirlpool down the hole!).

So at least I’ve found the main battery and am keeping an eye on it as I’m pondering if the stupid lights coming on every 10 mins is something to do with the battery getting close to end of life — it’s now six years old (from when the trannie was made by Ford)

 

[PicoTrain]

We had exactly the same issue after 2 days over ownership and it was nothing to do with the BCM it was water (windscreen condensation) that had dripped down on the the large electrical multiplug on the passenger side A post, removed glovebox, cleaned plugs, large dose of water repellent and for safe measure, unclipped the plug and cable tied it further up so any future water running down the wires will simply drip down and fall on the rubber mats and can no longer find its way in to the plug.

The Ford main dealers are generally not aware of this issue unless they regularly deal with motorhome as this problem appears to only really affect the motorhomes due to large amounts of windscreen condensation not generally a problem on in converted transits.

 

[Wibs]

What battery voltage would be considered end of life?

Charged the (motive) battery for 5 hours on the Ford Transit (built in 2019) and measured the connected battery at 12.65V. Two days later it’s reading 12.25V.

Pondering replacing the battery; any thoughts?

 

[Pausim]

What battery voltage would be considered end of life?

Charged the (motive) battery for 5 hours on the Ford Transit (built in 2019) and measured the connected battery at 12.65V. Two days later it’s reading 12.25V.

Pondering replacing the battery; any thoughts?

A 2019 Ford Transit might well have a smart alternator and lower voltages are normal. Has the battery voltage dropped recently?

 

[Wibs]

The first voltage measured at 12.65V just after the battery was charged and was reconnected to the van.

Two days later — van not moved, just parked — I re-measured the voltage at the battery as 12.25V.

Will measure it again later today.

(I know this is a bit of a dumb question but I’ve had cars for many years that have never failed like this Transit van! Normally the battery fails by being flat when you want to start the car; bung the charger on for 15 mins and it’ll start. Then drive to a garage to get it replaced.)

 

[Pausim]

If you have a smart alternator those voltages may not be exceptional. Does it start ok?

 

[gus-lopez]

RAC disconnected the battery. Said BCM was wet
Left it a few days and when dry it was ok.

I'd want the ingress cured

We always use the outside and inside screens now to avoid condensation on the screen

as above

I¡d blow with expanding foam & let it go elsewhere