Fitting towing electrics

[Dollywobbler]

Ok, so no-one has dashed forward with the plug-in towing electrics. Given that I now urgently need to recover a 2CV resto project, I guess it'll be hacking into the loom.

I found this quite tricky when fitting the high-level brake light, so thought I'd see if anyone has any recommendations for the best way to go about it. It doesn't seem an overly pleasant section of woring to cut into to. I did a proper job with the brake light - solder and everything - but it seemed very easy to make an utter balls up of it.

With the brake light, I scraped off the insulation of the necessary wire exposing the copper. Then looped the brake light wire around it tightly, before soldering (and trying not to melt the plastic!). Certainly works, just wondered if there was a better way. I'm not going to bother fitting twin electrics as I have no imminent plans to tow a caravan.

[citronut]

but it seemed very easy to make an utter balls up of it.

just trace each lighting wire and do one at a time Ian it'll be fine,

[BX Bandit]

Or use Scotch locks. Some people slate them, and they do have their problems if used twice! i.e. the aluminium part that cuts through the insulation to connect with the wire can spread. So if you re-use them on thinner wire, they may not make contact. So either buy new or close up the aluminium bit a tad.
I have asked Hilary if I could buy it, but I've not heard from him yet, although I did stress there was no rush. If you are desperate, then you can use the loom on the proviso I can have it back. If you do use it, I'll pay Hilary for it, but you must please please post it to me or hand it over at a meet some time. Promise?

[Dollywobbler]

Thanks folks. New electrics purchased so I'll dig away and see how it goes. Annoyingly, I had to take the car when bus driving today so I'm now at home with time to kill, but no BX!

[BX Bandit]

Ooooh are they still available? Link poo?

[Defender110]

Very simple to do; If you take the rear light plug from the n/s light it has a plastic back on it that can be prised out leaving similar fastenings as the scotch lock that you can directly piggy back off for each feed required. I'll send some pictures later when I get home to help explain.

[Dollywobbler]

Thanks Kevan. That'll be useful.

Bandit - just standard generic wiring.

[KevR]

Nooooo, not Scotchloks.... They do indeed get a slating - because they're feckin' awful. Towbar wiring inevitably involves long term hassle as when you come to use it there's nearly always a problem either in the socket, plug or light units. Why make life even more miserable by introducing potential problems into the wiring loom on the car itself....?
Proper solder joint as described in the original post, that's the way to go. Then taped up with self-amalgamating tape.

[BX Bandit]

I agree that's better, DW seemed reluctant to do the soldering bit! I've honestly never had problems with them, but you're right about there always being a problem with trailer/caravan lights/sockets.
Come to think of it, the standard rear lights are prone to an earth fault as they are!

[Dollywobbler]

I've no problem with soldering - I just don't like the BX wiring very much. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the electrics yet. I often fit them loose in the boot then trail them out of the boot aperture when actually needed. Which isn't that often to be honest. Not sure how 'soft' the closure is on a BX boot though. Otherwise the plug just sits next to the towbar, collecting muck and slowly rotting.

[citsncycles]

The tow electrics on Timex were some of the most interesting I'd ever seen - those screw down block connectors, fitted to the wrong side of the car (ie RH light), with a total disregard to the standard wiring codes. I fitted a new socket and cable at the tech weekend, but wired it into the same side on the car as it had already been cut about there.

The tow bar I fitted to the 14 came with a genuine wiring kit - dead easy to fit in theory but still gave trouble, as it effectively doubles the number of connectors between the power supply and the rear lamp unit. I ended up having to bypass a couple of connections as the tow electrics worked better than the rear light!

Soldering is fine depending on how well it's wrapped later. I've been told that a lot of the off road boys don't like it because winter road salt followed by fording a river (for example) can wash the solder in a salt solution that apparently breaks down the connection!

[Dollywobbler]

I'd hope that the boot of the BX never fills up with salt water...

[rutter123]

i have just fitted a towbar on the tzd a few days ago, used scotchlocks but separated the flat loom into individual wires about 2 inches from the connector and staggered the scotchlocks so they dont all clump up together, soldered all bare ends and an extra ground wire to chassis. also extra sealant around the towbar electric socket, all seems good.

[Defender110]

Remove the rear nearside rear lamp & take the plug out, prize out the black plastic wire cover out of the back.(this will need modifying slightly to make room for the extra wires)



This will reveal splice clamps similar to scotch locks



To modify the black plastic backing plate, turn it upside down & cut partial little slots out of each wire groove to make room for the extra wires



You can see the slot cut out of the 6th from the right here, repeat this for each wire slot.



Put the unstripped tow bar wires in in this order from the left: Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, Green, GAP, Blue which is n/s & o/s side lights (black & brown), brake light (red), L&R indicators (Yellow & green) and fog lamp (blue)



Press the backing plate back in using a pair of pipe plyers and a piece of wood




Refit the plug into the lamp and wire the white tow bar earth to the earthing point shown here behing the lamp.



All wired into the car without actually splicing the vehicle wiring

If your plug isn't pre-wired then wire it like this;

[KevR]

Now THAT's what I call a how-to guide!

Shame to fall at the last fence by using a choc block instead of soldering on the earth wire though...