Just had a tow bar fitted to my four year old Ford Kuga. Now the car won't start and I have several lights on the dashbord.
Have been to my local garage and they won't touch the car, phoned our local Ford dealer and they refuse to look at it because it wasn't the approved wiring.
Now I do not know what to do.
Tow bar fitting guy isn't answering his phone.
Has anyone else had this issue or can advice on what to do?
When you say the car won't start what is happening exactly? Is it turning over but not starting? Does the starter motor click but not turn the engine over?
Is the battery flat?
Did you have a dedicated wiring loom fitted or a universal loom with a bypass relay? If it was a dedicated loom was the car programmed to work all the towing functions correctly?
Can't say I've ever had a problem with new fit towbar wiring, but until my current car, they've all been 'old school' simple spliced on wiring.
Current one was a factory fit option from new and fully integrated into car's Canbus computerised wiring system. Had no issues with that in over 7 years.
Assuming all was well before towbar fitted, and no obvious additional faults like a flat battery, then the problem lies very much with the fitter to resolve!
Auto electrics are a black art to most garages, INCLUDING main dealers, and they often struggle to deal with faults, so no surprise they won't touch someone else's work/non-standard installation! From their point of view, that truly can be the stuff of nightmares!!!!
Failing getting the original fitter to look at it, your best option would be another towbar fitter, who will at least understand the additional wiring/integration into car wiring. Don't be surprised if he wants to fit alternative parts to those already fitted and at extra cost! There are some poor integration kits on the market which may have been used.
Often when fitting additional towbar wiring, the car requires it's central electronic management system 'tweaking' to get everything to play nicely, that sometimes requires a main dealer.
Did it start after the towbar was fitted,but won’t start now. If so check your battery voltage if has gone flat. If so something done on the wiring is causing it. Myself and sonin law have Kugas he has had two now and all fitted with the appropriate wiring kit and coded buy Ford approved towbar fitter and fine. Suggest you get back to him to sort the problem.
Where do you live? I have always used the same fitter for years and never had a problem, he fitted my last 4 kugas. In November I picked up my new hybrid Kuga with a factory fitted tow bar, the reason I had it done by Ford was they would have to sort out any problems.
Does the fitter belong to a trade organisation? If so and he is not communicating with you, try an approach to them. Did you pay by credit card? contact them. Hopefully, you used a recognised fitter.
I've always fitted my own towbar but my cars are usually older than most. Wiring is fairly straightforward. Modern car wiring is a nightmare as are doing any engine maintenance. Oh for the days when all you had to do was clean and reset the points and clean and reset the spark plug gaps. Mind you having said that when the Mot was due get new sills ordered.
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Topic: Towbar Issue
via mobile 05/2/2025 at 9:56am
