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[alpha31]

HI,

Ive just fitted a detachable Westfilia towbar to my 2002 MV6, I purchased it from Towequipe and they said I require a full bypass relay unit (£26) as the car has bulb failure check system!
Ive been told by an auto electrician that the 2002 model has a pre wired plug in the boot and its wired to run without the relay.
Does anyone know if this is correct.
 

[Kevin Wood]

they said I require a full bypass relay unit (£26) as the car has bulb failure check system!

That's not the case. You just need to connect the hitch connector to the pre-wired socket in the boot (behind the rear plastic boot lip trim to the driver's side on the saloon). Either buy the loom section from Vauxhall, or solder and heat shrink the connections to the vehicle loom at this point.

Regarding warning for the indicators you can either fit a conventional towing warning buzzer or fit a 4 pin flasher unit and add the extra bulb to the dash.

The brake light feed to the towbar bypasses the bulb failure warning so no problems there but there is a socket for an extra current sensing device behind the glove compartment on the facelift. You can either buy this device or bridge two pins on it to enable the brake light feed to the towbar. (bulb failure warning on brake lights is not a legal requirement AFAIK).

Kevin

[Andy B]

....... (bulb failure warning on brake lights is not a legal requirement AFAIK).

Kevin

But for c£16 I fitted one. It's come in handy a couple of times pointing to a failure that wouldn't really have been picked up otherwise. One occasion with my Senator I had a dodgy connection on the 12N plug, all was OK when you checked the lights satationary, but would sometimes throw a fault when on the move.
Each to their own though.

[Kevin Wood]

I've always wondered what happens when you fit the brake current sensor. I fully intended to fit one to mine but haven't got round to it. The MID doesn't know you're towing so why doesn't it show a bulb failure all the time?

Kevin

[Andy B]

......
 The MID doesn't know you're towing so why doesn't it show a bulb failure all the time?

Kevin

It just does ........    
Magic?      

[alpha31]

  Thanks guys, I will get onto Towequipe for a refund!

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
With regard to the extra relay unit that goes "somewhere behind the glove box" to get trailer brake lights to work.

Does anyone have the Vx part number for this please. and if possible also the connector and loom that fits the fitted socket in the boot.
My dealer seems very vague about it and can't find what to order.


Do I take it adding this relay also makes a dash warning light operative, (dash or MID ??)or do I have to put a bulb in somewhere.
Do I still need to fit an audible warning buzzer.

Roger

[Andy B]

Hi,
With regard to the extra relay unit that goes "somewhere behind the glove box" to get trailer brake lights to work.

Does anyone have the Vx part number for this please. and if possible also the connector and loom that fits the fitted socket in the boot.
My dealer seems very vague about it and can't find what to order.

90463123 I'm not sure exactly where your's will be. But it's a sqare base & will have 4 wires to it 2 of which are black/yellow.

Do I take it adding this relay also makes a dash warning light operative, (dash or MID ??)or do I have to put a bulb in somewhere.
Do I still need to fit an audible warning buzzer.

Roger

No mate. The above 'relay' is just to monitor your trailer/caraven brake lights & will tell you that you have a lamp out using the MID display.
The dash warning lamp is for your indicators. If you swap the 3 pin relay for a 4 pin relay (in the fuse box under the steering column) & put a lamp into the empty space in the dash you will get the towball lamp flash with your indicators when all is well.
The buzzers are instead of the extra dash lamp & are generally used by towbar fitters who are too lazy to do the job properly.

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