Thread: AL-KO stability control fit

Originally Posted by 4WDBucko

Just joined and saying Hi to everyone.
Does anyone know how to connect an AL-KO stability control system to a D4 2016 model. My mechanic has taken a week to fit and still hasn't finished. Bit worried that he doesn't know how to do it.

Is he charging you by the hour or job?

The van already has it?
The D4 already has a very effective trailer stability system.

There was a mumbling a while back on here that they can fight each other a bit.

Welcome aboard Bucko
I think you need to get your head around the sytem.From what I have read here,the Al-Ko sytem is fitted to the van,if the van is over 2000kg(most are) you need to provide a 12v feed from your vehicle to the van,others have done this by buying a UK type white plug fitting(your vehicle has 2 plugs,the white euro fitting on the left and the black aussie fitting on the left.There are 2 12V feeds that are suitable in the white plug.
NOW.You MUST have an electric brake controller in your vehicle,this is where you auto sparky will struggle if he hasn't done a D4 before.He MUST wire it a certain way,normal methods are WRONG and WILL cause problems.
We have a thread covering the fitting of Electric Brake Controlers to D4 vehicles,its the only way it can be done,the original author,Sniegy is a senior Land Rover dealer mechanic,its a long thread,your vehicle comes in the upgrade so your "splice" isn't behind the LHS tail light,its in the rear LHS panel,reading the thread will shed light on this.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-disco...er-brakes.html
There is a diode in the system,its important to protect the computers,covered in the thread.Many of us have the Redarc Tow Pro.There have been discussions of its compatability with the Al-Ko system,you will need to look into that,Redarc say its OK.
ENJOY
Andrew

From what I understand the alko also esc fitted to a caravan or trailer simply needs a live power supply usually from the towing vehicle to energise the trailer brake magnets. The esc is contained within the trailer and does not function together with the car esc. It is I understand a relatively simple device that detects sideways acceleration and at determined g levels applies the trailer brakes, tries to slam them on. A pretty crude set up really but they work to a degree. The alko esc doesn't relate with or work with the car brake controller, a separate system to trigger the brake magnets.
Simmo

Correct Simmo1, but it does set up some interesting harmonics between the vehicle (D4) and van as both are trying to counter the same thing...

Originally Posted by 4WDBucko

Just joined and saying Hi to everyone.
Does anyone know how to connect an AL-KO stability control system to a D4 2016 model. My mechanic has taken a week to fit and still hasn't finished. Bit worried that he doesn't know how to do it.

Hi Bucko and welcome aboard.

Think you may be right about your auto elec not knowing what he is doing.

If you can, post up more details of what he is supposed to be doing and what sort of setup you have in your D4 and caravan, in the way of a dual battery system if you have one.

The reason I ask is that, depending on the Dual battery system you might have, you actually do not need to connect the AL-KO system directly to your D4 and can simply connect to the power going from your D4 to your house battery in the van.

Also, does your auto elec know that if your caravan is over 2000kg it has to have both a Breakaway Battery ( National requirement ) and an in-cab indicator ( NSW State requirement ) in your D4 to show whether the Breakaway Battery is OK?

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Bucko and welcome aboard.

Think you may be right about your auto elec not knowing what he is doing.

If you can, post up more details of what he is supposed to be doing and what sort of setup you have in your D4 and caravan, in the way of a dual battery system if you have one.

The reason I ask is that, depending on the Dual battery system you might have, you actually do not need to connect the AL-KO system directly to your D4 and can simply connect to the power going from your D4 to your house battery in the van.

Also, does your auto elec know that if your caravan is over 2000kg it has to have both a Breakaway Battery ( National requirement ) and an in-cab indicator ( NSW State requirement ) in your D4 to show whether the Breakaway Battery is OK?

If it is an off road van they have the Alko ESC connected to the tug using a special red Anderson plug. The reason they do this is because when you go off road the rock and roll of the van over rough ground can trigger the Alko ESC - the separate plug enables you to unplug the ESC function while keeping the rest powered. If it is not off road it is probably just wired to the 12 pin or van battery I am guessing.


It is a pain with the new van I have just ordered with a video cable, 12 ping connector, grey Anderson and red Anderson. Hence a bit of extra cabling of the D4 needed on top of the already wired Anderson and brake controller (Tekonsha which is compatible with alko). I will wire the Alko power in a separate run of 6mm2 cable to battery via a self resetting breaker. I will probably end up with alko unplugged permanently as I have heard that the TSA and Alko fight each other. Alternatively I may have TSA function disabled in the D4 config file (have to look into this further). At present there is a parameter called trailer stability assist or words to that effect and mine says undefined at present. so I may try disabled setting.

Hi Billy, you do not need a separate wire/cable loom run through your D4 for your ESC.

All you need is one of these STAR PLUGS placed between the dual battery Anderson plug on your D4 and the Anderson plug on cables going to your caravan house batteries, and you can then plug and unplug the ESC connection as you require.

Job done.