Fitting towing electrics

[Dollywobbler]

That's truly excellent Kevan. Thanks! Started the job this morning, BX Club died and I was fretting about the electrics. As it happens, looks like the tow bar job is off for the time being (back end too rotten and the sodding bar won't fit!). At least I'll have a nice trick up my sleeve when I get this job back off the ground!

[Vanny]

That is indeed a very very nice trick which i will make the most of when i come to replace the entire front to rear cable (which should be a laugh )

[michaelr]

Thanks Defender, really useful guide.

Can anyone tell me please.... will a hatch towbar fit an estate or are they very different?

[Dollywobbler]

Very different as the estate is longer.

[michaelr]

Very different as the estate is longer.

Can you describe the difference in any way please? When I fitted a genuine Citroen towbar to my sedan it was amazingly simple as the holes were all pre-drilled. Two bolts went through the towing eye bracket and it's left hand side counterpart. The other two bolts went into the brackets that support the front end of the spare wheel carrier.

Surely, on the estate the tow eye position is immediately forward of the rear bumper and the spare wheel carriers are the same distance further forward on both models? Am I missing something?

[Dollywobbler]

The estate has a longer overhang, so a hatchback tow bar would be trying to put the tow ball where the bumper is.

[djoptix]

I tend to use barrel crimps for this sort of thing, with heatshrink over the top.

[citsncycles]

I have seen an after market towbar for a hatchback (which only bolts to the towing eye plates) fitted to an estate by bolting it through the actual towing eyes with big washers - not the most secure attachment!

[Thread Bear]

Very different as the estate is longer.

As I have just discovered. Another thing to be obtained. Well if you get a freebie and there are two types you know what's going to happen? I assume a 405 one will not fit?
Very nice bit of wiring. I was eying up the plugs and a spare ribbon thinking of hiding an extra chopped up rear backplate. Might work as a plugged in option but that is much better still, no extra joints.

On the Tow Plug - Screw the wires in with graphite (naffed starter brush will do, all bashed to dust) round the contact. When done the lot finished with a dose of good snotty Waxoyl, dry off in warm place (airing cupboard, if your single) and assemble. The graphite stops the wax creeping and insulating the contacts. It should keep a good few winters out and if you need to go in, it should come apart without drama. The Waxoyl does tend to make the plug wire choke slippy, so its easier to pull the wires out of the socket under a strain. A jubilee clip will negate that issue placed below the rubber choke, if there is room. Waxoyl will dissolve in warm white spirit if you want to start from scratch.

This same treatment will work for quite a few exposed connections, radiator fans for instance. It is not so easy on spade type connectors as it is more difficult to control surfaces from cross contamination and wax is a good insulator!

[Discoil]

Wish I'd seen this post earlier.
I've taken away the 2 seven pin plugs and fitted a 13 euro socket.
I have the wiring connections ( bx ) for the estate if anyone wishes them posted.

[Discoil]

For the Estate :-
Behind the left hand rear lamp assembly there is a Brown plug plugged into the lamp.
This brown plug is Mr (not mister) in the wiring diagram and has 7 wire connections. The numbers are on the plug .

Fog Lamp...................7 Mr 1
Reverse Lamp..............7 Mr 2
Stop Lamp..................7 Mr 5
Left rear sidelamp.........7 Mr 6......Fuse no. 12
Right rear sidelamp.......7 Mr 7.......Fuse no. 11

[frog]

Any chance of getting the photos rehosted?

[Defender110]

Yes, I've edited my original post and re-inserted the photos. I'm not sure why they were not showing as the links to my photobucket pictures were the same and my account has remained live, they dropped out when the BX club hosting sight was changed.

[frog]

Thanks Kevan!