Fitting towbar electrics to a 1991 940SE estate

Discussion in 'Volvo 940' started by puffernutter, Jan 2, 2007.

  1. puffernutter

    puffernutter Guest

    I know that there are lamp out detectors on the tail lights and brake
    lights, so how do I connect the towbar electrics so that I don't upset
    the detectors?

    Cheers

    Peter
     
    puffernutter, Jan 2, 2007
    #1
  2. puffernutter

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

    By tapping into the cables *upstream* (battery side) of the bulb failure
    detectors.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
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    Roger Mills, Jan 2, 2007
    #2
  3. puffernutter

    puffernutter Guest

    Roger,

    Thanks for that.

    Next silly question - where are these detectors located and what do
    they look like? Is there one per circuit?

    Cheers

    Peter
     
    puffernutter, Jan 2, 2007
    #3
  4. puffernutter

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Don't know for sure, but http://www.volvotechinfo.com/WD123/ might offer a
    clue. This has wiring diagrams for 940's - but only for 1994/5 - but they
    are probably similar.

    It looks like there's only one unit, and that it's a circular can at one
    corner of the relay panel, behind the radio. (See the section on relay
    location etc.)

    Groups 35 and 38 (further down the document) have more details of the
    wiring.

    If my reading is correct, the only rear lights to be monitored are the brake
    lights. You would need to tap into the yellow and brown wire - after the
    brake light switch (3/9) but before the failure detector unit (7/75). You'll
    probably need to refer to the list of components (at the bottom of the
    contents list) in order to de-code the diagrams.

    HTH!
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
    PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!
     
    Roger Mills, Jan 2, 2007
    #4
  5. puffernutter

    James Sweet Guest


    When I installed mine, I didn't. I rarely tow a trailer so I just put up
    with the bulb failure warning coming on. If you tow regularly you can do
    as another poster suggested and tap in ahead of the failure sensor but
    that involves running the wires all the way up to the front of the car.
    Not an enormous task but you do have to pull a bunch of interior trim off.
     
    James Sweet, Jan 3, 2007
    #5
  6. puffernutter

    Roger Mills Guest

    In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
    Another possibility is to power the trailer brake lights via a relay. The
    small current drawn by the relay coil may not upset the bulb failure sensor
    (although there's no guarantee of that!). You would still, of course, have
    to run a 12v feed from the front of the car for the brakelights themselves -
    unless there's already a sufficiently heavy duty permanently live cable at
    the rear.
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ______
    Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
    monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
    PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!
     
    Roger Mills, Jan 3, 2007
    #6
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