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View Full Version : Got a tow ball but nowhere to connect the lights from the trailer


Argyle
17th November 2009, 20:40
Can anyone please explain to me why I got a tow ball on my Ford Laser -94 but nowhere to connect the lights from the trailer on the back of the car?

Is it legal for me to tow a trailer without the connection to the lights on the trailer?

cheers
The Pastor
17th November 2009, 20:42
nope, you need the lights.

Its not expensive to get them put on.
ready4whatever
17th November 2009, 20:45
Ahh i love having a ute
Sidewinder
17th November 2009, 20:46
well the people that put tow balls! the bar is on the fucking trailer!
arnt auto sparkies so they dont wire it up
Argyle
17th November 2009, 20:50
nope, you need the lights.

Its not expensive to get them put on.

Hmm okay, can most workshops do it? How much can I expect it to cost?
Laava
17th November 2009, 20:51
What's the bet that the lead is coiled up with the spare wheel and you haven't found it yet!
If I'm right, I want naming rights to all your children!:lol:
izzyc
17th November 2009, 20:51
Yep its illegal to tow the trailer with no lights woorking....ususally its a 7 pin plug required..[and 5 core wire] to sort this out....if you have just bought the car and cant figure it out then look underneath or in the boot for the wires hangin around....if there is nothing there then its only about $50 to get it wired up
The Pastor
17th November 2009, 20:51
Hmm okay, can most workshops do it? How much can I expect it to cost?
Nope, only 1 person in NZ can do it and it'll cost $2000.............................

You moron call up an auto sparky.
nallac
18th November 2009, 07:54
Its a piece of piss to do ya self,bout $25ish for the plug and lead
and maybe 1/2 an hour to wire up.
Need to tap into Brake light,left and right indicators and Main light loom.
Rhubarb
18th November 2009, 08:07
It's really easy to do yourself.

Get a 7 pin plug and 5 core cable kit from SuperCheap or somewhere.

You'll also need an additional 1.5m of single cable to join the othersides indicator to the 5 core.

Then just use some quick cable connectors to join into the wires for the cars lights on one side and then connect the othersides indicator into the 5 core using the single cable.

Written inside the 7 pin connector is what each pin is for e.g. left indicator, brake etc. You'll only need to use 5 of the 7 pins.

These links may help ..........
http://www.tops.co.nz/CARS/monza8/trailer_wire.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/l/aa031503b.htm
CookMySock
18th November 2009, 11:04
There are a few tricky parts to watch for ;

Be really careful how you tap into the existing wiring. I will leave it up to you how you do it, but just check your work carefully afterwards, and give everything a firm tug to make sure its solid.

Don't make basic wiring mistakes. Any errors here make things get exponentially more difficult/expensive/embarrassing.

Don't "figure out a better way" to wire the plug up. Wire it as per the diagram, and then check it on someone elses trailer to make sure it works there too.

Have fun.

Steve