Trailer Wiring - RRS - What a pain

[101RRS]

I am trying to wire up the trailer socket on my RRS with a genuine wiring harness. Unfortunately the instructions are just drawings with no explanations (even the Chinese give written instructions even if they are in Engrish) and I have reached a point where I cannot follow them any more as what they describe does not seem to be in my car.

See the diagrams in the attached pics.

See number 14 - I can find the fitting at the top left but the rest of the wiring goes to the rear passenger tail light fitting and you cannot pull the wiring out as indicated in 14 - basically I have no idea what this bit is.

Likewise if I have pulled the wires out in 14 how to you get them back in 16. Likewise I have no idea about 17 and 18.

As indicated I have problems following these bloody awful instructions and if anyone can help I would appreciate it. I find it amazing that you cannot just plug in the trailer plug into plugs already fitted without having to replace half of the rear wiring.

Why do you need a special harness anyway? Why cannot you just splice into the respective wires in the car like we have done for years. The genuine harness is supposed to make things easier but it seems to be a hell of a lot harder than the good old ways.

Garry

[stig0000]

mmmm havent done one in a wile, but im sure there is a ecu to plug in like the FL2, and needs to be programed,

its there so went the tralor is on your park sensors dont go crazy and a few other things, like self cheaking lights and all,

i cant remeber to thro away a harnnis tho, everything plugs in under the LH trim, are you sure you got the corect harniss

[Pedro_The_Swift]

If its any help, mate Russels has two plugs, both large 7 pin. :confused:

[101RRS]

mmmm havent done one in a wile, but im sure there is a ecu to plug in like the FL2, and needs to be programed,


Maybe so but there is nothing in the instructions about it.


its there so went the tralor is on your park sensors dont go crazy and a few other things, like self cheaking lights and all

I guess that is one of the advantages of the genuine harness but the park assist can be turned off.


i cant remeber to thro away a harnnis tho, everything plugs in under the LH trim, are you sure you got the corect harniss

Yes you through away old bits of the harness and replace it with stuff in the kit - however because of the crappy instructions, as the pics to not represent what is in my car, it is hard to workout what has to be removed. It is the correct wiring kit.

Thanks

Garry

[101RRS]

If its any help, mate Russels has two plugs, both large 7 pin. :confused:

Yes the kit does have both but you only need to fit one - the black one.

[sniegy]

I am trying to wire up the trailer socket on my RRS with a genuine wiring harness. Unfortunately the instructions are just drawings with no explanations (even the Chinese give written instructions even if they are in Engrish) and I have reached a point where I cannot follow them any more as what they describe does not seem to be in my car.

See the diagrams in the attached pics.

See number 14 - I can find the fitting at the top left but the rest of the wiring goes to the rear passenger tail light fitting and you cannot pull the wiring out as indicated in 14 - basically I have no idea what this bit is.

Likewise if I have pulled the wires out in 14 how to you get them back in 16. Likewise I have no idea about 17 and 18.

As indicated I have problems following these bloody awful instructions and if anyone can help I would appreciate it. I find it amazing that you cannot just plug in the trailer plug into plugs already fitted without having to replace half of the rear wiring.

Why do you need a special harness anyway? Why cannot you just splice into the respective wires in the car like we have done for years. The genuine harness is supposed to make things easier but it seems to be a hell of a lot harder than the good old ways.

Garry
Hi Garry,
Arent the diagrams awesome :D At least there clear;)
1st question do you have Rear Park Sensors? Get back to this later.

#14 basically says to remove the l/h/r tail light assembly & remove the existing wiring harness that unplugs from inside the l/h/r inner 1/4 panel, you will need to remove this panel to have access to the wiring & to also mount the bracket that comes with the harness, disregard this harness just removed (bin it).

#16 basically says to refit the new harness back into the body & into the l/h/r inner 1/4 panel & connect main plug to original plug that you just removed the harness from.

#17 from memory (as i dont have the full kit of instructions) means to remove the dummy plug in the reverse sensor plug.

#18 means fit the reverse park system plug to this connector If fitted!?

The reason for the harness is the system then has its own harness for the trailer wiring. It also has it own fuses (that also mount in the floor section under the lower tool compartment)& in the CJB only for this.

Also there is no little black box, but the trailer system will need to be turned on by a dealer. This will make the reverse beeper!? stop beeping when reverse is selected. Just ask the dealer to turn the function on at next service.

Any more questions or you need to have a chat, number at work directly is 03 9684 1021 or email psnieg@mlr.com.au

Cheers.

[101RRS]

Thanks Peter,

Yes I have rear park sensors.

The light was just starting to come on about the removing the tail light. No where does it say to remove it but the last item in the instructions implies it needs to be reinstalled. And we give the Chinese and their instructions a hard time.

With the light removed 14 and 16 starts to make sense.

So the system does have to be turned on by the dealer:mad:. Bugger as I was intending to do some towing this weekend. Currently there is about a three week wait to get into my dealer :mad:.

Cheers

Garry

[Grumbles]

Just a thought here re the dealer wait. Perhaps a phone call and a quick run from Canberra to Wodonga to Blacklocks Landrover might be worth considering. They seem to always have a very short book in time and respond to customers very quickly - at least that is my experience.

[101RRS]

Ok - ripped out the passenger tail light and presto - the area looks like pics on the instructions. Trouble is the tail light assembly requires a bit of force to get out and scrapes the top of the bumper - so now have some gouges in it:mad:.

The rest of the installation went basically as planned - the only exception I had to use the drivers side receptical to install the black trailer socket as the bolt pattern on the passenger side was different to the socket mounting holes - but it all went in on the opposite side.

And - guess what - it all works as it is - including switching of the rear parking sensors and turning on the trailer symbol when the indicators are on - going to the dealer to switch it all on is not required.

So just got to put the car together and all is well.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Cheers

Garry

[sniegy]

Well Done Garry,
What a bonus to not have to travel to the dealer.;)

In future for removing the tail light, undo the 2 screws & slip in a screwdriver wrapped in a cloth between the body & light assembly, this will unclip the light from the body & then you can slowly manage the light away from the plastic.

Cheers & enjoy.:D

[101RRS]

When doing this work I was surprised you had to pull all the trim out and the lack of storage bins - most modern landies I have had, have plenty of storage in the back.

While I had to pull the trim out on the passenger side, on the drivers side there is a little access door - looking in there there doesn't seem to be any thing special in there - so what is this access hatch for - there is enough room inside to store stuff but unfortunately you would run the risk of damaging the outer skin as it is all single skin inside.

Likewise in the cubby under the floor - most of this is wasted space - has any body pulled the foam out that hold the jack etc and redone it with something else to store stuff. I am looking at storing the tyre brace (putting a hydraulic jack in the engine bay somewhere), small tool box, towbar tongue and ball etc in here. If you have done this what did you use to hold everything in place instead of the moulded foam in there at the moment.

Cheers

Garry

[sniegy]

Garry,
Have a look under the rear seats as they fold forward with the little pull tabs, there i a reasonable amount of space under these & very easy access.
Also the board (towards the front of the vehicle)behind the rear seats comes away, it is just held in place by some plastic "scrivets".
Again some more access to be gained & if handy cound hinge the board on something or make access from under the rear seats, although a little awkward.
The little hatch on the drivers side was for the RSE (Rear Seat Entertainment) so you can load the DVD player which gets mounted just below the hatch.
If this option is fitted then there is some more bracketry that bolts up & hold the player.

Cheers

[101RRS]

Thanks Pete, hadn't even considered under the rear seats. I will have a closer look.

Cheers

Garry

[101RRS]

I had a look under the seats - good spot for things like a recovery strap and associated gear - or maybe a flat toolbox. They are not as shallow as they look.

I suppose the cubby box in the back is what is left from the 3rd row seat well in the D3/D4.

Cheers

Garry