Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Contact Us

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Towbar Electrics Ford Kuga Post Reply Post New Topic
26/8/2024 at 11:29am
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

My towcar is a 2.5 Ford Kuga FHEV Hybrid Electric. I'm having issues with the car side electrics which is a dedicated kit. The problems are not on the caravan. I've been out with the van a couple of times this year with no issues but had problems last Tuesday with no electrics to the towcar socket. He examined and thought the problem was that the wiring hadn't been coded to the car. He recoded and everything worked, that is until Friday when again there was no electrics again on the car side ie no lights brakes indicator etc. Since the car was recoded the rear nearside foglight isn't working, the noise of the indicators is faster than normal but the working of the indicators is at the same speed, the hazards make the noise and flash as originally . I have arranged another visit by the car towbar fitter. Unfortunately with the change of registrations the company can only come out again week on Friday. Anyone got any ideas of what is causing the problem?


via mobile 28/8/2024 at 3:17pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2668

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

If it has been installed correctly I suppose there is always the chance of a faulty unit.Was your motor trailer pre pared or was it a full wiring. Myself and son in law have had between us,3 of the mk3 Kugas fitted and coded.

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


28/8/2024 at 4:00pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

Thanks it was fitted off site so I didn't see the fitting. When the towbar fitter came to investigate he took the near side rear boot panel off it seemed to me that there was a push in connection that led to a three fuses and a control unit that had led lights on it that lit up when lights etc were switched on. He recoded the kit and it worked, well it did for a few days. The fitter mentioned he had fitted over 750 Kugas this year without any issues so its maybe pointing to a faulty unit. I was concerned about the more rapid noise of the indicators and the rear nearside foglamp not illuminating. Generally I like the car as a towcar and hope the fitter will do a full inspection and repair when he comes a week on Friday. Again thanks for your reply.     


28/8/2024 at 4:17pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

I think his figure of 750 is a gross exaggeration or I misheard.


via mobile 28/8/2024 at 6:43pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2668

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Ours are fine and indicator sound or flash rate is no different to when solo. We always set our menu so when towing the caravan shows on the dash with a green tick showing the lights are operating OK. Our installer takes approx 2.5 hours to complete fit and program.

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


Advertisement



28/8/2024 at 6:59pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

Thanks when the elecs worked the info screen when hooked up and in reverse showed an image of a car towing a trailer. I'll ask about the set up as I've never seen a green tick on the screen. The car is a Motability vehicle, Feb 2024, I asked the dealer about fitting a towbar and they recommended the independent fitter. I'll post again next week with the result of the revisit.


via mobile 28/8/2024 at 7:14pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2668

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

At the side of the caravan shape is two boxes for indicators and lights. If working OK both boxes have Green ticks

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


28/8/2024 at 7:16pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

Thanks


28/8/2024 at 10:12pm
 Location: rugby
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus+642
View les + june's Profile View Profile   Reply to les + june Reply   Quote les + june Quote  
Joined: 29/12/2003

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2619

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 1
Site Nights 2018: 1

I’m getting the same car in October, but I’m having a factory fitted tow bar. This is the first time I will have a factory fitted one although this will be my my fourth Kuga. Hopefully being factory fitted I hope I have no problems.

Les


-------------
The worst day fishing is better than the best day working


28/8/2024 at 10:25pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

I agree factory fitted should be ok. I have had towbars on my vehicles since the 1990's without issue (including some universal kits). The fitter has texted me tonight. I had asked if I should return the car to the main dealer for what might have been electric faults or if the correction to the towbar wiring would rectify this. His reply is that the car is seeing the towing electrics but they are obviously not working. It is a rather garbled reply but I'll wait until next Friday. Thanks for your input. When the car was towing on mainly motorway driving within legal limits I was according to the car achieving around 38mpg thought you might like to know that.


Advertisement



via mobile 29/8/2024 at 7:50am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2668

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by les + june on 28/8/2024
I’m getting the same car in October, but I’m having a factory fitted tow bar. This is the first time I will have a factory fitted one although this will be my my fourth Kuga. Hopefully being factory fitted I hope I have no problems.

Les



If it is factory fitted have you made clear to dealer if you want pins 9 & 10 connected if you want fridge and ATC working when towing . Often factory fit only have road lights wired and dealer has to get the other wiring done.


-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


15/9/2024 at 12:47pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

The towbar fitter arrived and changed the module. I have been out the caravan without any issues so am hoping this has solved the problem.


via mobile 16/9/2024 at 8:08am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2668

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by Geoff48 on 15/9/2024
The towbar fitter arrived and changed the module. I have been out the caravan without any issues so am hoping this has solved the problem.


Good let’s hope it was down to a faulty module.


-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


16/9/2024 at 3:50pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Monty15's Profile View Profile   Reply to Monty15 Reply   Quote Monty15 Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2015

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2321

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 6
Site Nights 2018: 0

Sign of the times!

Long gone are the days of simply splicing into existing car wiring to power a towbar socket (who remembers the crimped on blue 3M, Scotchlock Tap Splice Connector!), and 'fault finding' was no more complicated than checking basic electrical connections.

These days you've got the electrical connections handled by an electronic interface box, which can have it's own faults and failures, and integration into the car's electronic 'brain' to change how it manages systems when the trailer is connected, which may or may not have been done properly allowing it to 'talk' to the electronic interface box correctly!

If anything, I'm surprised more people don't have problems!

I had my towbar fitted as a 'factory option', it's nothing of the sort of course and NOT fitted during manufacture, it'll have been fitted at the supplying dealers by a contractor! But figured everyone involved should know what they were doing, and any problems were FULLY the responsibility of the dealer and covered by manufacturers warranty! I may have paid a bit over the odds, but no risk of me stuck in the middle of the buck passing between 3rd party fitter and dealer/manufacturer if problems!

Of course, no one had a clue about how fully wired and what functions I would or wouldn't have when I enquired before ordering, and there were no 'basic' or 'full' options to help ensure I got the fully wired version! I had to gamble that it was the required 'fully' connected job! It was, and it's behaved itself so far - for 7 years!

Let's hope that you're all sorted now Geoff48.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














3270 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement



Advertisement



Advertisement