Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[dcjg70]

Hi All,

Sorry to hassle again. I have come to remove the towbar this morning and it has gone relatively well. However I have come to unwire the electrics and am unsure the best way to proceed. Most wires go into connector blocks which I presume I can just unscrew however in the picture below there is a wire soldered directly to another wire how do I go about removing this? Also in the other picture I've taken there is a black transformer type thing does this need to be removed also?

http://gallery.me.com/dcjg70#100472

Will any of these wires be live whilst the car is off? Or do I need to disconnect the battery before proceeding. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[noel]

if it was me i would disconnect the battery first, the little black box you describe in an audible device that sounds when indicators are used. As for the 2 soldered together im not sure HTH 

[dcjg70]

Thanks noel, I take it the black box sounds so people now when your turning pulling a caravan etc.. Just need to figure out what to do about this red wire thats soldered 

[noel]

im going off what mine use to look like on my volvo estate  ;)i have one on my v6 but its a factory fitted one.

[noel]

Thanks noel, I take it the black box sounds so people now when your turning pulling a caravan etc.. Just need to figure out what to do about this red wire thats soldered 

the black box should sound when indicators are used, i not it indicates bulb failure.

[dcjg70]

Thanks noel, just wish I had a little more electrical knowledge... Don't want to unplug/cut the wrong thing. 

[geoffr70]

Does your car have twin sockets? If so the big red wire looks like the 12v feed, but from one of the pictures it looks like this goes in the indicator sounder. Can't think why. If you're not sure what the wires are for you could just disconnect the socket off the towbar, pull the wires back into the boot (through the hole under the carpet) and insulate them.

[dcjg70]

geoffr70 thank you, it is twin electrics. Your idea sounds the easiest and possibly safest option. Is there an easy wire of disconnecting the wiring from the back of the two sockets on the towbar short of cutting the cables?

Would you recommend disconnecting the battery first?

Many Thanks.

[Lazydocker]

As you have twin electrics there may well be a permanent live there so disconnecting the battery is the best option

As for the wires... The sockets do unscrew but they may well be rusted solid

I'd undo the wires that are connected to the blocks and cut & Insulate the soldered one 

[Andy B]

If tye red feed wire is that from the 9 way plug/socket in the boot where the rest of the trailer lighting wires are fed from, then there is a fuse up front under the steering column (27??) that you can pull. Even when the fuse is pulled, you should insulate the end of the wire just incase the fuse is ever put back. 

[noel]

Thanks noel, just wish I had a little more electrical knowledge... Don't want to unplug/cut the wrong thing. 

thats why i avoided the question about the red wire as me and electrics do not go well together

[dcjg70]

Thanks to all, after spending most of today on this, I have the towbar removed, the wiring isolated and a very neat looking rear bumper 

Thank you everyone very grateful.

[Andy B]

........ and a very neat looking rear bumper  ...

So do I



 

[jonny2112]

You're putting me in the notion to remove mine now 

[dcjg70]

My only advice to anyone planning on removing it and depending on how it is fitting to your car is; to make sure you have torque wrench with long sockets to get to the nuts under the car and possibly an extra person to lend a hand. The towbar I removed weighed an absolute ton! A ramp would also be handy as I found I had to lie on my back under the car to get to the bolts, the hardest by far were the 2 behind the fuel tank.

However a very satisfying job when done.