Graham Smith Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 :( Have just installed a Brink tow bar on my 2004 1.9 130bhp Galaxy. The actual installation of the tow bar itself was incredibly easy. Now to the really difficult bit! The single electric socket was pre-wired, so no problems there. I routed the cable through a grommet, and all that was left, was to connect the cable to the car's wiring. I found the 'special' Ford multi-plug where the jack etc is, in the compartment at the rear off side. The company who sold me the tow bar, told me to cut this plug off, then just connect the socket wiring directly to the cables that were connected to the special plug. Easy enough, I hear you say! And so it was! Trouble is, I've connected the electrics up OK, but absolutely none of them work on my lighting board, that I know works OK, as I've tested it on another car with a tow bar. I've read elsewhere on this forum something about a thing called an 'VAG-COM', and my friend reckons that I need to plug one of these things into the car to enable the electrics for the manufacturer's towing wires. So subsequently, I have a couple of questions: 1. Is this right about the VAG-COM thing correct?2. Where can I get a VAG-COM from?3. How much do they cost?4. Would it be more sensible to get my Ford dealer to do it for me? Many thanks for your anticipated help! Regards Quote
AndeeeH Posted June 18, 2006 Report Posted June 18, 2006 IIRC you only need Vag-Com to enable the warning light for the trailer indicators that is in the instrument panel. It might be worth checking your owners manual to see if there is a specific relay or fuse that has to be in place in order for the trailer wiring in the rear quarter panel to be active. :( Andy. Quote
Steve S. Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 Hi, Wasn't there a thread some while back about only pre-facelift models having this multiplug to connect to?Just a thought , if this is indeed the case and unless things have changed in your model, it begs the question ...what have you actually connected up to? It might explain why none of your lights work! Do the car lights still work with the lighting board connected/disconnected? Suggests something pretty basic, Regards, Steve S. Quote
greg_68 Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 These are some posts recently covering the same subject. Search thru these they will hoppefully help http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...=trailer+lights http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...=trailer+lights Quote
Graham Smith Posted June 19, 2006 Author Report Posted June 19, 2006 Hi, Wasn't there a thread some while back about only pre-facelift models having this multiplug to connect to?Just a thought , if this is indeed the case and unless things have changed in your model, it begs the question ...what have you actually connected up to? It might explain why none of your lights work! Do the car lights still work with the lighting board connected/disconnected? Suggests something pretty basic, Regards, Steve S. Nice one - thanks for the reply You're right - if what I've connected up to isn't for towbar lights - what the hell is it? Anyone got any ideas? Quote
Guest 3.5bullet Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 you may have connected to the cd multi changer loom? which is located in this area? any chance you could list the cables and colours off this plug? and then we may be able to tell you for sure what you've connected into? :rolleyes: Quote
lazyb5 Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 Hi Graham i fitted a detachable tow bar about 3 months ago and the guy i bought it off gave me a 7 way bypass relay with integral buzzer (i just read that from the label) basically you take a live from the power outlet in the boot. Wire one side of this relay to your light cluster ie indicators stop lights and such, and wire your single electric socket to the other side. Apparently it stops the bulb failure module showing failed bulbs. However this is the bit you want it cost me Quote
Graham Smith Posted June 19, 2006 Author Report Posted June 19, 2006 you may have connected to the cd multi changer loom? which is located in this area? any chance you could list the cables and colours off this plug? and then we may be able to tell you for sure what you've connected into? :) That's what I must have done! We DON'T have one of the multi-changer CD things in the boot, as our one is a CD unit located in the dash. What a w*nk*r I am. I think I've connected the towbar electrics up to the multi changer loom! I take it that all I've now got to do is wire the towbar electrics into the back of the lights using Scotchlocks? Graham Quote
NikpV Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 does selecting a cd indicate right - now :) :D :D :D Quote
Graham Smith Posted June 19, 2006 Author Report Posted June 19, 2006 does selecting a cd indicate right - now :) :D :D :D I'm now going to hold my head in shame! It'd be interesting to see if when I turned the CD on, we had disco lights on the trailer board! Quote
NikpV Posted June 19, 2006 Report Posted June 19, 2006 does selecting a cd indicate right - now :D :D :D :D I'm now going to hold my head in shame! It'd be interesting to see if when I turned the CD on, we had disco lights on the trailer board! best not hey :) Quote
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