Towbar wiring

[(RIP) rustygates]

Hi all,
I've been rewiring my brink's towbar on 97 terrano inc 7pin socket and 7core cable to vehicle wiring,whoever wired it previous had wired both tail light together brown/black, which i don't think is a good idea if the bulb that they are wired to goes out both lamp go out on rear of van,so now there is a seperate feed to both.also could not get brake lights to work bulbs ok and so is the fuse i rechecked the wiring all ok then came on the forum andBINGO rear end lit up like a christmas tree,tried to clean points but to far gone, so EUROPARTS £5.00, job done

[96terrano]

Originally Posted by rustygates

Hi all,
I've been rewiring my brink's towbar on 97 terrano inc 7pin socket and 7core cable to vehicle wiring,whoever wired it previous had wired both tail light together brown/black, which i don't think is a good idea if the bulb that they are wired to goes out both lamp go out on rear of van,so now there is a seperate feed to both.also could not get brake lights to work bulbs ok and so is the fuse i rechecked the wiring all ok then came on the forum andBINGO rear end lit up like a christmas tree,tried to clean points but to far gone, so EUROPARTS £5.00, job done

why the hell would someone wire the break lights together?

[Lazy-Ferret]

Mine is a 1999, but if you look at the wiring diagram, you will see that Nissan only run one feed to the rear side lights, Red/Blue, which actually feeds both side, and also the number plate lights.

Brake lights, and RH Ind use the same colour, you have to use the marker dots to distinguish them.

Green/Yellow (1 white dot) Brake 13 pin plug pin 6 Red
Green/Yellow (2 white dots) RH Ind 13 pin plug pin 4 Green
Green/Black (2 white dots) LH Ind 13 pin plug pin 1 Yellow
Red/Black (1 white dot) Fog 13 pin plug pin 2 Blue
Red/Blue (1 white dot) Side 13 pin plug pins 5&7 Brown & Black
Orange/Solid (2 white dots) Rev 13 pin plug pin 8 Pink

[zippy656]

1 Yellow
2 blue
3 wight
4 Green
5 Red
6 Brown
7 Black

[(RIP) rustygates]

I'm not convinced that 13pin plug/socket's are any better than 7pin plug/socket,has anyone got the evidence to prove otherwise,

rustygates

[jims-terrano]

I'm a stick in the mud, I think 7 pins will be better. I've not seen 13 pin plugs in the flesh to see their size but I suspect they are similar physical size to 7 pins and if so my way of thinking is that the pins will be weak due to them being smaller than the pins in 7 pins (if you know what I mean). Personally I have not had a problem with 12s and 12n connections. I fill the insides of plugs and sockets with grease and make sure there is a good coat of grease on the pins. The only thing I don't like about 12s connections is the very bottom pin is constant 12v +. It's the most likely pin to sit in water and as such the electric assists the corrosion (yes someone will have the proper terminology for it).

So personally I would say stick to the 12n and 12s 7 pin set up and protect against water.

Our resident caravan guru Zippy should be able to tell us a bit more I'm sure. Mind you Plank too will have some good info too.

[Lazy-Ferret]

I only put the pins up there, as I copied and pasted it from my notes on how the car is wired up.

I must admit I was not sure about the 13pin until I started using it, and now I love it. It physically locks to the car, and as I use curly leads between the car and all my trailers, it is nice to have the protection of them being locked in.

[zippy656]

13 pins are nicer to use

The 7 pin still more common

What ever you have at some point youl need an adaptor

[(RIP) rustygates]

I do believe that the 13pin socket comes under the MOT now but not the7pin.

rustygates.

[zippy656]

The bar is in the mot. Not sure about the pougs