XC60 Tow electrics
 

I recently aquired a xc60 B5 Inscription Pro 2021, already fitted with the electric Volvo fitment towbar. I recently hooked the car up to check if everything worked. The outside lights all worked fine including the satisfactory noise when the Alko anti-snake is activated. However, inside the caravan none of the lights worked and the caravan control panel over the door (Swift Conqueror) also wouldn't switch on. What I can't remember is whether or not it was the same on my previous V90 CC. Anyone any thoughts? Thanks Roy

It may not be true for all combinations of car/van but when I hook up our xc90 the caravan battery swaps over to connect to car rather than caravan and so nothing happens when the master switch is turned on.

If the leisure battery is charging and fridge works in battery mode I'd say all is well.

Thanks Andy

Is it 13 pin electrics? From a very distant memory when I had one installed and had a similar issue I found pin 9, I think, wasn't populated. The wire was taped back on the loom. This was where the tow side plugs into the car harness. It may have been on the car side of the connector, as I say it was years ago. Once I inserted it into the plug everything worked.

As with Andy's comments our caravan only has the fridge and battery charging in operation when connected to the car and engine running. The master switch in the caravan does nothing when the engine is on or off when connected to the car.

This was the same on our 2017 Santa Fe.

I assume there is a change-over relay somewhere to disconnect the van from the battery when connected to car but haven't located it. I always thought this was by design to discourage the stupid people who chuck the kids dogs etc in the caravan to have a quiet drive. Years ago it was relatively common to see a bunch of kids pulling faces at passing traffic.

Having seen what's left when a caravan goes over on the motorway I'm glad it doesn't seem to happen anymore.