Towbar Woes

[UrbanFlow]

Hello all, I wonder if anyone can advise/help…

I bought my E70 back in March and it has a Brink/Thule detachable swan neck tow bar and flip down electrics.
Great I thought. As we have a tow bar mounted bike rack which we use when camping etc.

Anyway, long and short of it is, we haven't used it since we bought it and this weekend I fitted it for the first time.
The swan-neck detachable towbar was a tight fit, but it slotted in - but now I can't release it and get out. It's stuck solid. Press in and turn the knob and nothing releases. Argh!

To top it off I flipped down the plug in electrics and connected the bike rack - Blackpool Illuminations! - everything on even when the car is locked!
Indicators are also flashing on the wrong sides. Brake lights permanently on!

Any ideas or shall i just throw the car at the nearest towbar fitter/fixer?!

[Don Coffey]

[quote="UrbanFlow"]
Hello all, I wonder if anyone can advise/help…

I bought my E70 back in March and it has a Brink/Thule detachable swan neck tow bar and flip down electrics.
Great I thought. As we have a tow bar mounted bike rack which we use when camping etc.

Anyway, long and short of it is, we haven't used it since we bought it and this weekend I fitted it for the first time.
The swan-neck detachable towbar was a tight fit, but it slotted in - but now I can't release it and get out. It's stuck solid. Press in and turn the knob and nothing releases. Argh!

To top it off I flipped down the plug in electrics and connected the bike rack - Blackpool Illuminations! - everything on even when the car is locked!
Indicators are also flashing on the wrong sides. Brake lights permanently on!

Any ideas or shall i just throw the car at the nearest towbar fitter/fixer?!
[/quote]
Not sure if I've understood you correctly, but when releasing the Towbar from the car, as well as turning the knob, you have to pull it out, so that you sort of pull the knob towards the offside of the car as you turn.  The knob then locks out in this position and the Towbar should drop down.  When fitting the Towbar, the knob needs to be in this position and once forced into position, the knob releases and the Towbar is locked in.

Don

Ok, 535dboy, let me have it!

[X5Sport]

I can't find any instructions on line for this one.

Sounds like the wiring is non-standard too, or hasn't used a matching compatible kit.  Is it 7 or 13-pin?

The diagram below is how a 13-pin should be wired up.  Check it with a meter.


As Don says, the OEM (Westfalia) bar is a pull and twist to 'arm' the lock and the same to unlock it.



Richard

[Don Coffey]

[quote="X5Sport"]

As Don says, the OEM (Westfalia) bar is a pull and twist to 'arm' the lock and the same to unlock it.



Richard
[/quote]
Thanks Richard, discribed so much better than example.

Don

[X5Sport]

No prob Don.  How's the 'fling wing' job going?

R

[Don Coffey]

[quote="X5Sport"]
No prob Don.  How's the 'fling wing' job going?

R
[/quote]

Plodding on.  It's a requirement of the oil and gas sector that I need to gain 50hours offshore experience before I'm fully cleared on the line and so far I've only managed 30 hours in the last three weeks and only one 3 hour flight this week so very frustrating.  Hopefully all will be sorted in early October.

That aside, I'm really enjoying the flying and looking forward to winter closing in, as that's when you really get to earn your money in the high winds, snow and ice.

Don

[X5Sport]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
...looking forward to winter closing in, as that's when you really get to earn your money in the high winds, snow and ice.

Don
[/quote]

A bit of turbulence eh..... :puke: :puke:

[Don Coffey]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="Don Coffey"]
...looking forward to winter closing in, as that's when you really get to earn your money in the high winds, snow and ice.

Don
[/quote]

A bit of turbulence eh..... :puke: :puke:
[/quote]
True, but the passengers are used to it with very few actually being sick.

Don

[UrbanFlow]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
[quote="UrbanFlow"]
Hello all, I wonder if anyone can advise/help…

I bought my E70 back in March and it has a Brink/Thule detachable swan neck tow bar and flip down electrics.
Great I thought. As we have a tow bar mounted bike rack which we use when camping etc.

Anyway, long and short of it is, we haven't used it since we bought it and this weekend I fitted it for the first time.
The swan-neck detachable towbar was a tight fit, but it slotted in - but now I can't release it and get out. It's stuck solid. Press in and turn the knob and nothing releases. Argh!

To top it off I flipped down the plug in electrics and connected the bike rack - Blackpool Illuminations! - everything on even when the car is locked!
Indicators are also flashing on the wrong sides. Brake lights permanently on!

Any ideas or shall i just throw the car at the nearest towbar fitter/fixer?!
[/quote]
Not sure if I've understood you correctly, but when releasing the Towbar from the car, as well as turning the knob, you have to pull it out, so that you sort of pull the knob towards the offside of the car as you turn.  The knob then locks out in this position and the Towbar should drop down.  When fitting the Towbar, the knob needs to be in this position and once forced into position, the knob releases and the Towbar is locked in.

Don

Ok, 535dboy, let me have it!
[/quote]

This BRINK towbar I inherited tells me to push in and twist down then pull the tow bar to release.
Having looked underneath it seems to be a really tight fit and the little stainless steel release catch isn't releasing.

[UrbanFlow]

[quote="X5Sport"]
I can't find any instructions on line for this one.

Sounds like the wiring is non-standard too, or hasn't used a matching compatible kit.  Is it 7 or 13-pin?

The diagram below is how a 13-pin should be wired up.  Check it with a meter.


As Don says, the OEM (Westfalia) bar is a pull and twist to 'arm' the lock and the same to unlock it.



Richard
[/quote]

Hello Richard,

I have 7 pin electrics - so it's been fitted for a tow bar mounted bike rack etc - which is what I'm using it for.
On closer inspection the electrics have been bodged in the boot to the wiring loom using blue block connectors instead of using a proper module. Grrrr!
To top it off, the green r/h wire is wired to the left indicator. What a mess!

[X5Sport]

Try a bit of WD40 on it.  Mine is kept greased and I keep a surgical glove over the attachment pin to keep it absolutely clean.

Sounds like the fitter was colour blind as well as a Stetson wearer......yee haw!!