ALCO LED Not lighting

iDriver
iDriver Forum Participant Posts: 40
edited August 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi All,

Just picked up the caravan from storage to go away tomorrow and the ALCO LED is not working, no red light, no green light, nothing.

I can hear the system is activating the push rod as it should when going through its self test proceedure.

Its a 12 month old Bailey Unicorn Cartegena and if I had time, I would be taking it to the dealer for a warranty repair. If I do that it will take god knows how long for them to even look at it screwing up the next 10 days away.

Has anyone else had this and what was the cause? I am guessing its just an LED failure (Both red and green are part of the same LED) As its only fed by two wires they must switch red to green by changing the voltage, again suggesting
its an LED fault rather than a system fault.



Comments

  • Lynton
    Lynton Forum Participant Posts: 50
    edited August 2016 #2

    Hi iDriver, had the exact same issue picked my van up from servicing no green light but heard the mechanisim working no issues there, I rang BWP (Elddis use BWP) and the fault was no power getting the the light had to change the unit, not al,l just for the
    wire that connects to thelight from under the A frame to the light.  This issue not covered underwarranty as bulbs go, bought direct from lesuire+ also got it a trade price  ( about 38 pounds dealer would  add 30%) after speaking with BWP.  Try replacing the
    wire to the light mine was a simple plug in connection even I managed it ok and light working perfect.  Speak with ALKO direct to get there advice.  Hope this helps

    Tony

     

  • mw75
    mw75 Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited August 2016 #3

    Experienced the same fault, the self actuator test ran fine but no LED to confirm all okay. For us this was sorted out under the warranty, just needed a new LED unit (happened within about 12 months from new).

    Mark

  • iDriver
    iDriver Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited August 2016 #4

    Thanks guys, I am going to get it booked in as a warranty claim but im happy the system appears to be working.

     

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited August 2016 #5

    Mine is exactly the same, Bailey Unicorn Cordoba. 18 months old. Already on my second LED which has now stopped working.. Also had the problem wih my last caravan, a Sterling. I have posted on here several times about this problem over the last 4 years.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited August 2016 #6

    Water ingress has done for some.

    Its not voltage reversal but current reversal, the LED is a bipolar LED, which is simply two LEDS connected in reverse parallel.

    You can pick up a smaller type from maplins, but i havent seen the large size for sale apart from the Bailey parts site.

     

  • Watendlath
    Watendlath Forum Participant Posts: 232
    edited August 2016 #7

    Exactly the same on my Unicorn S3 Seville, failed after 12 months. Just the LED - the sysytem was working perfectly. Quick bulb change at the dealer sorted it out.

  • DavidOldmoley
    DavidOldmoley Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited August 2016 #8

    Our previous Pegasus did the same. I lifted the fairing to find that the connection had come apart, due to the way the cable was routed. I re routed it to allow a little slack-no further problems.

  • iDriver
    iDriver Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited August 2016 #9

    Since my original post, we had 2 weeks away in the Caravan and no noticable change in its handling charecteristics. The actuation rod can be seen and heard working in the self test routine so its almost certainly the bulb assembly. 

    I emailed my service agent who are doing it under warranty, just waiting for the call to say they have the part in.

    Thanks for all the replies.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #10

    The bulb is the sort of item I would expect to be held in stock at the dealers

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited August 2016 #11

    Mine has just stopped working, activation OK no green LED, warrranty runs out in 2.5 months so on list with other niggles for dealer to sort at 1st service.

  • iDriver
    iDriver Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited August 2016 #12

    Well yes and no, due to the silly price they dont more than a couple in stock. However, as its a warranty repair it still needs to be formally authorised by Bailey so they will get it authorised and sent through. I had the same with the front grab handles,
    they are peanuts to buy but when its a warranty claim it takes a week or two to be sorted.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #13

    I had a dealer who would say that they would have to wait for authorisation. I simply told them that they had to wait for nothing and that I did not personally care what the manufacturer though as my deal was with the dealer and to sort it for similar parts. 

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #14

    UK consumer laws are more comprehensive than manufacturers warranties.

    Warranties are really to indemnify the dealer but they don't tell you this.

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #15

    I had this problem and it turned out that, simply, the bulb had gone Worried

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #16

    Me too!  Its not just Bailey's, - the light failed on my Coachman over the winter layover last year.  My dealer Highbridge Caravans told me it is a very common fault, effectively bulb failure. It was replaced under warranty without quibble.

    TF