fitting tow bar & socket

[i7555p]

I have just fitted a witter towing bracket to my Mk3, it was fairly straight forward once I had realised that the long metal strips with bolts welded in are meant to go inside the chassis box sectionwith the brackets.  At first I assumed the bolt strips went on the outside to sandwich the chassis wall between the two. There would be no way of getting the nuts on had I persisted withthis error.

Cut in the bumper and new screws and penny washers to replace the un useable rusty studs and plastic nuts.  The sheet metal 'nuts' used to hold the heat sheild are equally useless affter a few years rust, does anyone have a favoured replacement other than self tappers.



I found an electrical connector behind the rear bumper, is this for the trailer lights or is it for parking sensors?  pic below.






I held off wiring in the socket with scotch locks in case this is a trailer light supply but I couldn't find any mention of it on the web.

More pics to come once I have kicked photo bucket a bit harder, ( I hate that program)

Regards

Ian

[Chrispb]

Just had a look at mine, the only wiring there is for the parking sensors. don't forget if you have bulb failure warning fitted you do not wan't to be tapping in to the light units wiring directly without a towing relay, you also need an audible indicator for the direction indicators or activating the extra light on the dash but you possibly need the Ford kit to do this.

[Mirez]

I'm still amazed they persist with those type of nuts as they all corrode up within a few years

TBH that connector dosn't look that OEM? If it were a factory fit then it would either plug into something or have a rubber connecting block to weather seal it - maybe probe it with a volt meter to see what voltages are there?

[gregers]

think you will find you will need to get it programed to the car.

[i7555p]

The connector was plugged into a rubber blanking socket fixed to the body so I am sure it is original.

I have ordered a multi relay from Towsure so as not to add load to the existing light circuits.

Gregers I'm not sure what you mean "think you will find you will need to get it programed to the car" do you mean the socket?

Thanks for the answers all.

Regards

Ian

[Chrispb]

Think what he's saying is if you use the Ford wiring kit you need to turn on the trailer  indicator warning light as it doesn't do it automatically.

as your using the towsure relay just follow their instructions.

[i7555p]

More Pictures of towbar fitting.  The arms are fixed in the chassis hollow section and the ends of the bolt strips can be seen jus emerging.
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The nuts in place.


The bumper is fixed with screws and also some plastic 'tongues' two each side, which engage into the plastic frame thing with matching slots which can be seen at the RH side in the last picture.  It needs a bit of careful manouvering to get it back.

[Flinn]

Hi ,

I have just fitted a tow bar like you. I have not fitted the wiring yet. Have you any suggestions as to how you went about it please.

Thanks

Flinn