V50 Electrics : - V50 towing electrics

fitfurnowt · Nov 10th, 2007, 23:09

Has anyone fitted a car specific trailer socket to a 2007 V50 and if so, where is the plug that you connected it to?
I got a non specific kit (inc the relay box of tricks) and am trying to avoid running a power cable under all the interior trim/carpets to the fuse box as the instructions tell me to.
I've found two connectors on the wiring loom behind the boot lining on the rear offside, one green and one gray. Are these them and if so how do I get the lining out?

Clan · Nov 10th, 2007, 23:30

there is a green network plug at the rear right and a power socket (grey? ) ,these plug into the trailer Module which you need to do the job professionaly , , which the tow socket connects to , the network sends the signals to the trailer module and that sends the correct feeds to the tow socket when needed . The trailer module needs a software download for country specific functions ...
Connecting elsewhere in the system could cause bother, the wiring is very thin , just enough to carry the currents needed ...very little if any reserve current capacity . AND these cheap nasty non volvo kits often have ridiculously thin wires going to the tow socket especialy the white earth wire , if you have to run that to the front the caravan lights will be like glow worms :-)

fitfurnowt · Nov 11th, 2007, 00:21

Thanks for that.
The green connector is the smaller one of the two and I can see 10 holes to receive the pins. The gray is larger and has two slots to take female spade connectors but only one is occupied. I guess this is the power, as looking through the lower bulb replacement hatch I can see several thin wires and one thicker red wire looped round and held with insulation tape. As far as I can tell, all these wires go into the two connectors but I can't work out how to get all the interior trim off so that I can see for certain.
Anyway, its one of these that I've got http://www.towsure.com/product/10675...ass_Wiring_Kit
Rather than cut into the wires near each bulb as the instructions say to do, my plan was to see if I could use these connecting blocks instead. From your reply, it sounds like I should ditch the idea and stump up the readys for the Volvo unit.

Clan · Nov 11th, 2007, 08:32

It seems this kit uses a very small current from each light circuit at the rear to trigger a relay to activate the relavant pin in the tow socket and draw the main power from the live feed rather than the lighting circuit . This should work actualy , but the cars system monitors the current drain to detect bulb failure , it depends how sensitive it is as to whether you get the bulb fail message come up with this device attatched . It is crucial that the Live Trailer Module feed you find at the back is the correct one .. Modern volvo ( And other makes ) electrics are complex yet simple , they work in a completely different way to cars 10 years ago ...
One advantage of the trailer module , when you have the trailer connected the cars fog light is cut off ...

nano · Nov 11th, 2007, 09:28

I think it is not so easy to connect a non Volvo plug. There a document in this site with filename "S40MY2005-Electrical.pdf" which describes also the TRM (trailer module). It may be useful.

fitfurnowt · Nov 11th, 2007, 19:24

I've done a bit of digging around on t'internet and come up with this site. http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessories/ii/search.aspx
Its a Volvo site that allows you to search for installation instructions for Volvo accessories. Just type in the model and year and it brings up a list of instructions that you can down load in PDF format.

Its all there. I've found instructions for my project but there are instructions for things like Sat Nav's, Body Kits, Blue Tooth hands free kits etc...

By looking through the instructions you can also find out how to remove a particular piece from the car. For example, someone on another thread was trying to remove the center console from his car, if you have a look at "USB/iPod Music interface" it shows you how.

Thanks very much to Clan and Nano for your help.

Alec Dawe · Nov 11th, 2007, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitfurnowt

I've done a bit of digging around on t'internet and come up with this site. http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessories/ii/search.aspx
Its a Volvo site that allows you to search for installation instructions for Volvo accessories. Just type in the model and year and it brings up a list of instructions that you can down load in PDF format.

Its all there. I've found instructions for my project but there are instructions for things like Sat Nav's, Body Kits, Blue Tooth hands free kits etc...

By looking through the instructions you can also find out how to remove a particular piece from the car. For example, someone on another thread was trying to remove the center console from his car, if you have a look at "USB/iPod Music interface" it shows you how.

Thanks very much to Clan and Nano for your help.

That looks like a very useful site. I don't need it at present, but its saved top my favourites, just in case in the future!
Thanks

savage · Nov 12th, 2007, 19:04

Hi I have had a detachable tow bar installed on my 2007 V50 D5. I installed a bosal detachable my self and got volvo to do the electics as if an aftermarket wireing loom was installed it would invalidate the warranty. And Volvo electics are not famous for being reliable!! There is a box they install on the r/h rear side of the car which plugs into the rear light socket,then they have to do 3 softwear updates to the car. The total cost for the electics was £180. The bosal bar was easy to install, and
you would not even know there was a bar on the car as the socket pushes up behind the bumper when not in use.

fitfurnowt · Nov 12th, 2007, 20:48

Yikes, £180!!!
Thanks for your post Savage.
I'm at the point where the bar is fitted with the socket bolted to it. The wire is routed into the car.
The instructions on the Volvo site mentioned in my previous post shows that mechanically, fitting the relay is a simple process. I'm pretty certain that if I could identify the wires going to the bulbs from the blocks and connect to them using appropriate pins then all would be well. My worry is though, that as you mentioned, it's a new car and the warranty would be invalidated.
Also, I spoke to the guys who supplied the relay today and to be honest my initial optimism has gone and I've lost confidence. It sounds like it could be easy to make a costly mistake which would be more expensive to put right than paying Volvo to do it in the first place.
My last car was a VW Bora. I found I could connect the trailer wires to the back of the light cluster using spade connectors giving a nice neat installation without cutting into any wires. Thats OK on a Bora as there isn't any computer wizardry to knacker up, but on the V50.... eeek!
I think the decisions made, I'll call Volvo in the morning and see when they can do it for me.

fitfurnowt · Nov 13th, 2007, 19:49

Savage, where did you get the install done for £180?
I called my local dealer today and they quoted £310 for fitting the 14 pin relay and £380 for a 7 pin (I queried the prices and they are the right way round).

Nov 10th, 2007, 23:09	#1
fitfurnowt New Member Last Online: Sep 28th, 2008 18:53 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere	V50 towing electrics Has anyone fitted a car specific trailer socket to a 2007 V50 and if so, where is the plug that you connected it to? I got a non specific kit (inc the relay box of tricks) and am trying to avoid running a power cable under all the interior trim/carpets to the fuse box as the instructions tell me to. I've found two connectors on the wiring loom behind the boot lining on the rear offside, one green and one gray. Are these them and if so how do I get the lining out?

Nov 10th, 2007, 23:30	#2
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:54 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	there is a green network plug at the rear right and a power socket (grey? ) ,these plug into the trailer Module which you need to do the job professionaly , , which the tow socket connects to , the network sends the signals to the trailer module and that sends the correct feeds to the tow socket when needed . The trailer module needs a software download for country specific functions ... Connecting elsewhere in the system could cause bother, the wiring is very thin , just enough to carry the currents needed ...very little if any reserve current capacity . AND these cheap nasty non volvo kits often have ridiculously thin wires going to the tow socket especialy the white earth wire , if you have to run that to the front the caravan lights will be like glow worms :-) __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Nov 11th, 2007, 00:21	#3
fitfurnowt New Member Last Online: Sep 28th, 2008 18:53 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere	Thanks for that. The green connector is the smaller one of the two and I can see 10 holes to receive the pins. The gray is larger and has two slots to take female spade connectors but only one is occupied. I guess this is the power, as looking through the lower bulb replacement hatch I can see several thin wires and one thicker red wire looped round and held with insulation tape. As far as I can tell, all these wires go into the two connectors but I can't work out how to get all the interior trim off so that I can see for certain. Anyway, its one of these that I've got http://www.towsure.com/product/10675...ass_Wiring_Kit Rather than cut into the wires near each bulb as the instructions say to do, my plan was to see if I could use these connecting blocks instead. From your reply, it sounds like I should ditch the idea and stump up the readys for the Volvo unit. Last edited by fitfurnowt; Nov 11th, 2007 at 00:28.

Nov 11th, 2007, 08:32	#4
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:54 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	It seems this kit uses a very small current from each light circuit at the rear to trigger a relay to activate the relavant pin in the tow socket and draw the main power from the live feed rather than the lighting circuit . This should work actualy , but the cars system monitors the current drain to detect bulb failure , it depends how sensitive it is as to whether you get the bulb fail message come up with this device attatched . It is crucial that the Live Trailer Module feed you find at the back is the correct one .. Modern volvo ( And other makes ) electrics are complex yet simple , they work in a completely different way to cars 10 years ago ... One advantage of the trailer module , when you have the trailer connected the cars fog light is cut off ... __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience . Last edited by Clan; Nov 11th, 2007 at 08:35.

Nov 11th, 2007, 19:24	#6
fitfurnowt New Member Last Online: Sep 28th, 2008 18:53 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere	Volvo intallation instructions site I've done a bit of digging around on t'internet and come up with this site. http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessories/ii/search.aspx Its a Volvo site that allows you to search for installation instructions for Volvo accessories. Just type in the model and year and it brings up a list of instructions that you can down load in PDF format. Its all there. I've found instructions for my project but there are instructions for things like Sat Nav's, Body Kits, Blue Tooth hands free kits etc... By looking through the instructions you can also find out how to remove a particular piece from the car. For example, someone on another thread was trying to remove the center console from his car, if you have a look at "USB/iPod Music interface" it shows you how. Thanks very much to Clan and Nano for your help.

Nov 11th, 2007, 09:28	#5
nano Junior Member Last Online: Sep 16th, 2012 07:00 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thessaloniki	I think it is not so easy to connect a non Volvo plug. There a document in this site with filename "S40MY2005-Electrical.pdf" which describes also the TRM (trailer module). It may be useful.

Nov 12th, 2007, 19:04	#8
savage New Member Last Online: Mar 14th, 2008 17:24 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Braimtree	Hi I have had a detachable tow bar installed on my 2007 V50 D5. I installed a bosal detachable my self and got volvo to do the electics as if an aftermarket wireing loom was installed it would invalidate the warranty. And Volvo electics are not famous for being reliable!! There is a box they install on the r/h rear side of the car which plugs into the rear light socket,then they have to do 3 softwear updates to the car. The total cost for the electics was £180. The bosal bar was easy to install, and you would not even know there was a bar on the car as the socket pushes up behind the bumper when not in use.

Nov 12th, 2007, 20:48	#9
fitfurnowt New Member Last Online: Sep 28th, 2008 18:53 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere	Yikes, £180!!! Thanks for your post Savage. I'm at the point where the bar is fitted with the socket bolted to it. The wire is routed into the car. The instructions on the Volvo site mentioned in my previous post shows that mechanically, fitting the relay is a simple process. I'm pretty certain that if I could identify the wires going to the bulbs from the blocks and connect to them using appropriate pins then all would be well. My worry is though, that as you mentioned, it's a new car and the warranty would be invalidated. Also, I spoke to the guys who supplied the relay today and to be honest my initial optimism has gone and I've lost confidence. It sounds like it could be easy to make a costly mistake which would be more expensive to put right than paying Volvo to do it in the first place. My last car was a VW Bora. I found I could connect the trailer wires to the back of the light cluster using spade connectors giving a nice neat installation without cutting into any wires. Thats OK on a Bora as there isn't any computer wizardry to knacker up, but on the V50.... eeek! I think the decisions made, I'll call Volvo in the morning and see when they can do it for me.

Nov 13th, 2007, 19:49	#10
fitfurnowt New Member Last Online: Sep 28th, 2008 18:53 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere	Savage, where did you get the install done for £180? I called my local dealer today and they quoted £310 for fitting the 14 pin relay and £380 for a 7 pin (I queried the prices and they are the right way round).

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