Towbar or not towbar ;-)

[plasticpat]

Good eve all , I'm interested in buying a particular Mk3 Focus Zetec Estate and in need of your advice and experience regarding the fitting of a towbar . It's a December reg 2014 model (also equipped with parking sensors) and need to confirm if it's equipped with the necessary 'TP' for a 7pin socket ? If anybody's got any photos of how the TP connects to the outer cable/socket at the towbar end would be greatly appreciated as I'm more familiar with my ol' Mk2 .

One more little detail , is fitting the towbar within DIY scope or best left to a pro ? 

Many thanks in advance . 

[Furio101]

I am also considering the electronic retractable tow bar. Had a look under my 2016 3.5mk and it looks like it has the connection on the driver's side next to the exhaust mount. Going to get a quote on Thursday for ford to fit.

[iantt]

theres normally no vehicle wiring at all for the towbar wiring to connect to. it has to be retrofitted using a specific wiring kit that ford dealers can supply with a tow bar module that needs to be programmed. 

http://www.ford-accessories.co.uk/?fmccmp=other:nwp:own:smart next steps::accessories catalogue:

[plasticpat]

1 hour ago, Furio101 said:

I am also considering the electronic retractable tow bar. Had a look under my 2016 3.5mk and it looks like it has the connection on the driver's side next to the exhaust mount. Going to get a quote on Thursday for ford to fit.

All the best with it Furio 😎

[plasticpat]

53 minutes ago, iantt said:

theres normally no vehicle wiring at all for the towbar wiring to connect to. it has to be retrofitted using a specific wiring kit that ford dealers can supply with a tow bar module that needs to be programmed. 

http://www.ford-accessories.co.uk/?fmccmp=other:nwp:own:smart next steps::accessories catalogue:

Sounds like this job is gonna get pricey . 

Cheers iantt . 

[south_bound]

TBH going to Ford will guarantee a high cost and you might be better going to a small local specialist.  Did mine on my Mk 2 DIY and I think it was less than £100 all in, but I just spliced into the relevant light wiring in the boot area and added the buzzer for the indicators and no programming involved.  I guess the electronics have moved on in 10 years and got all fancy, and complicated!

[plasticpat]

Top o' the mornin to ye southbound , did exactly as you did with my Mk2 . 

So splicing is still possible and without the need for tech ...

I might elect my usual mech for this job . Thanks for your help bud . 🍻

[Furio101]

Spotted this connection under the rear drivers side, thought it could be part of the tow bar electrical connection?

[iantt]

nope

[iantt]

On 5/16/2018 at 9:11 AM, plasticpat said:

Top o' the mornin to ye southbound , did exactly as you did with my Mk2 . 

So splicing is still possible and without the need for tech ...

I might elect my usual mech for this job . Thanks for your help bud . 🍻

good luck with that. 

[iantt]

one of these kits are cheaper than fords wiring 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/ford-focus-05-2011-onwards-7-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-with-or-without-tp.html

[plasticpat]

16 hours ago, iantt said:

one of these kits are cheaper than fords wiring 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/ford-focus-05-2011-onwards-7-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-with-or-without-tp.html

Cheers iantt , that looks the biz . 

Forgot I'd left myself logged in til now 

[iantt]

are you going to do it yourself or get your mechanic to do it? you or your mechanic need to have a look to see if the vehicle towbar module wiring is in the existing loom . if it isnt then an additional wiring kit is needed that splices into to the canbus at the dlc, and main feed to module. 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/ford-extension-kit-for-models-without-towing-prep-307442300183.html

[iantt]

What your looking for is 2 connectors which can fit a module like this. Grey connector and green connector. 

This is a module off a kuga.

[biff55]

Tow bar wiring really should be plug & play for estates as customers that buy them clearly need to use their vehicles for load lugging.

However due to fords lack of clear thinking they obviously left the design of this feature to the bloke who decided that the washer bottle should be inside the inner wing......

😉

[plasticpat]

On 5/18/2018 at 7:32 PM, Furio101 said:

Spotted this connection under the rear drivers side, thought it could be part of the tow bar electrical connection? Got a use for something but I'd only be guessing . Cheers though . 

 

[plasticpat]

On 5/19/2018 at 6:14 PM, iantt said:

are you going to do it yourself or get your mechanic to do it? you or your mechanic need to have a look to see if the vehicle towbar module wiring is in the existing loom . if it isnt then an additional wiring kit is needed that splices into to the canbus at the dlc, and main feed to module. 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/ford-extension-kit-for-models-without-towing-prep-307442300183.html

To be honest I'm not sure , I gather that from your earlier reply above that splicing into the existing wiring won't be an option 
I'm calling over to UK next weekend to collect her . 

Thanks for your help so far iantt 

[plasticpat]

17 hours ago, biff55 said:

Tow bar wiring really should be plug & play for estates as customers that buy them clearly need to use their vehicles for load lugging.

However due to fords lack of clear thinking they obviously left the design of this feature to the bloke who decided that the washer bottle should be inside the inner wing......

😉

I agree wholeheartedly with ye biff55 , it's yet another area of what I'd have known as a trademark of Ford to be simplicity of design has been scrapped in favour of screw the owner with unnecessary complicated tech and beyond the scope and expertise of many !