Thread: D4 Electric Trailer Brake Wiring

Originally Posted by MTV

Just been introduced to aulro forum and very impressed with all the great info available, as a newby to forums I'm not to sure how this all works but I'll give ago, I'm currently in the middle of installing a DBS from Traxide and all is going well, also installing a Redarc Tow Pro but having trouble with the correct wiring, I have run a blue wire to the rear at the same time I ran the wiring for Anderson plug I'm just a little unsure wear the red wire should be connected to Oh I guess I should mention the vehicle is a 2010 D4 HSE TDV6 I have been looking and reading the forum but still a little unsure I was wondering if there is place in the loom close to brake pedal wear you join the red wire??? Any help would be much appreciated MTV

Welcome Aboard.
Definately no connections at the pedals,read this thread right thru,I did several times.The go is to run a twin wire with the DBS system for the 2 EBC wires.Make sure you fit the diode,its important to protect the vehicles electronics in case of a fault,the EBC doesnt need it.
You will find the mob here pretty helpful when you need info,all you need to do is ask.
ENJOY
Andrew

You know whilst travelling back from Lismore the other day Andy I got seriously thinking about this diode issue.

So let's say the brake controller does in fact fail and cause an issue with the vehicle electronics because there is no diode fitted.

What happens next? I imagine the vehicle comes to an abrupt halt, with no electrics. This could mean a catastrophe. If the engine is not running, you are going to struggle to pull up the car (no vacuum, less braking power).

You are also going to be towing something, quite possibly in the 3.5t range (because that's their legal towing capacity, so let's work with that).

Now you have no electrics, so guess what, no electric brakes either.

So now you're flying down a highway, at 100km/h with no vehicle brakes, or caravan brakes.

I seriously think if this diode was as necessary as some believe than Land Rover would have issued a complete vehicle recall to fit these retrospectively. Why haven't they issued any literature to owners? Why haven't they publicly addressed the issue?

Given they pride themselves on this being a strong tow vehicle, it's likely a good percentage of their owners will use the vehicle to tow, so therefore it surely is a high risk exercise.

If I didn't get on AULRO, I wouldn't have had any idea about the diode, and I seriously suspect many auto-electricians wouldn't know either.

im only going on what Sniegy posted.He is a mechanic for a Land Rover Dealership.Early on he mentioned that the diode wasnt needed on the D4.He later posted that he had a service buletin from Land Rover saying that a diode must me fitted.
Land Rover wont want to know about the EBCs,its an aftermarket accessory even if a dealer fits it
Andrew

Would be good if the AUS vehicles were built with the same EBC plug and play loom that the North American market gets.

For those woried about the diode,do you understand what it actually does????
It is no different than the turnstile into Coles you can only go in not out.Its fitted in the wire in the direction the current flows.Current can only flow thru the diode in one direction.
What it prevents is feedback current from a failed brake solenoid/wiring issue flowing backwards thru the system.Its this current you are potentialy saving your ECU from getting fried by.
Andrew

Sniegy would it be possible to publish the service bulletin number or identifying description so that I can tell my local dealer. I have asked him to check out what is necessary for his customers when they have EBCs fitted so that everybody gets the same story. So far I am getting the "I'll look into it" line and little else. If I could identify the article for him it would make it much simpler and then I can get the autoelec that they recommend to fix my installation.
Thanks

Originally Posted by ScottD4

You know whilst travelling back from Lismore the other day Andy I got seriously thinking about this diode issue.

So let's say the brake controller does in fact fail and cause an issue with the vehicle electronics because there is no diode fitted.

What happens next? I imagine the vehicle comes to an abrupt halt, with no electrics. This could mean a catastrophe. If the engine is not running, you are going to struggle to pull up the car (no vacuum, less braking power).

You are also going to be towing something, quite possibly in the 3.5t range (because that's their legal towing capacity, so let's work with that).

Now you have no electrics, so guess what, no electric brakes either.

So now you're flying down a highway, at 100km/h with no vehicle brakes, or caravan brakes.

I seriously think if this diode was as necessary as some believe than Land Rover would have issued a complete vehicle recall to fit these retrospectively. Why haven't they issued any literature to owners? Why haven't they publicly addressed the issue?

Given they pride themselves on this being a strong tow vehicle, it's likely a good percentage of their owners will use the vehicle to tow, so therefore it surely is a high risk exercise.

If I didn't get on AULRO, I wouldn't have had any idea about the diode, and I seriously suspect many auto-electricians wouldn't know either.

Man calm down.

First off your car runs can bus which means it's up there with technology.

Second the computers have self diagnosis capacity and cross diagnosis capacity.
Third if a short circuit would Happen the computer would log a fault and depending how it's routed through the circuit turn off the circuit or blow the fuse to that circuit .
It would never shut down the engine. If the car shutoff the engine, on engine shutdown your Vac system would stop producing more vacuum.
However adr in Australia means that you will have three full pedal applications before your run out of Vac assistance. you would probably be looking for power steering first as it has no backup.

Volvo commercial vehicles also use diodes everywhere and are renowned for being space age in regards to trucks. The diodes stop back currents from the relays. The relays are computer controlled and therefore when the computer turns off the relay the relay trys to fire a back current at it. Brake controllers are basically relays with a variable output.

Why havnt they issued a recall? They didn't fit it. we did so it's not there issue. Does it need to be there. Yes. all good auto sparkies know that when doing work on systems like this protection must be used. Hence the diode.

it's always five o clock somewhere

Personally, I didn't hesitate to get an auto sparky to fit the trailer brakes to my Defender. I'm not taking any risks with something involving safety.

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