V70 Towing Electrics

Andy76 · Mar 22nd, 2011, 12:51

Guys

Im looking for some advice

I had a Witter towbar fitted with twin electrics. When I hooked it up to the van the indicators worked fine but the brake and side lights did not work. I also got the bulb failure message on the dash.

I took the car back to the guy who fitted it and he plugged in a trailer board and all seemed ok which suggests it may be a problem on the van which has been in storage for the last few months.

Is it safe to assume the van is the issue and not he installation before I start disassembling the van or could it still be installation issue with the electrics. I noticed in some other posts reference to the bulb failure warnings etc when non volvo electrics are fitted and spliced in.

The car is a 2005 V70 T5 and the elctrics were spliced in in the passenger side loom behind the light cluster. The fitter suggested that it could be a problem on the earth/return on the van but would this not also stop the indicators from working?

Andy

Rentagas · Mar 22nd, 2011, 13:22

The easiest way of sorting this is to test the van on a car with working electrics or with the test box at your friendly caravan dealer. Of course you may wish to get the van serviced at the same time!

Central Scotland is a long way for you to come and test the van on my "other car" which has 7 pin electrics

outnumbered · Mar 23rd, 2011, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy76

Guys

Im looking for some advice

I had a Witter towbar fitted with twin electrics. When I hooked it up to the van the indicators worked fine but the brake and side lights did not work. I also got the bulb failure message on the dash.

I took the car back to the guy who fitted it and he plugged in a trailer board and all seemed ok which suggests it may be a problem on the van which has been in storage for the last few months.

Is it safe to assume the van is the issue and not he installation before I start disassembling the van or could it still be installation issue with the electrics. I noticed in some other posts reference to the bulb failure warnings etc when non volvo electrics are fitted and spliced in.

The car is a 2005 V70 T5 and the elctrics were spliced in in the passenger side loom behind the light cluster. The fitter suggested that it could be a problem on the earth/return on the van but would this not also stop the indicators from working?

Andy

i would suspect its the car the canbus does not like being spliced into, for all the hasle its better to plug and play. are all your lights working when the van is not hooked up.
mike

Andy76 · Mar 23rd, 2011, 20:43

Yes all the lights are fine when the van isn't plugged in however I lose the driver side tail light when I connect the van. The brake lights on the car seem ok though.

I had a quick look last night and noticed if I connect the van the lights come on for a second or so the go off as the 'parking light bulb failure' warning comes up on the dash

The van has side repeater lights, therefore effectively three bulbs per side including the rear light cluster. Could this be the issue?

Hopefully I will get an hour of light tomorrow night to have a look

Is canbus just the cars wiring loom or some sort electronic monitoring?

S60D5-185 · Mar 23rd, 2011, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by outnumbered

i would suspect its the car the canbus does not like being spliced into, for all the hasle its better to plug and play. are all your lights working when the van is not hooked up.
mike

+1 Darryl

outnumbered · Mar 23rd, 2011, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy76

Yes all the lights are fine when the van isn't plugged in however I lose the driver side tail light when I connect the van. The brake lights on the car seem ok though.

I had a quick look last night and noticed if I connect the van the lights come on for a second or so the go off as the 'parking light bulb failure' warning comes up on the dash

The van has side repeater lights, therefore effectively three bulbs per side including the rear light cluster. Could this be the issue?

Hopefully I will get an hour of light tomorrow night to have a look

Is canbus just the cars wiring loom or some sort electronic monitoring?

have you one off these or somthing that can check the voltage i find this easier as it lights up when you conect to live.
http://www.incarshop.co.uk/acatalog/...l_Testers.html,

go to the cars 7 pin socket and check each pin and see what is happening check side lights brake lights indicators left and right. if they work as they should then it will be the van..
http://www.towingandtrailers.co.uk/shop/132/133/142/.
hope that helps
mike

Andy76 · Mar 24th, 2011, 20:01

Hi guys, quick update

I decided to remove all the sidelight bulbs from the van (6 in total) and left the number plate light in. I plugged in the electrics and the number plate light stayed lit. I then inserted bulbs one at a time until the sidelights stopped working.

To cut a long story short anymore than 3 bulbs bring on a bulb failure warning and seem to cut the power to the lights.

Tried a similar excercise with the brake lights and with one in all is ok but both fitted cause the brake light bulb failure warning and the brake lights stop working. I assume the car senses the load being drawn in the circuit and switches the lights off?

I have just ordered a 7 way smart relay and wiring kit ,which seems to be an interposing relay(s), which I hope will fix the problem.

Thanks for you help so far. I will let you know the outcome

tonyvolvo · Mar 25th, 2011, 19:21

HI DON'T BOTHER THE WAY YOU ARE DOING IT. GO TO BRAYDON MOTOR'S LONDON AND GET THE CORRECT 7 PIN .PLUGS STRAIGHT INTO VOLVO'S SYSTEM.COST AT THE LAST ONE FOR MY XC70 12mth's ago. £20. IT IS MADE UP INCLUDING GROMMET THROUGH THE FLOOR. DONE 3 UP TO NOW.

BRAYDON MOTOR'S
02089852255

REGARDS
TONYB 01873 853826

simpT5 · Mar 25th, 2011, 19:39

The 7 way smart relay you have ordered will sort out your problem.

I fit Witter towbars for a living and your car should not have been wired up without a bypass relay.

It sounds like your fitter has wired your 12n socket directly to the vehicle loom.

I use smart relays from Ryder towing, they are brilliant and have no problems at all with even the most complex lighting circuits.

The whole purpose of the bypass relay is so any current drawn via your 12n socket is taken directly from another positive source, i.e the battey +ve terminal via a suitable inline fuse. The 12v signals from your vehicle's wiring loom are only used to switch the smart relay, the current consumed is only milliamps and as such, your 12n socket and anything connected to it will be invisible to your vehicle and it's bulb checking system.

Andy76 · Mar 29th, 2011, 18:14

The relay did he trick. Everything seems ok

Thanks for the help guys

Mar 22nd, 2011, 12:51	#1
Andy76 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 1st, 2013 20:32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Scotland	V70 Towing Electrics Guys Im looking for some advice I had a Witter towbar fitted with twin electrics. When I hooked it up to the van the indicators worked fine but the brake and side lights did not work. I also got the bulb failure message on the dash. I took the car back to the guy who fitted it and he plugged in a trailer board and all seemed ok which suggests it may be a problem on the van which has been in storage for the last few months. Is it safe to assume the van is the issue and not he installation before I start disassembling the van or could it still be installation issue with the electrics. I noticed in some other posts reference to the bulb failure warnings etc when non volvo electrics are fitted and spliced in. The car is a 2005 V70 T5 and the elctrics were spliced in in the passenger side loom behind the light cluster. The fitter suggested that it could be a problem on the earth/return on the van but would this not also stop the indicators from working? Andy

Mar 25th, 2011, 19:21	#8
tonyvolvo Junior Member Last Online: May 23rd, 2020 19:50 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ABERGAVENNY	7 pin HI DON'T BOTHER THE WAY YOU ARE DOING IT. GO TO BRAYDON MOTOR'S LONDON AND GET THE CORRECT 7 PIN .PLUGS STRAIGHT INTO VOLVO'S SYSTEM.COST AT THE LAST ONE FOR MY XC70 12mth's ago. £20. IT IS MADE UP INCLUDING GROMMET THROUGH THE FLOOR. DONE 3 UP TO NOW. BRAYDON MOTOR'S 02089852255 REGARDS TONYB 01873 853826

Mar 25th, 2011, 19:39	#9
simpT5 Lovin all 5 of my pots Last Online: Feb 21st, 2015 15:11 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cheshire	The 7 way smart relay you have ordered will sort out your problem. I fit Witter towbars for a living and your car should not have been wired up without a bypass relay. It sounds like your fitter has wired your 12n socket directly to the vehicle loom. I use smart relays from Ryder towing, they are brilliant and have no problems at all with even the most complex lighting circuits. The whole purpose of the bypass relay is so any current drawn via your 12n socket is taken directly from another positive source, i.e the battey +ve terminal via a suitable inline fuse. The 12v signals from your vehicle's wiring loom are only used to switch the smart relay, the current consumed is only milliamps and as such, your 12n socket and anything connected to it will be invisible to your vehicle and it's bulb checking system. __________________ Last edited by simpT5; Mar 25th, 2011 at 20:00.

Mar 22nd, 2011, 13:22	#2
Rentagas Swedish Chef Last Online: Jan 29th, 2024 18:09 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tiger Country	The easiest way of sorting this is to test the van on a car with working electrics or with the test box at your friendly caravan dealer. Of course you may wish to get the van serviced at the same time! Central Scotland is a long way for you to come and test the van on my "other car" which has 7 pin electrics

Mar 23rd, 2011, 20:43	#4
Andy76 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 1st, 2013 20:32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Scotland	Yes all the lights are fine when the van isn't plugged in however I lose the driver side tail light when I connect the van. The brake lights on the car seem ok though. I had a quick look last night and noticed if I connect the van the lights come on for a second or so the go off as the 'parking light bulb failure' warning comes up on the dash The van has side repeater lights, therefore effectively three bulbs per side including the rear light cluster. Could this be the issue? Hopefully I will get an hour of light tomorrow night to have a look Is canbus just the cars wiring loom or some sort electronic monitoring?

Mar 24th, 2011, 20:01	#7
Andy76 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 1st, 2013 20:32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Scotland	Hi guys, quick update I decided to remove all the sidelight bulbs from the van (6 in total) and left the number plate light in. I plugged in the electrics and the number plate light stayed lit. I then inserted bulbs one at a time until the sidelights stopped working. To cut a long story short anymore than 3 bulbs bring on a bulb failure warning and seem to cut the power to the lights. Tried a similar excercise with the brake lights and with one in all is ok but both fitted cause the brake light bulb failure warning and the brake lights stop working. I assume the car senses the load being drawn in the circuit and switches the lights off? I have just ordered a 7 way smart relay and wiring kit ,which seems to be an interposing relay(s), which I hope will fix the problem. Thanks for you help so far. I will let you know the outcome

Mar 29th, 2011, 18:14	#10
Andy76 Junior Member Last Online: Apr 1st, 2013 20:32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Scotland	The relay did he trick. Everything seems ok Thanks for the help guys

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)