DIY towbar fitting

[Bongovirgin]

Hi, I've fitted a tow-equipe towbar to my 1995 2.5 diesel. With grateful thanks to Moray for pointing me in the right direction in identifying which wire was the stop light feed, & which one was the tail light feed ( however, I did learn to my chagrin that I had wired up some wrongly, as I should have checked the colurs which matched up to the 2 sides of the plug connector ). However I'm now at a dead-end with the right side indicator. According to the wiring diagram, and the loom leading from the connector into the depths of my baby, the wire should be green with white stripes. However, when I strip back the loom coming down the nearside rear pillar, this particular colour is not present (Gah!! That would be too easy!) After much trying and repairing of each wire, with a tailboard from the dark ages plugged in, I finally got the right indicator on said board to only come on when I operate the indicator from inside the cab (admittedly it stayed on permanently rather than indicating as it should). However, when I plugged in my 1990 Abbey Lincoln caravan plug, I immediately got the right side indicator on permanently.
Short of either getting an auto electrician in (the likeliest outcome) or sitting in the back again & trying each wire over and over, Can anyone help please???? My annual holiday is at stake . Does anyone know which wire it should be, or can suggest what may be wrong?
Would appreciate any helpful input.
Thank You

[dandemann8]

Don't forget to wire in the foglight as its a MOT fail from 2013 if not working...

[Northern Bongolow]

whichever side you start from, usually the offside rear as the fog light is on that side, just follow the wires back from the light cluster, then bring the nearside indicator over using a seperate wire.

[jaylee]

I may be totally wrong?

The indicator staying on & not flashing maybe because of some sort of power drain on the actual indicator relay flasher... if your Bongo has four indicators? (2 on each side) the added bulb (in this case on the tail board.) could be causing it to stay on & not flash....??

Do your indicators on the Bongo stay on permanent when the tailboard is attached too??

You may need to upgrade the flasher relay? It used to be like that on V old cars when adding a wing repeater...



One of these things..

[Bongovirgin]

No, the indicators on the bongo flash as normal. I've also tested tailboard on another car, and it works fine on there, so I'm going to try re-doing the o/s indicator connection, and if that don't solve it, then I'll move the connection to the o/s earth onto another earth.
I plan to run a separate wire across the underfloor so I can connect up the foglight.

[jaylee]

Do you have a volt meter?

If you take a reading from indicator connection on the trailer hook up do you get 12v on off on pulse...? Try earthing the meter to the tailgate latch point..?

[Bongovirgin]

Have been out on it today, and tried making new earth connection, and re-did o/s indicator connection, however, getting o/s indicator on board staying on as soon as it is plugged in and ignition is on. I'm therefore guessing that somewhere in the run from the o/s through the headlining to the n/s, there is some kind of fault? Especially as this is apparently where the wire changed colour. It's looking very much like a visit to the garageman I'm afraid.

Thanks guys.

[Bongovirgin]

Have been out on it today, and tried making new earth connection, and re-did o/s indicator connection, however, getting o/s indicator on board staying on as soon as it is plugged in and ignition is on. I'm therefore guessing that somewhere in the run from the o/s through the headlining to the n/s, there is some kind of fault? Especially as this is apparently where the wire changed colour. It's looking very much like a visit to the garageman I'm afraid.

Thanks guys.

[jaylee]

If you don't mind me asking... (& i may have got the wrong end of the stick?) Are you taking the feed from behind the rear panel at the back of the vehicle, just before the loom goes through the body to the rear light cluster???

Where is your rough location..?

Geoff help!!!??

[g8dhe]

I have via PM But am mobile at the moment trying to dodge raindrops!

[jaylee]

I have via PM But am mobile at the moment trying to dodge raindrops!

Saw you lurking.. Hope yer in good health..?

[Bongovirgin]

If you don't mind me asking... (& i may have got the wrong end of the stick?) Are you taking the feed from behind the rear panel at the back of the vehicle, just before the loom goes through the body to the rear light cluster???

Where is your rough location..?

Geoff help!!!??

Yes. I'm following the destructions (sorry instructions) on the factsheet in the club area, as this was not only my towbar make, but also the same year van. So, at the mo, my rear n/s seat and rear panel are off. I may have the wrong wire. It's probable that on my particular one, Mazda saw fit to run the indicator wire sraight forward. I live in N. Essex, near Thaxted. My local recommended Mr Bongo is kindly taking a look tomorrow lunchtime.

[Bongovirgin]

I have via PM But am mobile at the moment trying to dodge raindrops!

Yes, that was appreciated Geoff. I tried changing the earth and rechecked the wires,but no change. Thank You.

[Bongovirgin]

Dear All,

After a visit to my local Bongo doctor, baby is now working as she should. It appears that there is a relay in the roof lining between the o/s indicator and the nearside where the loom runs to. This is why I couldn't get the final wire working. After the insertion of a bypass wire, the connection is working as it should.
I hope this helps anyone out there who decides to try to fit their own towbar and tackle the electrics.
Also grateful thanks to all of you who proferred help and wisdom in trying to help solve this.

I'm on holidayeeeee

[Bob]

Enjoy.