C5 x7 Tow Bar - where to get power?

[petef]

I'm stuck at the last hurdle in fixing a tow bar for my C5 x7 Tourer. Tow bar itself is installed, and the wiring to the relay from the tow bar socket and lights done. All I have to do now is get a permanent 12v supply - fused - from the battery or the under dash fuse box to the relay. Tried to get a lead to the battery, but no way through the bulkhead. Perhaps I could tap into a supply in the fuse box - but exactly where and how? I have Citroen and Revue Technique manuals, but the wiring diagrams are unfathomable. Somebody must have been here before - could they please help?

[old'uns]

isn't the 12v boot socket permanent?
sure i've had cooler boxes left there with ignition off although it does kick eco-mode in pretty quick

[petef]

Thought about that, but load could theoretically be more than 100w with side lights, brake lights, flashers, and fog lights all on at once. Melted the plug on a cooler box using that socket on my last C5.

[JohnD]

When I did mine I wanted caravan battery charging together with a good solid supply to power the caravan fridge. I took two 17amp cables from the car battery to two inline fuses. Then the two cables were put in a length of pvc tubing and passed down the back of the engine. They went through the conduit covering the fuel pipes and up over the fuel tank. They came into the car under the rear seat, through the access plug. From there they went behind the panel in the load area and ended at the relays, fitted behind the access panels.

[petef]

Excellent advice.Thanks very much

[GiveMeABreak]

Did you get the car programmed to tell it that it has a trailer unit on? Failure to do so could affect how the ESP reacts in an accident / crosswind. There's plenty on it from Aussie frogs here:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/citro% ... d-esp.html

I know a bit late now, but this kit for the X7 - has viewable fitting instructions which may / may not of been of use to you (although when accessing the fitting instructions they say they are for the 2004 model, so whether they are generally the same, not too sure) anyway here it is:

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/citroen-c5-all ... 505rc.html
and the fitting PDF:
http://www.pfjones.co.uk/Wiring_instruc ... 0505RC.pdf

[vborovic]

I didn't get whether or not the genuine ECU was installed or not ... in the case of a genuine kit, you simply plug it to the available sockets that are hidden behind the left boot cover (where the TPMS and/or parking sensors ECU is located) ... the non-genuine would require extra power from wherever, and can't be configured to the car via CAN-BUS, since it won't communicate properly with the cars electronics ...

[JohnD]

There's plenty on it from Aussie frogs here:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/citro% ... d-esp.html

:

Regarding the link to aussiefrogs, I don't know the rules and regulations as they apply in Australia however part of what is written is rubbish. Quote: " Fitting a genuine tow bar will eliminate having to cut your rear bumper. It appears to me that it has all come down to price so the choice is yours fit non genuine and take your life into your hands or have genuine fitted and be safe." It's news to me that Citroen makes "genuine tow bars" When I enquired about getting one fitted when I purchased the car, it was a Bosal that they would have fitted. To suggest that "you take your life in your hands" if you fit a Witter; Brink or Westfalia tow bar is just ridiculous. By law they all require EC approval before reaching the market. Finally non of them require the rear bumper to be cut - just removed for fitting.

[GiveMeABreak]

I know there's a bit of a rant on the forum John, - to be expected, but was interested in the general issues re the ESP and the fact that in Australia they had been replacing the looms as these were the incorrect 'bypass' ones"!

@Vab - The ones in the link have the CAN Hi / Lo wiring too it would seem - but just need the Lexia to code a trailer unit as being fitted - then I guess it will determine the ESP / ASR settings to apply when the vehicle is actually connected to a trailer / towing or not.

[vborovic]

I'm using knowledge gathered from some other trailer-related forums, where people wrote that it never worked if not for the genuine ECU (the additional towing mode, that the car knows how to react taking into consideration the attached trailer) ... I'd be interested in getting a 2nd non-PSA ECU, and fit it parallel (for testing only) to my current setup, and see how it copes with the automation compared to the genuine one ... ...

[GiveMeABreak]

That would be helpful to others - and I guess not all aftermarket ones are the same - the one in the link was reduced to £179 - so not exactly a cheap affair!