Trailer Wiring Loom Location

[Jocklandjohn]

1989 110

As far as I can establish, from searching online, the tow bar wiring harness is attached to the main wiring loom at the rear right (drivers side).

From looking at pictures of new pattern looms it seems that the tow bar loom has bullet connectors, but before I delve into the guts of the van (which will involve laborious removal of some built-in internal stuff first) can anyone tell me if the actual connection point for the tow bar loom to the main wiring harness is internal beside the rear lighting wire cluster, or external tucked into the area between fuel tank and rear crossmember? 

I *assume* the connections for the tow bar wiring are individual take-offs from from each wire as opposed to a group of them terminating in a multi-plug type thing?

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Jocklandjohn

[western]

There should be 4 or 6 way female bullet connectors to connect the new tow socket sub loom into, just match up the wire colour codes. 

[cackshifter]

And on mine (a csw) the bullets are inside behind the light cover

[Retroanaconda]

Earlier vehicles use the rubber bullet connector blocks which are behind the light panel yes, same as where the leads from the light units themselves connect.

On later vehicles (Td5 and on, but maybe 300Tdi too I’m not sure?) there is a large proper sealed multiplug provided but it is in the area at the rear of the wheelarch behind the cover, rather than inside the cabin as before.

[Peaklander]

My 96 300 TDI has the bullets. Is it only me that finds the solder bullets and crimped ones are different sizes?

[Jocklandjohn]

Thank you all thats very helpful. I have a *vague* recollection of seeing a connector of some sort but its so long since I delved into that part of the van I cant remember!

[Peaklander]

18 hours ago, cackshifter said:

And on mine (a csw) the bullets are inside behind the light cover

I forgot to add that mine is in this position too.

[western]

Same place on all the pre td5 90/110.

[Jocklandjohn]

Ah ok - I've just found out that the loom I was trying to obtain from Autosparks is not available for a few weeks and if I could obtain one sooner that would be really helpful.

Can someone confirm if the part RTC8872 which I *think* is what I need encompasses my 1989 model year as some of the stuff I'm reading whilst searching suggests its 1990 onwards, but I'm assuming that not much changed with the wiring in later years until beyond the 300tdi's ??

[cackshifter]

Mine just has a piece of 7 core cable coming through the floor, with the end bulleted, the other end goes into the back of the socket. It's nothing fancy.

 

[Jocklandjohn]

1 hour ago, cackshifter said:

Mine just has a piece of 7 core cable coming through the floor, with the end bulleted, the other end goes into the back of the socket. It's nothing fancy.

 

Does it look like the loom in the pic here?   Cant imagine there's much difference if its 7 pin.

[Peaklander]

That's a standard 12N socket with the seven core cable and the scotchloks that are 'standard' issue for tapping each circuit but you don't need them. As far as I remember, the trailer warning lamp on the dash is already there and will give you the feedback needed that the indicators are working correctly, so you don't need that buzzer either.

As @cackshifter says, just buy a 12N socket and cable from a million outlets, with some (male) bullets to fit your twin bullet connectors that are in the corner mentioned.

I don't think you will need to change the indicator relay, as it's ready for the higher current draw from the additional lamps on the trailer. I have LEDs now and the flasher has an adjuster to compensate and get the flash rate stable.

[Jocklandjohn]

On 6/14/2022 at 6:14 PM, Peaklander said:

That's a standard 12N socket with the seven core cable and the scotchloks that are 'standard' issue for tapping each circuit but you don't need them. As far as I remember, the trailer warning lamp on the dash is already there and will give you the feedback needed that the indicators are working correctly, so you don't need that buzzer either.

As @cackshifter says, just buy a 12N socket and cable from a million outlets, with some (male) bullets to fit your twin bullet connectors that are in the corner mentioned.

I don't think you will need to change the indicator relay, as it's ready for the higher current draw from the additional lamps on the trailer. I have LEDs now and the flasher has an adjuster to compensate and get the flash rate stable.

Grand thanks.

[chuff]

If you have the option then buy a Hella brand socket - they actually work for more than a week. 

 

[Junglie]

13 hours ago, chuff said:

If you have the option then buy a Hella brand socket - they actually work for more than a week. 

 

So true.