S80: Electrical - S80 2009 towbar and sensors - Page 2

Tatsfield · Feb 18th, 2020, 13:45

None of this is down to the tow bar itself. It's just an inanimate lump of steel . It's down to the rear numberplate bar electrics installed with the tow bar. If you don't have electrics that work with the Volvo's systems, the sensors will not be put into "tow bar mode" when the towing plate bar is plugged in and will always see anything that is before them. You can fit any tow bar you like so long as you provide Volvo compatible electrics.

ferg55 · Feb 19th, 2020, 21:37

Hi Urban, mine is the Volvo towbar with detachable towball (it's made by Brink I think) - I always leave the towball attached as I have lost the key.

Tatsfield is describing the feature whereby the sensors are disabled when you plug in the trailer electrics (to prevent them sensing the trailer / bike rack when you reverse), rather than your query regarding the sensors picking up the towball if left in position when you are not towing anything. As he says, this feature is only activated if you plug into original Volvo OE trailer electrics, but I guess you can live with switching them off manually when you tow if this feature doesn't work!

Feb 18th, 2020, 13:45	#11
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 10:10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	None of this is down to the tow bar itself. It's just an inanimate lump of steel . It's down to the rear numberplate bar electrics installed with the tow bar. If you don't have electrics that work with the Volvo's systems, the sensors will not be put into "tow bar mode" when the towing plate bar is plugged in and will always see anything that is before them. You can fit any tow bar you like so long as you provide Volvo compatible electrics. __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey

Feb 19th, 2020, 21:37	#12
ferg55 Senior Member Last Online: Jul 4th, 2023 12:54 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: oxford	Hi Urban, mine is the Volvo towbar with detachable towball (it's made by Brink I think) - I always leave the towball attached as I have lost the key. Tatsfield is describing the feature whereby the sensors are disabled when you plug in the trailer electrics (to prevent them sensing the trailer / bike rack when you reverse), rather than your query regarding the sensors picking up the towball if left in position when you are not towing anything. As he says, this feature is only activated if you plug into original Volvo OE trailer electrics, but I guess you can live with switching them off manually when you tow if this feature doesn't work!

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