ash_hammond
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 12:14 PM |
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Fitting Tow Bar - Electrics
Gents,
I've finally, found myself a tow car and I collect it this week. It's a 2.2d Espace, with an Auto with a Semi-Auto option too. Full
Electric toys that work in she is in the Elegance spec, glass room, climate etc. What more can you want for £1200 you ask... a tow bar.
Ordered my tow bar from ebay for £97 and it comes with a standard universal wiring loom for the single electrics. I'm OK with the wiring just
more asking for common practices.
Having a tow bar fitting to this type of car won't be uncommon, I'm wondering if there are some taking off points where I can attached the
new loom to or I've got to chop, join, solder and heat shrink into the existing loom.
Once i get the car I can have a good look, just trying to get a head start.
Cheers.
Ash
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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nick205
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 12:27 PM |
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From experience, most modern cars have a point in the rear loom where you can connect for towbar electrics - cutting and splicing is not a great way
to do it unless you have to.
Given the value of your tow car can we ask what age it is - this may dictate whether or not the loom is prepared for towbar electrics.
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nick205
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 12:35 PM |
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A quick Google threw up the Reault forum which appears to cover towbar fitting - might be worth looking to see what others have done.
http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/
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Charlie_Zetec
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 01:21 PM |
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Depends how you want to do it, really! As said, some vehicles have a specific loom spur already for towbar take-off; if that's the case, you
can cut the plug off and connect to the bare wires with butt crimps, bullet crimps, solder and heat shrink etc.. But if it's not got anything
and you have to cut into the loom, my recommendation would be scotch blocks. I bloody hate the things personally, but it does mean you don't
have to cut the original loom at all....
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 02:11 PM |
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Thanks Guys, It's a 2004 MK 4.
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 02:28 PM |
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I have done some more digging.
There are vehicle specific looms, but they're £120 
As suggested there is a post on the Renault Forums, looks there is a loom spur in the rear corner of the boot.
I did speak with the supplier on Monday before ordering it http://www.pfjones.co.uk/.
Apparently, according to their knowledge base. A universal 7 pin loom is fine, a by pass relay is not not required on this car.
Assuming i can find the spur, I will chop off the plug and wire onto that spur.
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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rash12
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 03:56 PM |
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you could use a 7 way relay if you dont want to pay £120 there about £15 and they work fine
loads about and on ebay too
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 04:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rash12
you could use a 7 way relay if you dont want to pay £120 there about £15 and they work fine
loads about and on ebay too
I'm not sure what suggested advantage here other than price. sorry.
The tow bar comes with with universal wiring kit for the lights etc. So i have something to use.
My thoughts, are I can either connect this directly into the wire spur, or connect the 7 way relay into the spur and then the universal loom into the
relay.
The supplier of the tow bar has said that i don't require a "by pass relay" for this application, so i assume there is no advantage
to me using one.
Sorry, am i missing your point? Please slap me hard if so 
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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rash12
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 04:56 PM |
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if the manufacturer say you dont need one then it should be ok without but in my own experience most vehicles of that age and newer do i have fitted
several but i stand corrected im usually wrong ,
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nick205
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 04:59 PM |
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Putting a relay in can only protect the vehicle's wiring - good move I'd say.
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bi22le
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 08:04 PM |
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Some car electronics wont like you wiring straight in to the indicators and lights, they will throw up a blown light fault.
The relay does two things, both massive benefits.
1- prevents any standard car circuitry getting tricked as it completly isolates the trailer loom.
2 - it has a clever sensing circuit that chirps when your trailer indicators work as well as makes sure they flash the correct speed. Both useful and
nice know whats happening at the back end.
As a ex auto electrician and having fitted tow bar electrics to my last 3 cars, i would get a relay.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 26/1/16 at 09:02 PM |
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You guys are right about it protecting the circuits, so even though the manufacturer says a relay is not required I'm going to fit one.
Hopefully, there will be a loom spur in the boot that i can use as the input the relay.
The universal electrics do some come with a warning buzzer, i did check that... but now it wont be required.
Thanks for the heads up and chat guys appreciated.
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 11:21 AM |
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I rang the supplier this morning to add on the relay to my order. While I was on the phone, i asked if there was a dedicated trailer spur in the boot
of these cars (as i don't have the car yet).
His reply was pretty simple. "no, we you will need to wire from the rear lights".
If that's the way it needs to be done... I will be sure to have a good hunt first. :-)
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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nick205
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 11:29 AM |
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I'd be surprised if there wasn't a spur in the loom, can't be uncommon to tow with that car.
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 11:31 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
I'd be surprised if there wasn't a spur in the loom, can't be uncommon to tow with that car.
I fully agree. Considering the supplier does a dedicated loom. I would be pretty p'eed, if i ordered that and then needed to tack into the loom.
.: www.mac1motorsports.co.uk | www.m1moc.com :.
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MattD
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 02:43 PM |
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If its anything like my 2004 Audi Est, the tow circuit is added within the CANbus system.
I bought the £120 loom which fitted as a spur into the fusebox & indicator/hazard/lighting circuits at the front of the car & then had to run
the new loom extension to the new boot mounted relay unit through the car (meaning strip sill trim & part of the rear seats). This then fed the
trailer socket. So it wasnt a simple plug in at the rear.
The towbar mechanical took a couple of hours incl bumper removal, etc... The wiring was a PIA & took the rest of the day.
After that a local audi indy enabled the factory tow setup in the ECU to allow for load compensation, ABS/ESD/TCS settings changes, etc.
Have done the boot mounted relay/buzzer in previous conventionally wired 12v cars & these worked just fine.
It was the bugs, glitches & false bulb warnings from CANbus that had me worried on this car.
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colin99999
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 02:55 PM |
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FYI towing electrics are part of the MOT test nowadays too so might be worth a quick check with a friendly local garage to confirm correct operation
as per their requirements to prevent inconvenience at a later date.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be...
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nick205
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 03:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by colin99999
FYI towing electrics are part of the MOT test nowadays too so might be worth a quick check with a friendly local garage to confirm correct operation
as per their requirements to prevent inconvenience at a later date.
Good point, I hadn't considered the MoT requirements!
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ash_hammond
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| posted on 27/1/16 at 03:21 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by colin99999
FYI towing electrics are part of the MOT test nowadays too so might be worth a quick check with a friendly local garage to confirm correct operation
as per their requirements to prevent inconvenience at a later date.
Thanks, I had also not considered the MOT. I do want it working properly so it should not be an issue.
I have just found this quote from a camping site
"There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets, but
13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in
failure."
Sounds a little daft that they will only test the 13 pin versions.
From what i understand, all lights Brake, Tail, Stop Turn should work in unison with the car. The only one that differs in the fog, one of the
functions that relay provided is the ability to disconnect the car fog light when the trailer is connected, this stops you being dazzled by the
refection on the trailer.
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