Wiring a Brinks RMC (non) towbar in Nissan 2017 Leaf

Calahonda52

Got the hitch fitted, however they failed to complete they wiring
I had been given a time of 3 hours so I allowed 4, I had to leave after 5.5 hrs with the wiring not finished.
I had paid for it before I realised it was not going to be finished.
They claim the wrong kit came, so they will refund me the cost of the kit
.
The attached shows what is inside where the tire pump is stored.
Don't know if there is anything on the RHS, didn't take off the panel yet.
there are only 4 wires in this piece.
Its a 7 pin bike rack..

So what do I need to do to finish this and get it working to pass the NCT?
Am I missing some further piece of wiring.
Thanks as always

kennethsmyth

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Got the hitch fitted, however they failed to complete they wiring
I had been given a time of 3 hours so I allowed 4, I had to leave after 5.5 hrs with the wiring not finished.
I had paid for it before I realised it was not going to be finished.
They claim the wrong kit came, so they will refund me the cost of the kit
.
The attached shows what is inside where the tire pump is stored.
Don't know if there is anything on the RHS, didn't take off the panel yet.
there are only 4 wires in this piece.
Its a 7 pin bike rack..

So what do I need to do to finish this and get it working to pass the NCT?
Am I missing some further piece of wiring.
Thanks as always

Ok that kit looks very different to the 2018 leaf version. However the basis of both leafs is the same so I would of though I’d see a can is box that picks up on the signals to the lights and sends a signal to the hitch socket. This would ensure the original signals do not get a reduction in volts/amps and lead to an error in your codes on the car. That connections you are showing - are they the kit or the lights plugs. If it’s the kit it looks like it’s just piggy backing onto the lights. In modern cars this can lead to errors.

kennethsmyth

My wiring is all in rear right panel beside the amp in boot

Calahonda52

kennethsmyth wrote: »

Ok that kit looks very different to the 2018 leaf version. However the basis of both leafs is the same so I would of though I’d see a can is box that picks up on the signals to the lights and sends a signal to the hitch socket. This would ensure the original signals do not get a reduction in volts/amps and lead to an error in your codes on the car. That connections you are showing - are they the kit or the lights plugs. If it’s the kit it looks like it’s just piggy backing onto the lights. In modern cars this can lead to errors.

.
I don't know what it is coming from/what it is.
it is new so I am guessing its from the hitch socket.
.
The wire from the back of the socket on the hitch seems much heavier so I need to explore further.

kennethsmyth

The wires from the socket will go to a grommet in the floor of boot under carpet and then they should be wired to a canbus unit etc. The only wire I didn't bother with is the fog light as this is not needed for NCT test.

If their socket only goes as far as those wires in your pictures your hitch install guys didn't get very far.

peposhi

kennethsmyth wrote: »

The wires from the socket will go to a grommet in the floor of boot under carpet and then they should be wired to a canbus unit etc. The only wire I didn't bother with is the fog light as this is not needed for NCT test.

If their socket only goes as far as those wires in your pictures your hitch install guys didn't get very far.

Hope you don't mind sharing where you got yours done?

Calahonda52

peposhi wrote: »

Hope you don't mind sharing where you got yours done?

PM sent

zg3409

Calahonda52 wrote: »

They claim the wrong kit came, so they will refund me the cost of the kit

I presume you need the correct kit and then for some that knows what they are doing to wire it up. I would suggest going back to same crowd if you can. They should do the labor for free if you have already paid. You can delay your nct appointment with 7/8 days notice.

Check nct online manual but I think if no light connector is fitted they will only check towbar. Having a look at manual it is not clear, but they are separate sections. I suggest ringing them if unsure.

Modern lights are quite complicated with blown bulb sensors, and special can messaging systems. Overloading or underloading can cause error warning lights on dash or blow fuses or electronic modules. Some cars will bring up abs faults . Some cars have a tow mode, that tells car it is towing a trailer so it adjusts abs to prevent skidding. You might be able to find local garage to do it, but best to go to towing specialist.

Calahonda52

zg3409 wrote: »

I presume you need the correct kit and then for some that knows what they are doing to wire it up. I would suggest going back to same crowd if you can. They should do the labor for free if you have already paid. You can delay your nct appointment with 7/8 days notice.

Check nct online manual but I think if no light connector is fitted they will only check towbar. Having a look at manual it is not clear, but they are separate sections. I suggest ringing them if unsure.

Modern lights are quite complicated with blown bulb sensors, and special can messaging systems. Overloading or underloading can cause error warning lights on dash or blow fuses or electronic modules. Some cars will bring up abs faults . Some cars have a tow mode, that tells car it is towing a trailer so it adjusts abs to prevent skidding. You might be able to find local garage to do it, but best to go to towing specialist.

Thanks,
I have tried contacting them again re what they propose.
I don't want to take back the cost of the wiring kit and let them walk away.

kennethsmyth

peposhi wrote: »

Hope you don't mind sharing where you got yours done?

Mine was done the old fashioned way. I obtained the non-tow hitch GDW version not brinks (brinks is probably easier to take on and off). I did the hitch one weekend and the wiring the second weekend. In fairness the wiring was more of a pain than the hitch itself.

gomamochi1

zg3409 wrote: »

I presume you need the correct kit and then for some that knows what they are doing to wire it up. I would suggest going back to same crowd if you can. They should do the labor for free if you have already paid. You can delay your nct appointment with 7/8 days notice.

Check nct online manual but I think if no light connector is fitted they will only check towbar. Having a look at manual it is not clear, but they are separate sections. I suggest ringing them if unsure.

Modern lights are quite complicated with blown bulb sensors, and special can messaging systems. Overloading or underloading can cause error warning lights on dash or blow fuses or electronic modules. Some cars will bring up abs faults . Some cars have a tow mode, that tells car it is towing a trailer so it adjusts abs to prevent skidding. You might be able to find local garage to do it, but best to go to towing specialist.

I have 2 cars with tow bars and never remember nct testing the wiring on them during various stages of working not working.

gomamochi1

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Got the hitch fitted, however they failed to complete they wiring
I had been given a time of 3 hours so I allowed 4, I had to leave after 5.5 hrs with the wiring not finished.
I had paid for it before I realised it was not going to be finished.
They claim the wrong kit came, so they will refund me the cost of the kit
.
The attached shows what is inside where the tire pump is stored.
Don't know if there is anything on the RHS, didn't take off the panel yet.
there are only 4 wires in this piece.
Its a 7 pin bike rack..

So what do I need to do to finish this and get it working to pass the NCT?
Am I missing some further piece of wiring.
Thanks as always

That wiring kit is for towing a caravan I think as the normal wiring kit has 7 pin yoke not a 13 pin.

Calahonda52

gomamochi1 wrote: »

That wiring kit is for towing a caravan I think as the normal wiring kit has 7 pin yoke not a 13 pin.

Not all pins are used and there is an adaptor to get over that which does not solve the central questions here:

1. how do I finish the wiring?
2. What other kit, if any do I need?

kennethsmyth

Multiple things here.

1. NCT does test it, I saw them do it to my wifes with a test machine plugged in, it takes seconds. However it needs to be wired correctly not just matching "your" trailer.
2. 7 and 13 pin. Its not related to caravan but 13 pin is becoming the norm, my thule bike rack is 13 pin (old was 7) and the kit for my leaf was also 13.

3. Not all pins need to be connected hence why they all don't exist in the bike rack setup.
Brakes, indicators, norm lights, and fog (although is not part of NCT so i didn't bother).

kennethsmyth

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Not all pins are used and there is an adaptor to get over that which does not solve the central questions here:

1. how do I finish the wiring?
2. What other kit, if any do I need?

Did you buy the kit or got the fitter to get it?

If you, get back onto supplier and get the fitting instructions/correct kit.
If fitter, get back onto fitter and find out what instructions they received and also I would be asking them to finish or provide the full kit for you to go get installed - by self or other.

kennethsmyth

I can tell you now though, while it was a pain to fit the hitch and wiring, it was no different to other kits to fit. No more harder or easier, just a pain for someone who doesn't do it every day, so I'd be very disappointed in the fitter. I checked out everything prior to starting so i understood what was going to be done and needed, maybe the fitter went "grand I do this all the time, who reads instructions anyway"

mgbgt1978

OP, if you have an impending NCT just remove the socket (and externally visible wiring). They can only test towbar wiring if fitted. If you were tested with a socket fitted and failed, they will not pass you until you either remove the complete towbar or get the wiring sorted.
Bit silly I know, but absence of a socket is not a fail. Whereas if you fail for a faulty socket you cannot then remove it....it must be fixed to get a cert.


This is just in case your NCT is looming before the Towbar fitter can get his act together.

Calahonda52

He seems to have closed so I best take it off, or at least hide it up behind the plastic under body

mgbgt1978

They appear to only test some Trailer Sockets......but if you know for sure that yours will fail it's probably better to remove it for the test. Understandably none of this your fault, but you don't want to be the poor Sod having to do a retest when it can be avoided.
I would remove the socket rather than attempt to hide it. That might just make the tester suspicious and encourage them to test yours .

gomamochi1

kennethsmyth wrote: »

Did you buy the kit or got the fitter to get it?

If you, get back onto supplier and get the fitting instructions/correct kit.
If fitter, get back onto fitter and find out what instructions they received and also I would be asking them to finish or provide the full kit for you to go get installed - by self or other.

yes I agree with above most garages would fit the wiring for 50 yoyos if you are stuck. I would hate to blow a CPU in a EV over mis wiring a towbar!
usually there is a relay box with a tow bar wiring kit that I have fitted on several cars in the past to not overload the existing fuses that run the rear lights to the car, however the trailer lights are usually LED nowadays so maybe not necessary!

Calahonda52

kennethsmyth wrote: »

Did you buy the kit or got the fitter to get it?

If you, get back onto supplier and get the fitting instructions/correct kit.
If fitter, get back onto fitter and find out what instructions they received and also I would be asking them to finish or provide the full kit for you to go get installed - by self or other.

I got the fitter to get it, they seem to be closed now

kennethsmyth

Calahonda52 wrote: »

I got the fitter to get it, they seem to be closed now

Probably going to be 3 months later.

zg3409

Nct have stopped testing, so no need to panic just yet and I assume nct will have massive back log when they re open

Calahonda52

zg3409 wrote: »

Nct have stopped testing, so no need to panic just yet and I assume nct will have massive back log when they re open

Yep, any way the bike rack is academic now as I cant go anywhere off road