Alko ATC system
we are currently in Franceand having trouble with our Alko system. It seemed to jam the brakes on when we arrived on site and we couldn't manoeuvre the van onto the pitch. Red Flag got a mechanic out who disconnected the ATC system which at least got us
on the pitch and we have since moved on without any problems.
My question is when I get back to the UK will a normal caravan service shop be able to fix the Alko or do I need a specialist?
Comments
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Unless things have changed there are very few service shops that can do much with them other than check for correct powering and replace LEDs.
Have you tested that the car is actually provding the 12 VDC power for the ATC to be able to release? I say this in knowing car/connection problems are frequently to blame with reported ATC "failures". Coupling to a different car is one easy way to do a
simple test.0 -
Mine failed but the brakes were off,
to test it wasn,t the cars 12v supply I wired a 13pin socket to a pair of crocodile clips and connected direct to the car battery,
mine kept the red led flashing.
so I opened the unit up and removed the epicyclic gearbox and wound the actuator out then refitted the gearbox,
when I powered it up again it would wind the actuator in but not wind it back out.
I repeated the above steps a few times, same result.
I then followed the circuit board tracks back from the motor to a small black relay , which had a bulge and crack in it where the contacts were,
So I removed the relay which was a pig to do as the circuit board was double sided, I sourced a new relay from eBay as it was a special type, unfortunately I couldnt solder the new relay in on both sides well enough.
I proved the operation of the motor by linking parts of the circuit board with wire,
but in the end I had to bite the bullet and get a new atc unit.
my local caravan dealer showed me a few atc that had failed but they didnt know why but we're going to check to see if the same relay had failed .
We did notice my twin axle unit had a different colour spring in than the single axle units they showed me.
alko were awful to deal with the woman who I spoke to was obnoxious, in the end I just got my local dealer to replace the atc for me.
I would try a 13 pin socket wired direct to a battery 1st.
Mine towed ok without it .
hope you get sorted ok
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Crikey Dorman you lost me after the first sentence!
i guess I will have to put it in the hands of my servicor and hope they know what they are doing. Don't like the sound of a new ATC system sounds expensive. Do these things have a guarantee? If so how long, bet it's not 10 years!
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Sorry ocsid i didn't reply to your post. The car is supplying power to the ATC, even now that it has been disconnected it still does the power up noises under the A frame. Unfortunately now that it has been disconnected I can't do any more until I return.
I must admit in the past it has needed a little persuasion on occasion, such as turning the car ignition on and off and fiddling with the grey power plug. I always put it down to dirt on the terminals as our caravan tends to stand for long periods between
use.Thanks for the advice though.
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