hi all ,

i have a 65 plate c-max, which i need to fit a towbar to , i am looking in the car to see if it has trailer prep, am looking on the n/s 1/4 and removed the carpet but couldnt see any obvious unused connectors. would it be higher up under the plastic trim piece .or does it just not have trailer prep. i have a data sheet for the car and it says (with trailer sway control) i presumed this would mean it has trailer prep. i have the tow bar ready but dont know what wiring to purchase thanks for any help.

Trailer Sway Control is just a software feature that is supported by every Focus MK3/MK3.5 and C-max MK2 when a towbar is installed and correctly configured.. 

The build sheet should clearly mention whether the car has the (optional) towbar wiring preparation or not:

* Less Towing Pre-Pack = Without towbar wiring preparation.
* With Towing Pre-Pack = With towbar wiring preparation.

In case the car does not have the towbar wiring preparation an additional wiring harness is required that (usually) connects to the OBD port wiring.


Note that on a C-max there also other possible points of concern depending on the type of engine/transmission:

* 1.0 ECOboost with manual transmission: After production date 01-03-2015 Ford stopped installing the additional cooling fan on the intercooler as standard (most likely to reduce costs). From that time the intercooler fan was only installed on vehicles with a factory fitted towbar. When a towbar is installed afterwards on a C-max 1.0 ECOboost that is produced between 01-03-2015 and 07-11-2016 the intercooler fan must also be installed.

Note that after production date 07-11-2016 it is no longer possible to install the intercooler fan because the wiring is also missing and the PCM lacks the functionality to control the intercooler fan. Regarding the official TSB these vehicles are only considered to be suitable for towing when the towbar is factory fitted.

* 1.5 ECOboost with automatic transmission: Vehicles with a factory fitted towbar have an additional oil cooler for the transmission. When a towbar is installed afterwards the additional oil cooler must also be installed.

hi wilko thanks for the reply, the cars the 1.5 manual and the towbars just for a bike carrier. paper work i have has no mention of towing pack on it goes from tinted glass to trailer sway control.

I'll post this on the assumption that you are going the dedicated electrics route as there are multiple issues with "by-pass" or other simple i.e. cheap electrics:
https://www.rightconnections.co.uk/towing-electrics/
Perhaps a specialist tow bar supplier can advise and get the right kit?

I know you only want a bike carrier but a bike may well disrupt any parking sensors etc and you are likely to need a trailer board to retain legal lighting?

Your choice of course.