Redarc Towpro will not calibrate.
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 06, 2015 at 22:36
ThreadID:
110637
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21255
Replies:
8
FollowUps:
11
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scottsa
Hi all,
Some time ago, I installed a redarc towpro into my car. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to hook the caravan up until recently so did not calibrate the unit.
Today I did hook it up and for some reason the unit will not calibrate. It just keeps flashing blue and green. It also seems it is sending 12v to the caravan, as it immediately locks the brakes when the car brakes are touched. I assume this is because it is yet to be calibrated. I switched the unit to manual mode, but even on 0 setting it was still locking the brakes. I am not sure if I am doing something wrong or if I was unlucky and got a dud unit. I will be ringing Redarc in the morning, but any ideas beforehand would be appreciated.
Scott
Reply By: Evan 1 - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2015 at 23:29
Tuesday, Jan 06, 2015 at 23:29
Gday
I had the same problem but just did a reset as per the manual and it calibrated immediately. Since then no issues and is working the best of any I have owned.
cheers
Evan
AnswerID:
543836
Follow Up By: scottsa - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2015 at 23:31
Tuesday, Jan 06, 2015 at 23:31
Hi Evan,
In the reset, did you just press and hold the control knob with your foot on the brake (I think it said 10 seconds)? If so, I tried this but with not luck.
Scott.
FollowupID:
830926
Follow Up By: Evan 1 - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 06:41
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 06:41
Hi Scott
yes that is what I did and it worked. Have you contacted the installer about it?
cheers
Evan
FollowupID:
830932
Reply By: Slow one - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 07:56
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 07:56
Scott,
have a look at this link. it may be the reason it won't calibrate.
Redarc tech bulletin
AnswerID:
543843
Follow Up By: scottsa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:44
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:44
Thanks for the link Slow one, I have had a read and it seems to be talking about electric over hydraulic. Unfortunately my caravan is just electric. I have tried cutting power to the unit completely but that hasn't work. Will keep trying.
Scott
FollowupID:
830938
Reply By: Jackolux - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 08:30
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 08:30
Scottsa , I had a look at that link , is your caravan Hydraulic electric brakes .
I'm having a Tow Pro fitted to my new Dmax this week by the dealer before delivery
I only tow a Tvan , electric brakes only .
Jacko
AnswerID:
543845
Follow Up By: scottsa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:55
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:55
Hi Jacko,
Our caravan is also only electric, I will let you know when Redarc get back to me.
Scott
FollowupID:
830939
Follow Up By: Jackolux - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:24
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:24
Yep thanks Scott , I will be interested to hear . Maybe you were unlucky enough to get a dud . If there is only 2 duds out there the 2nd one will have my name on it ( lol )
Jacko
FollowupID:
830941
Reply By: Member - Cuppa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:41
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:41
I would be most interested to hear what the oucome of your problem is Scott. Please let us know if/how you get it resolved.
AnswerID:
543850
Reply By: scottsa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:50
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:50
I have just sent Redarc an email (I believe they are off until the 12th, phone went to a message bank), so will wait on a reply. Thanks for your suggestions and I will let you know of the outcome.
Scott
AnswerID:
543851
Follow Up By: Member - Cuppa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:58
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 09:58
It does sound a bit odd. I installed ours recently (Tvan/electric brakes) & whilst calibrating within moments of the wheel lock up the flashing light changed to a ‘solid’ light as per the manual. You didn’t touch the brake pedal during the process before the calibration had had a chance to complete did you? If practical, if I were you, I’d try a reset, & have another go at the calibration.
FollowupID:
830940
Follow Up By: scottsa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:31
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:31
Being an automatic, I have have to touch the brake to get it into drive, I guess I could try putting the car into gear with the handbrake on then put the trailer plug in, anything is worth a go.
The rest doesn't seem to do anything, as it is still flashing blue and green saying it is out of calibration. I also tried to disconnect the power to the unit but made little difference.
Scott
FollowupID:
830942
Follow Up By: Member - Cuppa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:46
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 10:46
I suspect that is your ‘problem’.
Try:
Drive to long straight quiet road in manual mode, trailer connected.
Stop, in drive, handbrake on.
Set Tow Pro into calibration mode (flashing lights) as per manual.
Take handbrake off & drive off.
Do not touch brakes again until flashing light becomes ‘solid’.
If that doesn’t work I think you have a problem.
FollowupID:
830943
Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 12:00
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 12:00
Going by reports here and there Scott, you can expect to be
well looked after by Redarc (another good South Aussie Company :-)....never heard a negative word about their Tech follow up....quite the opposite.....I queried the tech aspects of one of their products at their front counter a few years ago... the engineer that designed it came out for a chat !
FollowupID:
830948
Reply By: RobAck - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 13:01
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 13:01
There is an excellent video on the RedArc site that takes you through the whole process. We did not hook up the Ulti for over a week post fitting of our TowPro. All we did was follow the instructions in the handbook and the video and it worked perfectly. All we did was set the controller to calibration and drive down the street for several hundred meters and it was all done
Rob
AnswerID:
543857
Reply By: scottsa - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 21:51
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 21:51
Thanks for your thoughtful ideas on my brake controller. I managed to find the issue in trailer plug socket.
When I wired up the controller, I picked up the blue wire that was run into the rear panel when the towing wiring was done so didn't have any need to look at the plug.
At some time in the cars past (before I purchased it), the trailer brake light wire and electric brake wire were reversed. The result was when the brakes were applied in the car, the trailer electric brakes received 12v, hence locking up the brakes on the caravan.
I really should
check the lights when hooking up a trailer as I have been driving around towing for the last 3 or 4 months without any trailer brake lights.
All fixed now and the unit went though its calibration process successfully, and now brakes correctly
Thanks again for everyone's ideas
Scott
AnswerID:
543893
Follow Up By: TomH - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 22:01
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2015 at 22:01
A good idea is each morning
Check the oil water and tyres and when hooking up get wife to
test the lights and brake lights.
FollowupID:
831008
Reply By: swampfox - Thursday, Jan 08, 2015 at 17:41
Thursday, Jan 08, 2015 at 17:41
hi
On paper the Prodigy controller has more features and easier than yours to setup .
Although it is a difficult choice with Redarc having excellent service and made in ozzy .
Good luck with yours ,hoping u get great service from it .
Swampfox
AnswerID:
543937
Follow Up By: Member - Cuppa - Thursday, Jan 08, 2015 at 21:24
Thursday, Jan 08, 2015 at 21:24
I am unable to comment on the Tekonsha, but it is hard for me to imagine that it would be possible to find an easier unit to set up than the Tow Pro.
FollowupID:
831064