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Tow bar wiring

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:46 pm
by giorgioyk
Hi

I have just installed a new tow bar for my 2009 vrx lancer. I still need to install a wiring harness for it, can i just splice it into the existing brake lights/ indeicators etc?

Cheers

Edited..Instructions added

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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:48 pm
by aspir3
I am not saying you can because Mitsubishi say you need there wiring loom for the towbar but mine is spliced in and I have not had any problems.

I chose to splice in because Mitsubishi's wiring loom was more then the towbar.

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:14 pm
by bumblebee
I bought my towbar and wiring as a kit from "aranda towbars" it came with a wiring kit with an electronic controller that takes the load off the oem wiring. Got it delivered for under $400 and fitted it myself. Not too tough to do and works a treat

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:45 am
by Merrin88
I have bought an OEM towbar and wiring kit from an auto wreckers. I've attached the towbar but I can't find where the wiring harness should plug in. It's supposed to be a plug and play kit but not sure where the plugs are hidden in the boot area.
Any help would be appreciated!
(2012 Lancer sportback)

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:18 pm
by lancerdarryl
The unit plugs in on the left side rear guard. You have to remove some boot trims to access the wiring harness. And you need to drill a hole to feed the harness down to the tow bar (with the trailer plug removed)

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:27 pm
by bumblebee
When i put my wiring in for the trailer plug i never drilled a hole anywhere in the boot to run it down.i can't remember how i did it but there was definitely no hole drilled.

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:57 pm
by Merrin88
I've removed the left boot trims but there's no plugs that fit the same as the wiring harness. Do I need to remove the rear bumper bar to access it?
This is a photo of the wiring harness and the wires just behind the rear left wheel arch
IMG_20170717_125518.jpg
IMG_20170717_125518.jpg (455.77 KiB) Viewed 14386 times

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IMG_20170717_125451.jpg (437.41 KiB) Viewed 14386 times

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:53 pm
by Lancer1993
Thought it might be weird they include a plug in option but no grommet to run the wire outside the boot.

Do some simply run a flat wire through the boot lid and out to the trailer, okay solution for the occasional use but could stuff up the weather sealing strip over time?

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:58 pm
by Merrin88
It has a grommet to run it outside, just not caught in the photo. I called a towbar shop and they seemed to think I'd have to remove one of the seats to access the plug. Does that sound right?

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 4:30 pm
by Merrin88
So I ended up removing the back seat incase it was there but it's not. Unless the plug is hiding somewhere under the carpet in the rear seats, I can't figure out where else it would be because the cable isn't long enough to go too much closer to the front

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 4:53 pm
by Lancer1993
That reminds me there is a LOT of wiring on the left side over the wheel arch, but to access it you need to remove the bottom part of the back seat, then unbolt the side bolster on the left. I don't remember if there were any plugs and yes it would be a weird place to put on for a tow bar lighting harness.

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:02 pm
by lancerdarryl
Keep looking it's definitely in there!

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:52 pm
by Merrin88
I did find about 3 plugs along the wheel arch under a panel. One of them turned off the left indicator when unplugged but the wiring I've been supplied with doesn't fit in that plug. Maybe I have been sent the incorrect wiring harness?

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:57 pm
by bumblebee
I bought one of these a few years ago it came with the towbar from these guys.
Put this number into ebay
331797310474

Its not cheap but it works a treat. It has an ECU in it so it takes the load off the stock vehicle wiring and wont give any errors or fault codes due to excess load on the lighting circuits or cause any fuses to blow.
Worth its weight in gold

Re: Tow bar wiring

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:07 pm
by Lancer1993
Never had this issue in any other older cars I've wired for a tow bar.

Good to keep in mind depending what a tow bar kit comes with.