|
 Topic: Towbar Electrics Ford Kuga
|
  |
26/8/2024 at 11:29am
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
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?
|
28/8/2024 at 4:00pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
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 Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I think his figure of 750 is a gross exaggeration or I misheard.
|
28/8/2024 at 6:59pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
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.
|
28/8/2024 at 7:16pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Thanks
|
28/8/2024 at 10:12pm
Location: rugby
Outfit: Bailey+Pegasus2B642
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/12/2003 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 2639
| Site Reviews Total: | 5 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| 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 Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 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 Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
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.
|
15/9/2024 at 12:47pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
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.
|
16/9/2024 at 3:50pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2540
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| 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 Nights 2025: | 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 |
|
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.
|
27/3/2025 at 9:50am
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
The towbar electrics failed again a couple of weeks ago. The towbar fitter came round he thought the 12v battery in the boot had failed (not the hybrid battery I wouldn't touch that!). We accessed the battery, this was a bit awkward, the battery cover has a cover secured by starlock washers. I took a reading on my multimeter it was 12.44 which suggested the battery needed a charge. I was surprised at this because the previous week I had done a 400 mile round trip journey (without the caravan). I phoned the main dealer and he agreed to look at the battery under warranty. While waiting for the car to go in to the workshop I took various battery voltage readings the lowest was 12.05 volts. Got the car back yesterday they have checked fitted a new battery and recoded. Hooked up the caravan all is ok now and the battery reading is in the area I expected ie 12.65v. Just putting this on the forum for information.
|
|
via mobile 28/8/2024 at 3:17pm
