Are you experiencing flickering LED lighting, lighting failure, or a dashboard error message related to lighting? This may have occurred after modifications or additions were made to the lighting system. This phenomenon is known as a CAN-bus problem/error.
In this article, we explain:
- What CAN-Bus errors can occur
- How to fix and prevent these errors
In this article, we address issues with towed vehicles such as trailers and semi-trailers. The system receives signals through the plug of the towing vehicle.
What is a CAN-bus system?
A CAN-bus system (Controller Area Network) is the nervous system of modern vehicles. It ensures that all electronic components communicate with each other, including lighting, sensors, and control units.
Instead of separate cables for each function, the system uses a single data line. This makes vehicles more efficient and lighter. At the same time, it continuously checks whether all components are functioning properly.
The difference between 12V and 24V systems mainly lies in voltage and usage. Light vehicles, such as cars, often operate on 12V, while heavier vehicles, such as trucks, typically use 24V. Both systems have their own voltage tolerances and power consumption limits.
This indicates a problem with the lighting.
LED lighting consumes much less power than traditional incandescent bulbs. As a result, the CAN-bus system sometimes thinks a bulb is defective. This can lead to error messages, flickering lights, or even failure.
A malfunction such as flickering lights or a lamp failure
When a malfunction occurs in the CAN-bus system, the vehicle displays a message on the dashboard. This message usually appears as a symbol with an orange or yellow lamp and an exclamation mark inside. It typically indicates one of the following issues:
- Flickering or flashing lights
- Fast blinking turn signal (hyper-flashing)
- Error messages on the dashboard such as “bulb failure”
- Completely failing lighting
- Dimly glowing or pulsing lights
Flickering lights often indicate a mismatch between LEDs and the CAN-bus detection requirements.
Causes of CAN-bus issues with LED lighting
But what causes these malfunctions? This can be due to, among other things:
- Too low power consumption of LEDs compared to traditional lighting
- Control pulses from the communication system that become visible in LEDs
- Missing or incorrect resistor, causing the system to detect an error
Solutions for CAN-bus issues
Fortunately, there are several effective solutions to resolve CAN-bus issues with LED lighting:
- Use of CAN-bus compatible LED lighting
- Installation of load resistors to increase power consumption
- Application of a control box that corrects resistance and filters control pulses, ensuring the monitoring function remains active.
- Precise programming of the control box for vehicles with limited tolerances
- Inspection of the entire wiring and connector connections for optimal operation
- This ensures that the system continues to function correctly without error messages or flickering issues.
Preventing CAN-bus issues
Prevention is better than cure. By considering the requirements of the communication system in advance, you can avoid malfunctions in practice. Pay attention to:
- The right choice of lighting with CAN-bus support
- Complying with ECE standards and EMC compatibility ECE R10
- Working with reliable partners who actively contribute to the design process, such as TRALERT®
- Correct installation and connections, carried out by experienced professionals
By collaborating with specialists already in the design phase, you save time, money, and prevent malfunctions later on.
Situation: Error message "trailer lamp failure"
A common situation: a trailer where the left turn signal works only 1-2 times and then triggers an error message on the dashboard. This often occurs when LED lighting is used without additional modifications.
Solution:
- Installation of a suitable resistor or CAN-bus control box to adjust the wattage.
- Inspection of the connector connections and cleaning of the contacts
- Inspection of the wiring for breaks or loose connections
- Possible activation of the trailer mode in the vehicle or installation of a suitable module
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is my LED lighting not working on my trailer?
This is often caused by the lower power consumption of LED lamps, which makes the CAN-bus system generate an error message or fail to switch on the lights.
Do I always need resistors for LED lighting?
Not always. If you use CAN-bus compatible LEDs or a control box, additional resistance is often not needed. What does a lighting error message mean? It usually means that the vehicle detects that a lamp is consuming insufficient power or is not functioning correctly.
Can I modify my vehicle for LED lighting?
Yes, through a vehicle network control box or software adjustments, your vehicle can be made compatible with LED lighting.
How can I stop an error message in the CAN-bus system?
By providing the system with the correct resistance or by installing a control box for the network protocol that corrects pulses and power consumption.
Also, check out our article with general tips for vehicles with 24-volt lighting systems.
TRALERT® as a partner for trouble-free vehicle lighting
TRALERT® thinks along with you and offers CAN-bus compatible systems for every application. From plug & play packages to fully customized solutions: we ensure an efficient approach that prevents problems and optimizes your workflow.
Do you also want to equip your trailers, semi-trailers, or other towed equipment with a reliable, trouble-free LED lighting solution?
Get informed by our specialists or book an appointment at the TRALERT® Experience Centre.
