No caravan indicator warning sound with on caravan

One pointer is the box referred to is made by Sargant the firm that makes the control panel. The LED lights on the caravan may not in themselves produce enough resistance to enable your car to undertake all the checks which should include an indicator light
failure on the caravan. I suggest you google Swift and LED Lights I`ve seen quite a few variations on the theme to do with LED Lights on caravans.

I think the led tail lights might be a red herring.

Your towcar doens't require a buzzer or separate warning light to stay legal, it just needs to inform you that you have a failed indicator. It will probably do this by flashing your indicators rapidly like it would if the caravan was not attached. Try another
trailer/trailer board with normal bulbs & see what happens and then remove an indicator bulb & see what happens.

I don't have fancy LED lights and my car gives an audible sound when indicating whilst towing. I find it a welcome reminder that I have to allow for the van when pulling out/turning.

We have a santa fe  we don't have any audible warning but we do know when the trailer indicator bulbs don't work the dashboard just flashes rapidly 

im  new to all this so am i right in understanding that if when you have checked all your lights before setting off to make sure they work, if a bulb failes then the car will make a noise to let you know that a bulb has gone ???

Molly is correct regarding you either need an audible or visual warning of the failure of a trailer light, modern cars use the cars Canbas or similar to provide a visual warning of a bulb failure. However a trailer fitted with LED`s can be a problem to some
makes as the current draw is not enough to operate the system. e.g. if you google "Mercedes trailer LED`s" you will begin to get a more detailed picture. Personally I would at least check your cars compatability with a caravan fitted with LED Tail Lights so
as to arrange any modification to the system that is required. 

..... However a trailer fitted with LED`s can be a problem to some makes as the current draw is not enough to operate the system.  ..... 

We're still waiting for Awningman to confirm one way or t'other whether the caravan led indicators are working. The problem with led's is that they generally don't work or rapidly flash the whole outfit cos the car thinks the caravan's indicators have failed.

What's the problem? Do your caravan indicators work? You have led 'bulbs' fitted in the caravan and though there is a faint possibilty of failing, they are likely to last the life of the caravan hence a bulb failure in your car will be waiting a very long
time to tell you of a fault. If the leds didn't draw enough current for the car to see them ...... then they wouldn't work and the car would think a bulb had blown & flash your remaining indicator rapidliy. AFAIK, the box of electrickery adds extra load so
that the car can see the led indicators

Write your comments here...I fully hear what you are saying, but I for one, do not tow any vehicle on the assumption that the indicator, bulb or LED will last a lifetime.

I have been towing vehicles large and small for over 48 years and have learnt and relied on the legally required audio warning which can save lives.

..Bailey had that very problem and were retro fitting "boxes" but i understand they have gone back to bulbs

ford amarican thats news to me always thought ford was british, well mi other cars a skoda, not got a clue were that came from all i know is i picked it up in leeds

Whilst you do not have an audible indicator do you have a visual one? We tow with an Audi and we have visual only and I believe that you need either audible OR visual. Also did you specify that the car would be used for towing and have a factory fitted bar
and electrics or have it fitted later as this may affect things as well. I know that when I got my car I made it clear that I would be towing and,after a lot of hassle,Audi agreed to supply and fit a supplementary wiring kit as VW/Audi group bar electrics
will not power your fridge or van battery.

Write your comments here... Prior to purchase, I was asked by two different sales men what car would I be towing with and neither made me aware of the LED indicator problem. Their service engineer was fully aware of this issue and therefor, I would assume
the sales reps. were too.

This problem is going to escalate when the new Swift vans are released in the Spring as I purchased the show room van and I personally think Swift should be installing these indicator sensor boxes as standard to ensure every new owner has indication of indicator
failure. After all, Swift have created this problem which is both illegal when towing and dangerous.

I will be asking my dealer at Flint Caravan Sales as to why they let me tow away this van knowing full well that is has an indicator issue. I shall also be contacting Swift as I do not think that I should be footing a £100+ bill to have this device fitted
as an after sales modification.

Finally, how do I get this box fitted if the van is on my drive and would be both illegal and dangerous for me to return it to the dealer or other?

As you appear to be a new Swift owner, I suggest you join us on Swift Talk where this is discussed and action can be suggested.

One thread running which has links to Sargent who produce specific boxes to fix this issue is:

http://www.swift-talk.co.uk/swift/forum/caravan-technical/177760/led-lights

On another thread (can't remember) it is fully explained that it is the "fault" of the car manufacturers introducing their individual CANBUS systems which requires a bespoke solution to ensure everything trailer wise works and is legal.

Going back to bulbs (as Bailey seem to have done?) is a bit of a cop out but  will obviously prevent issues of this nature until/if there is  ever a consistent way to address trailer LED lights within the CANBUS system.

I do feel that the dealer has let you down somewhat in that this could have been arranged and sorted during your purchase.

You do mention your car model and, as suggested testing with a standard bulb trailer board would check the connections are correct (is your fridge and ATC, if fitted working correctly?)

@Awningman .... do your indicators work? AFAIK the Sargent box of electrickery is intended for use on cars where the led trailer indicators don't draw enough current for the car to see them resulting in them not working at all.

@Awningman .... do your indicators work? AFAIK the Sargent box of electrickery is intended for use on cars where the led trailer indicators don't draw enough current for the car to see them resulting in them not working at all.

Write your comments here...All car and caravan lights working, but quoting
cyberyacht "my car gives an audible sound when indicating whilst towing. I find it a welcome reminder that I have to allow for the van when pulling out/turning." hence my comment earlier about towing for over 48 years, it is something that I rely on.

So all is working fine & legally as it should and you don't .... as I said .... need the box of elecctrickery fitting.