Trailer Light Connections

[Walker]

When you say "Euro" do you mean the small diameter round pin plug? If so, then yes, they are very good plugs.

The problem with most of our 7 pin flat plugs is that they are made by Narva and are just cheap rubbish. The Lumen brand which Mitsubishi use are much better quality.


If anyon knows where the trailer BCU is situated can you let me know. I had a quick look through the workshop manual but could not find it.

[matthewfnorbert]

When you say "Euro" do you mean the small diameter round pin plug? If so, then yes, they are very good plugs.

The problem with most of our 7 pin flat plugs is that they are made by Narva and are just cheap rubbish. The Lumen brand which Mitsubishi use are much better quality.


If anyon knows where the trailer BCU is situated can you let me know. I had a quick look through the workshop manual but could not find it.

mine (SWB) is located drivers side rear hatch where the hyd jack is stored... i found it because the relay was noisy in the swb and wrapped it in bubble wrap to keep it quiet.. looks identical to the after market units to...

[Walker]

That's no help. I dont think there is a hatch in the LWB. Our jack is under the floor where the 3rd row seats are.

[matthewfnorbert]

That's no help. I dont think there is a hatch in the LWB. Our jack is under the floor where the 3rd row seats are.

the loom must be in the vicinity, stop watching oprah and go take a look

or put an indicator on with engine off and listen for the relay 'flashing'

[jmi]

Jeff_P,
Mine was the same, flat 7 pin, however, i got a converter with mine.
My tow bar was fitted when i got the car, i would have thought that you would have got one with yours as well.

[Gromit]

That's interesting. The dealer in Port Augusta put a 7 pin round plug on mine?
I can't see, from an electrical point of view, what difference it makes.
Are there any auto-electricians on the forum that could enlighten us?

[bmartino]

Hi Guys i was hold that the 7 pin socket was used due to the PDC (Park distance control) The 7 pin flat socket has extra pins for this? It should stop the beeps when reversing with a trailer. This does not work! It still beeps until you push the button.

[matthewfnorbert]

extra pins were required for electric brakes and reversing light.

shape of plug does not matter so long as pins are to aust std...

the good oil here http://www.noboundaries.com.au/Hints%20and%20tips.htm

[Eddy Lah]

Walker, you have to take the lower side panel of on the drivers side rear to access the BCU, regarding plugs flat 7 or round, yes MM supply with flat 7 but i opted to get a round 7, nobody queried or told me that MM recomend using flat, I agree with matthew , would'nt matter what shape the plug is , as long as it aligns with the female pins!!!, all do the same job!!!

Any way , got told today that my BCU unit is cactus, so awaiting a replacement, to turn up!!, hopefully this will sort everything out, interesting though, seems most that have had problems are all the same, starts with fuse blowing, replace , then unit seems to fail, but fuse is still ok, strange!!!


Eddy

[phoenie77]

Hi all. Back from the weekend away, and after getting the Auto Sparky to replace a fuse it worked down and back no problem. Although he couldn't tell me why it had blown, and i had no idea what that fuse in the engine compartment was actually for. The best part is MM spent half hour checking it for me and told me they would have to get an auto sparky in the following week to look at it so i got my local guy to do it - cost $45 mind you.

Anyway as for the little Box, i found this when i was trying to sort it myself over the weekend and it is a bitch to get to, especially if you have false floor as i do. The unit is inside on the Drivers side in behind the trim directly behind the tail light assembly. I managed to get to it by taking the upper trim lining off around the rear window but couldn't get anything else off due to my false floor. I then found that there was power to all the individual circuits but still no good. As it turns out it was just a simple fuse in the engine bay, but not sure how i was to know that especially given the MM dealer who fitted it couldn't even work it out.

At least they gave me a Flat to round Plug adaptor, sounds like a few others missed out on that!

[Walker]

Yes, I was given the flat to round adaptor by the dealer as well.

Sounds like it is a lot of trouble to remove the trim. I think I will let MMA do that since it is a warranty job.

Matt, the extra pins are not for the brakes and reverse lights, these are part of the standard 7 pin plug. But it does make sense that the 2 extra pins are for the reverse sensors. Mine do not beep when the trailer is plugged in.

[Mike DiD]

Hi Guys i was hold that the 7 pin socket was used due to the PDC (Park distance control) The 7 pin flat socket has extra pins for this? It should stop the beeps when reversing with a trailer. This does not work! It still beeps until you push the button.

According to the Manual there is a low-sensitivity setting for the Reversing Sensors to use when towing.

[Pickle]

Information from my contact at Mitsubishi.

There is a limit to the amount of power you can run through the Towbar wiring system (in the Towbar owners manual on page 14) you will see the following table:


As you can see, the limit for 'Tail Lights/Markers' is 64W (around 5 Amps) - if this is exceeded by some margin the protection system (resettable fuse in the Towbar Wiring ECU) interrupts supply until power is removed for a short period.

The ADR requirement for trailer marking requires two rear markers (total 10W) license plate lights (total 4W) and clearance (total 10W) lights. For longer loads additional end (10W) markers may be required. This brings the total to 34W. There is no limit to how much additional lighting you may run, but I think you can see we are allowing some margin for additional lighting......

It would owners/dealers have taken the correct action - for larger trailer loads a separate supply is used. Of course, the other alternative is to use energy-efficient LED lights on the numerous side lights that would be required to achieve such a high load........this would not only limit the power drain from the battery and alternator, but also save some fuel.......

[matthewfnorbert]

Yes, I was given the flat to round adaptor by the dealer as well.

Sounds like it is a lot of trouble to remove the trim. I think I will let MMA do that since it is a warranty job.

Matt, the extra pins are not for the brakes and reverse lights, these are part of the standard 7 pin plug. But it does make sense that the 2 extra pins are for the reverse sensors. Mine do not beep when the trailer is plugged in.

adam i was referring to when they went from 5 pin to 7 pin ... hence the elect brake addition and the aust std..

[matthewfnorbert]

as pickle mentioned LED's are an option, i have used these for a few years now with zero maintenance required and very low loads on the electrical system...