Electrical problem, new to caravanning!

Niamh01
Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
edited July 2017 in Caravans #1

Just bought a new Xplore 304 & a new Jeep Cherokee to tow it. Fridge won't work on the tow bar (just bleeps etc.) & 12v supply is not shutting down on tow bar either as we are told it should. Caravan supplier has checked fridge on his machine that mimics a tow bar and works ok. Tow bar fitter says he has fitted it correctly but puzzled & says to bring back tomorrow. We are new to caravanning, can anyone help us please?!

Hugh & Emer

Comments

  • crusader
    crusader Forum Participant Posts: 299
    100 Comments
    edited July 2017 #2

    Ok did you once connected to the car with the engine running switch the fridge to car. the connection to the car won't work unless the engine is running, this is to protect your car battery from running flat. the fridge once connected as above will then need to be set to car or towing I have a the same curved door fridge and a Grand Cherokee so yes I know what you have

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited July 2017 #3

    Yes we have turned engine on & switched to the appropriate setting but the setting & warning triangle just blink & bleep. We have tried leaving it like this to see if it corrected itself as we drove along but it didn't, fridge didn't stay cool

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited July 2017 #4

    12v should go off also but it doesn't, strangely the dial above the master switch (showing power to the battery) seems to drop though

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2017 #5

    Has the software on your Jeep been updated for towing in order to enable the socket electrics since the tow bar was fitted, best to have it done at main dealer.

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited July 2017 #6

    We are leaving the car in with Jeep on Tues as the tow bar fitter noticed it wasn't revving as much as another Cherokee he had in the workshop. Will mention software to them when we leave it in. Thank you all, will keep you updated

  • crusader
    crusader Forum Participant Posts: 299
    100 Comments
    edited July 2017 #7

    can I suggest that you turn off the fridge disconnect the EHU then start the car with the van connected and then turn the fridge on to car settings. If that fails it sounds like the car socket wiring is at fault the connections are very close together and it's possible to connect the wires in the wrong order I say this because the fridge is not getting any power hence the bleeping  

  • crusader
    crusader Forum Participant Posts: 299
    100 Comments
    edited July 2017 #8

    I never had a update done when I had mine done and it works fine but there again I didn't use a main dealership 

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited July 2017 #9

    Yes we always turn the fridge off, disconnect, then switch back on again when connected to tow bar & car engine running but just flashes & bleeps immediately. The caravan dealer said he connected caravan to another tow bar and it worked so must be the car as the tow bar fitter has checked everything and can find nothing wrong with the tow bar. We will have to see what Jeep find on Tuesday. Frustrating!

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited August 2017 #10

    I seem to recall our fridge having a power source problem and even when sorting the problem out the fridge still beeped and flash a warning. I eventually got around to looking at the instruction book and we found you had to reset the warning light by pressing and holding down the warning triangle.

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited August 2017 #11

    Car in garage this morning, think we tried holding down the warning triangle but didn't work. Will try again though if still a problem.

    Trying to load a picture on our profile, appears but won't remain after updating, is there a problem with this?

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited August 2017 #12

    Vulcan

    Thank you, you were right. Jeep ran car (which is only 10 months old) through a software update and the fridge is now working on the tow bar plus the 12v is going off as it should do. Relieved as we want to take the caravan abroad and need fridge to be working between stops!

    Thanks to everyone for your help.

    Little Lamb

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited August 2017 #13

    Glad you have got it sorted in time for your hols but I can't understand why the caravan dealer or tow bar fitter didn't mention it.

  • Niamh01
    Niamh01 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited August 2017 #14

    Neither did, we had to ask them!

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