Tow Lights Help

[Offroadster]

Hi all, just got myself a tow bar mounted bike rack. The lights dont work when the plug is connected, when I switch the car lights on I get a check abs system light. It is a Toyota fitted tow bar but I dont think it has been used for a while. I thought it may be just dirty contacts so bought some contact cleaner but still no lights except one tail light momentarily worked. Anyone with any ideas, or a better way of cleaning the tow bar electrical plug.

Cheers guys

[bothwell_buyer]

often, when you have a problem with the tow bar electrics, it comes down to a faulty earth. If the earth connection is poor, the electricity finds an easier route by tracking back via other circuits and can throw up some weird symptoms.

I'd look at cleaning both the socket and the plug. A difficult job. I've had hassles in the past and found a new plug n socket solved it easier.

Anyway, give em a good clean. Do you have a multi-meter to check continuity on the tailboard lights??? You can get corrosion on the bulb contacts which cause probs as well.

Its more unusual to get probs with the socket, but maybe its been affected by salt up your way. Make sure the sockets are tight enough on the pins from the plug. A dose of wd40 or the likes can help. Wobbling the plug when its in the socket might help.

The multimeter would help determine if the voltages are coming out of the socket or whether its a problem with the wire connections behind the socket or where it links into the looms.

good luck!

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

Likewise I normally just spray WD40 all over the pins and work the plug and socket for a short while. If that doesn't work Fit a new Plug Just swap wire for wire, but trim them back 1/2 inch. Occasionally the wire to pin connection corrode and burn hence poor contact.

Remove all the bulbs one a t a time and clean them as well with WD40 and a fine emery paper. Make sure the tailboard is unplugged first though as you could end up blowing fuses. Talking of which have you checked the fuses. They can age and then blow for no apparent reason. Don't replace them with bigger ones though. I've seen muppets do that before and then wonder why the loom melts.

[three5]

Hi all, just got myself a tow bar mounted bike rack. The lights dont work when the plug is connected, when I switch the car lights on I get a check abs system light. It is a Toyota fitted tow bar but I dont think it has been used for a while. I thought it may be just dirty contacts so bought some contact cleaner but still no lights except one tail light momentarily worked. Anyone with any ideas, or a better way of cleaning the tow bar electrical plug.

Cheers guys

Don't know if you have ever used the towing lights before but a few of us have had trouble with the Toyota wiring loom fitted as part of the towbar installation. During the wiring installation two wires are attached to the Battery +ve terminal and the other ends connected, via an existing socket, to the main loom near the N/S headlamp. In these wires, adjacent to the Battery, are two fuse holders. For a single tow socket it is only necessary to fit a fuse in one of the fuse holders. There is a minor error in the fitting instructions that puts the fuse in the wrong fuse holder. This prevents the rear flashers from working. So long as you have only one ( a 12N ) socket fitted you can do no harm by trying the fuse in the other holder. There is a previous thread on the forum that covers the problem but I'm d***ed if I can remember what it was called - even though I subscribed to it at the time!

Good luck & let us all know how you solve the problem for future reference.

[anchorman]

Was it you that had a 4WD system light? It sounds like somebody may have messed up somewhere - back to the dealer I suspect!!!

[Offroadster]

Was it you that had a 4WD system light? It sounds like somebody may have messed up somewhere - back to the dealer I suspect!!!

Yes Anchorman it was me that had the 4wd light but thats sorted. Cheers for all the suggestions guys, tried the bike carrier lights on a friends car with no problems. Not have a chance to look at it until next weekend. As suggested maybe quicker just to change the plug on the car

[Offroadster]

Was it you that had a 4WD system light? It sounds like somebody may have messed up somewhere - back to the dealer I suspect!!!

Yes Anchorman it was me that had the 4wd light but thats sorted. Cheers for all the suggestions guys, tried the bike carrier lights on a friends car with no problems. Not have a chance to look at it until next weekend. As suggested maybe quicker just to change the plug on the car

Lights sorted!.Had some time today, took the towing plug apart and found most of the terminals corroded, quick dash to the local garage, new one purchased for £2.20!!.. Cheers guys

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

Lights sorted!.Had some time today, took the towing plug apart and found most of the terminals corroded, quick dash to the local garage, new one purchased for £2.20!!.. Cheers guys

Well done that man.

I had problems with my tow lights. Every time I plugged in the Caravan and turned on the lights the fuse blew. Took me ages to find a short on the front lights of the van. Just bypassed the wiring eventually as sorting it would have meant taking the whole front off the van.