Brink towing electrics

[aln101tf]

Tourneo 2022 L2 Auto

Bought a towbar and electrics from the Ford shop.
I was surprised to find the bumper bolts as badly corroded at 3 years old. Ford really need to up their game.
Anyway, on to the electrics...
The loom that came looks almost identical to the one I fitted to my previous 2013 Tourneo, with the connections all made under the passenger step cover.
I can't get the step cover off. No sign of the three screws. Any advise welcome.
Youtube videos seem to suggest there is also a connector at the rear, which I have found. My loom has no provision for this connector.
Have I got the wrong loom?
Help!
Alan

[aln101tf]

Oh, come on!
Surely this can't be that difficult to shed some light on.
Can I ignore this rear connection? Or do I need a different loom?
Alan

[Zeus20]

Hi,

When I fitted a towbar to my 2016 Custom Tourneo, I first had to check if my vehicle was fitted with "trailer prep". This is done in the factory, some have it, some don't - no idea why that is. If I recall correctly, if you have a multiplug underneath the rear of the van, you have trailer prep.

I did on mine, so bought the appropriate wiring kit. I still had to get accses to the passenger step to install a module there, but I didn'y have to run any wires from there back to the towbar, just plug in another loom from the trailer prep connector to the 13 pin towbar socket.

I later then had to regain accses to the passenger step to install the auxiliary power feed from the battery to run the caravan electrics (fridge etc).

I hope that helps a little. It sounds like you may have the kit for non trailer prep vehciles.

Zeus

[metalworker0]

If you lived in north wales i would be advising you to go to a place in RHYL called "COASTAL TOWBARS"

run by a guy who is absolutely honest , strait up , not someone who will rip you off .. and a fellow who i trust. he would sort your problem or know how to sort it.

but you don't live near, you are probably in excess of 300 miles away .. so this advice no good for you .


all the best.mark

[aln101tf]

Hi,

When I fitted a towbar to my 2016 Custom Tourneo, I first had to check if my vehicle was fitted with "trailer prep". This is done in the factory, some have it, some don't - no idea why that is. If I recall correctly, if you have a multiplug underneath the rear of the van, you have trailer prep.

I did on mine, so bought the appropriate wiring kit. I still had to get accses to the passenger step to install a module there, but I didn'y have to run any wires from there back to the towbar, just plug in another loom from the trailer prep connector to the 13 pin towbar socket.

I later then had to regain accses to the passenger step to install the auxiliary power feed from the battery to run the caravan electrics (fridge etc).

I hope that helps a little. It sounds like you may have the kit for non trailer prep vehciles.

Zeus

Ok, thanks
This does shed a bit of light, although if it's "trailer prepped", you'd have thought all the rest of the stuff would have been already fitted somewhere better than the passenger step
If it's still necessary to get under the passenger step, I can't see the advantage in the plug near the rear. I wonder if it has to be used or is it an alternative?
The multiplug is rather exposed where they've put it.
I guess I'll have to ask the towbar place I used before if they know. I was trying to avoid them, because it's a 200 mile round trip, most of a day, and sitting around waiting, miles from anywhere
Alan

[Zeus20]

Yes, I agree, you would think that trailer prep would mean all prep done and just plug in a socket.

As 90% of transits end up with a tow bar, it would make sense for Ford to do it properly.
Zeus

[aln101tf]

Towbar place in Glasgow was very helpful.
This is what I got. If it's wrong, I'm sure someone will say so.
1. If you use the short rear link from the multiplug, you need to fit the genuine FoMoCo Ecu (big white one) at the passenger step.
2. Alternative is using a third party Ecu at the passenger step with the wiring all the way to the towing socket (ignoring the multiplug at the rear).
If you go with option 2 on later vehicles, there is a slight possiblity that one of the connectors might not be an exact match, depending on the age of the vehicle. Check under the step plate before you fit anything.

I still can't see how the passenger step plastic cover comes off. It's a 2022 tourneo and has thin stainless inserts in the plastic (to make it look posh) and no sign of the usual three screws.
It seems very firmly attached. Do I just pull harder
Alan

[aln101tf]

Update.
The whole middle section of the plastic step comes out with careful levering around the stainless bits nearest the door. It's well hidden. Three screws underneath as usual.
Just having a look in forscan now to find the towing activation.
Found a couple of obvious entries, but could do with a bit of guidance on what exactly to turn on. Such as stability program stuff.
Anyone?