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+--- Thread: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics (/showthread.php?tid=32675)
Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - insomaniac45 - 02-12-2015
Well, what a ball ache of a few days i have had.
So, monday night the missus says, tomorrow can you fit the tow bar to the Boxer.... (Its only been sat there for 6 months..)
now it would not be too bad, but where we have a hydralic lift in there, they modified the floor with extra brackets, hoses, and earthing points. Lots of fiddling and grinding later its fitted, so Tuesday night i set out to do the electrics.
No problem, Wednesday morning go to pick up a rented trailer, and guess what, no power. These stupid little boxes they give you....... so i took it out, and had power, not alot, but enough to get me out of trouble.
It turns out, that according to the instructions, White which they say is reverse, is in fact earth....... so tonight i made a small test rig, It only tests indicators, side, and brake lights
But i had the litle amplifier box re-wired in and all working with in an hour thanks to this little rig,
so, if any one in the local area (Eastleigh and surrounding areas) wants to borrow it, feel free
its saved me going and getting another trailer to test my electrics. Now i know they work perfectly and as described on the packet.
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Eeyore - 02-12-2015
i always find towing electrics complete balls. The 306 i wired myself and the plug corroded. Eventually i modified it so 10 ft of cable lived in the boot and could be passed through the hole behind the drivers side arch. On the saab it was plug and play but it doesnt work with LED boards. When i fitted it i thought it didnt work but it actually turned out to be the two lighting boards i had which were crap. its never ending!
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 02-12-2015
I did one some years ago, clear box, 6 bulbs & holders, cable & plug. simples
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Dazecoop - 02-12-2015
Pretty neat, any photos of the little rig you made? A few weeks ago I basically re-wired my trailer from scratch, was a bit of a nightmare as its a German trailer which doesn't follow the regular wiring colours, got there in the end though, so much better. In general, trailer electrics are always rubbish!
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 02-12-2015
i'll get on up asap (watch this space - - - tumbleweed)
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Piggy - 03-12-2015
Trailer boards are about £14/15.
Re: RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Seb_Ryan - 03-12-2015
(02-12-2015, 09:01 PM)Eeyore Wrote: i always find towing electrics complete balls. The 306 i wired myself and the plug corroded. Eventually i modified it so 10 ft of cable lived in the boot and could be passed through the hole behind the drivers side arch. On the saab it was plug and play but it doesnt work with LED boards. When i fitted it i thought it didnt work but it actually turned out to be the two lighting boards i had which were crap. its never ending!
Theres alot of cars that dont work with leds.. Did you have flashing indicators all the time etc? Pain in the arse, especially when we hitch up a hire trailer, check the lights and they are all to f*ck lol.
Is it a proper kit on the saab or hard wired?
RE: RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Eeyore - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 07:19 AM)Seb_Ryan Wrote:(02-12-2015, 09:01 PM)Eeyore Wrote: i always find towing electrics complete balls. The 306 i wired myself and the plug corroded. Eventually i modified it so 10 ft of cable lived in the boot and could be passed through the hole behind the drivers side arch. On the saab it was plug and play but it doesnt work with LED boards. When i fitted it i thought it didnt work but it actually turned out to be the two lighting boards i had which were crap. its never ending!
Theres alot of cars that dont work with leds.. Did you have flashing indicators all the time etc? Pain in the arse, especially when we hitch up a hire trailer, check the lights and they are all to f*ck lol.
Is it a proper kit on the saab or hard wired?
its a proper plug and play kit. Lighting board said it would work but clearly doesnt
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Seb_Ryan - 03-12-2015
You can get a different module for it, or resistors in the lights of trailer.. Its to do with the leds not drawing enough off the canbuc system, was it a green wire fed to obd port or different one?
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
here's a cheap ready-made tester. cheaper still without the 13-pin adapters.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-13-Pin-Car-Vehicle-Trailer-Towing-Lights-Wiring-Circuit-Tester-Adaptor-Set-/310787987197?hash=item485c6856fd:g:P8kAAOSwMmBV6rQB
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - cully - 03-12-2015
http://www.towsure.com/7-pin-socket-tester-12-volt
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 10:04 AM)cully Wrote: http://www.towsure.com/7-pin-socket-tester-12-volt
same thing, similar price. Uk seller
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Toms306 - 03-12-2015
Proper plug and kits are best tbh, used one on the Golf, so quick and easy compared to splicing individual wires.
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - insomaniac45 - 03-12-2015
See this was a specific kit for the Boxer, but the boxer does not have any plugs for the trailers in the rear, so i had no choice but to soft wire it in first
By soft, i use the splice clips, these are not great, but ok for testing. once it works as i like, it then gets hard wired in, Soldered and heat shrink.
No chance of a loose connection then.
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
images as promised;
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - insomaniac45 - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 05:54 PM)Magenta Sunset Wrote: images as promised;
simple, effective, i like it got to love the old lamp holders from electronics club
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 07:23 PM)insomaniac45 Wrote:(03-12-2015, 05:54 PM)Magenta Sunset Wrote: images as promised;
got to love the old lamp holders from electronics club
all life should be that way
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - insomaniac45 - 03-12-2015
my little rig, is quite literally, the rear light cluster from an old moped ive got in the back garden lol. no where near as cool as that
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 08:51 PM)insomaniac45 Wrote: my little rig, is quite literally, the rear light cluster from an old moped ive got in the back garden lol. no where near as cool as that
got a pic?
and if I can find it, a battery powered 'opposite 1/2'
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Toms306 - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 05:18 PM)insomaniac45 Wrote: See this was a specific kit for the Boxer, but the boxer does not have any plugs for the trailers in the rear, so i had no choice but to soft wire it in first
By soft, i use the splice clips, these are not great, but ok for testing. once it works as i like, it then gets hard wired in, Soldered and heat shrink.
Specific kits just plug into the rear light clusters with the cars loom then plugging into them, or at least the Golf ones did. I know there's no specific kit for the 306 unfortunately though.
Re: RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Seb_Ryan - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 09:55 PM)Toms306 Wrote:(03-12-2015, 05:18 PM)insomaniac45 Wrote: See this was a specific kit for the Boxer, but the boxer does not have any plugs for the trailers in the rear, so i had no choice but to soft wire it in first
By soft, i use the splice clips, these are not great, but ok for testing. once it works as i like, it then gets hard wired in, Soldered and heat shrink.
Specific kits just plug into the rear light clusters with the cars loom then plugging into them, or at least the Golf ones did. I know there's no specific kit for the 306 unfortunately though.
Stuff from 2007 onwards doesn't.. Its all canbus (apart from cheap new cars which aint) 3 wires max plus 2 or 3 powers..
Most of the time the canbus is at the ecu, fords are easy and are all in the back though lol
New skoda Octavia are right twats, have to take half the dashboard out yo repin 2 ecus and fusebox lol
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Toms306 - 03-12-2015
Ah I see, I'd just buy a car with a towbar tbh.
Don't think the Focus uses the CAN for lights? Theres no bulb out warning anyway, unlike the Vectra. 
What do the dealers do if someone wants a towbar from new though, surely they don't have to go to all that hassle? I imagine a lot of Octavia drivers want them!
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Magenta Sunset - 03-12-2015
I had mine fitted by an independent fitter.
Re: RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - Seb_Ryan - 03-12-2015
(03-12-2015, 10:07 PM)Toms306 Wrote: Ah I see, I'd just buy a car with a towbar tbh.
They come to people like where i work..we do fords, vags, psa, vauxhall, bmw and nissan from dealers lol
Next time you have the boot apart behind the nearside side panel/carpet where fusebox is, theres 2 plugs and thats for wiring lol
Only about 220 quid for yours iirc
And only 20 mins to fit when there's 2 of us on it lol
RE: Test Rig for Tow Bar Electrics - THE_Liam - 07-12-2015
I just use a multimeter, but then its simpler on old stuff. Wired up the 190E by just tapping in to the rear light cluster. The 406 had a bar when I got it but the socket didn't work, turns out it was corroded. Fitted a new socket and covered it in thin grease, works fine every time.