I have just had a detachable tow bar fitted with Ford electric kit ,when hitched it deactivates the blind spot mirror warning light,and rear fog light on car,also activates the the trailer sway system on the Kuga, and also uses the bulb failure system of the car on the trailer,the fitting was done by a independent company who told me they will only use the Ford wiring units as it can cause problems with universal,also they updated the software of the car so need need to go to dealer for this doing
The reason why the universal towing kit caused a problem with our car is because there is limited information relayed to the vehicle's electronics especially when towing. When the caravan is hitched up and plugged into the towing socket, the caravan's leisure battery receives a charge from the towing vehicle which is distributed from the alternator. This means that the power output of the alternator increases to charge both the vehicle battery AND the leisure battery which was fine but when I unplugged the towing plug at the campsite it didn't register with the vehicle's computer, so when travelling solo to the shops the alternater was still pushing out more current than required which obviously is a fire risk. The vehicle's electronics detected this so the dashboard message was 'BRAKE FAILURE' because it wouldn't allow the vehicle to proceed any further otherwise it could have led to loss of life as well as the car. This was the major breakdown that occurred unfortunately on holiday in Dorset. Stuck on the side of the road we phoned for breakdown assistance which the RAC patrol man said that the code reader had detected about 10 errors so HAD to go to a Volvo dealer. However, because the wiring loom wasn't fitted by a dealer they refused to look at it so after hours of trying to get rescue, the car eventually came back home on a flat bed truck with caravan in tow, a distance of around 180 miles. We had no alternative but to get the car fixed at a local Volvo dealer which they removed the universal kit and replaced with a dedicated Volvo and installed the necessary software that was really required initially to avoid any issues. Since having this done in 2012 we have never had a problem with the towing electrics but like I said previously, it can cause a lot of hassle and financial loss trying to save about a hundred quid and not realising just how dangerous it can be.
Sorry for the long post but consider it important as a life and death issue as it's easy to read people's views saying it's okay but sometimes things do go badly wrong.
Quote: Originally posted by johartefc on 06/3/2019
Dimbles, did you get a universal ‘bypass’ electric fitting or a ford Kuga specific one. The web site I’m looking on there’s about a £100 difference
Thanks
Universal electrics were used with soldered connections. The fitter told me they have fitted hundreds of them with no problems
I should have added that I have been informed by others that a caravan fridge can overload some CAN BUS systems ,I do not therefore have the fridge on while towing.
One thing I should have said is that I have heard ,from various folks that caravan fridges can over load CAN BUS systems on some vehicles, I do not therefore have the fridge connected when towing.
That's exactly what the towbar fitter told me, but as long as they get your cash they're not bothered what problems you encounter afterwards or even if they're ever reported at all. I didn't report back to the original towbar fitter once the towing electrics were replaced by the correct wiring loom at a Volvo dealer as there is no point unless you're requesting compensation. The Volvo dealer rep said, "If one our lads had done a bodge up job like that they would be out the door, no questions asked" so the work carried out was shoddy and a waste of £175 already forked out for the privilege.
I have worked on auto and motorcycle electrics long ago in my working life, this enables ,me to know the difference between a bodge job and a professional job when I see one, the fitter that fitted my tow bar went about it in a very professional manner his work was very neat and tidy with cables secured at intervals the positive way the soldered joints were made looked as if it would last forever. Neither myself or others that I know have had no problems of any kind when using the tow bar fitters that I used, If any problems were to be encountered I would have had them by now. I don't envisage having problems in the future If I do I will most certainly let others know about
I have heard that a caravan fridge can overload CAN BUS systems I do not use the fridge while towing.
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Topic: Kuga tow bar
