Thread: Electrics and why they do my head in

So the Cruise Craft is on its way from Melbourne on the truck, and before it gets here I have to get the tow pack fitted to the FFRR, wiring loom plugged into the ECU. Booked into the dealer, finished two hours later, all good. Only $860, bargain.

Then I have to get the Guardian electric brake controller fitted to car, under the steering wheel and to the right hand side a bit. Booked into the local Auto Extra shop for that, two hours later, all done. $400, a mere bagatelle.

Then the boat arrives and it we discover the Land Rover tow tongue puts the tow ball so low it's impossible to lower the trailer onto it because the jockey wheel can't raise up high enough.

So, down to ARB to get a replacement tongue that puts the ball up high, level with the bumper. Only $200.

Then we discover the whole boat/trailer rig has to go to the towing workshop to have new brakes, wheels/tyres, hydraulic-electric pump and a bunch of other stuff repaired/replaced before it'll pass license inspection. $3,770 later, all good.

Back up car to trailer, hook it up, plug everything in and....no power to the brake compressor. Doh. Tow mechanic tests wiring...the auto extra guys haven't run a hotwire from the battery back to the power socket. Back to auto extra. No mate, that's the way we always wire up these cars. Back to the towing workshop. Towing guy calls auto extra and explains the problem in mechanic lingo. Nope, they can't fit me in till next week. But I've got to tow the boat back to my workshop. Find another auto electrician, drive there and leave the car for three hours while they run the wire.

$360 later, job done.

Return to pick up car, and they've discovered the park light circuit isn't delivering power to the trailer plug. I tell them I'll have to take the car and get the boat back to the warehouse before it gets dark.

Return to towing workshop, hook up car, brakes work at last. Get the boat back just before dark.

Just shy of $5,600 later, we're almost ready to go fishing. Geez they are going to be bloody expensive fish.

Nothing to do with the boat - sorry, but this is a typical story that comes from dealing with people that have no idea what they are doing.

I had the L322 up and working with that system of marine brakes within a couple hours, never seen one of these cars before either. But then again I'm not a automotive industry professional