Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Coding of vehicle specific tow electrics
Hello.
I have a Discovery 4 2013
I wish to upgrade my existing 7N socket and wiring with a 13 pin dedicated (vehicle specific) kit.
The sales details of the kit says coding is 'optional', but seems little point fitting the kit if not coded to take advantage of proper integration with vehicle.
I have the Gap IID3 tool.
Can this be used to code the new kit, please?
Thank you,
Paul
23rd Jun 2023 11:46 am
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
You shouldn't need to "code" anything with a vehicle specific kit as it should be "vehicle specific" ! Most Disco tow kits are plug and play so it's just case of making sure the connectors are correct (differ between D3 & D4).
Buy the kit from a reputable supplier and you shouldn't have any issues or the proper LR D4 specific kit is pretty much the same price if you shop around..I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
23rd Jun 2023 1:48 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10679
Yes a gap iid can code it
23rd Jun 2023 4:09 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Thank to nigethecat and Pete K for your very quick responses.
It will be great if no coding is required, but good to know the Gap IID can come to my rescue if I need it to.
One of the reasons for upgrading is that the currently fitted 7 pin 12N socket with a Ring RCT485 Smart Logic module is that the Vehicle's rear fog light and parking sensors are not deactivated when the 12N plug from trailer is inserted.
Maybe I should investigate why this is so, but as I tow infrequently, I've managed so far by turning the sensors off with the button on the dash.
Paul
23rd Jun 2023 6:41 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10679
Before you do anything. Get the iid out
Go into ccf settings.
Ensure towbar is set to fitted.
Plug in a trailer (without led)
Now see if reverse sensors are disabled.
23rd Jun 2023 6:46 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Thanks for the suggestion Pete,
CCF, BCM-Body Control
Trailer tow attachment = current status.
Trailer Module Current state: trailer module 13 - Position socket
There are 9 options available. (8 + current)
Undefined
Not Fitted
Trailer Module 7 - Position socket with rear fog lamp
Trailer Module 7 - Position socket with reverse lamp
Trailer Module 7 - Position socket with power supply
Trailer Module 13 - Position socket
Trailer Module 4 - Position socket
7 pins
7 pins for USA
Tried each in turn but sensors are not deactivated. Have I missed a step or testing incorrectly?
Trailer Module 7 - Position socket with rear fog lamp seems to most closely fit.
Paul
23rd Jun 2023 7:31 pm
Oxford-boy
Member Since: 07 Sep 2015
Location: Oxford
Posts: 1108
I maybe reading your post incorrectly but sensors are only deactivated when a plug is actually in the towing electrics..
Merely activating the towing setup won't disable the rear sensors.
You probably know this but jic....Jim
2014 Discovery 4 XXV SDV6 Causeway Grey
2016 Discovery 4 HSE Lux SDV6 Loire Blue - now gone
23rd Jun 2023 8:23 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
If you buy the correct rear socket it should come with a built in rear fog cutout, this pushes a pin down when you insert the trailer plug that breaks the circuit with the fogs. Doesn’t need anything coding..I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
23rd Jun 2023 8:29 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Oxford-boy wrote:
I maybe reading your post incorrectly but sensors are only deactivated when a plug is actually in the towing electrics..
Merely activating the towing setup won't disable the rear sensors.
You probably know this but jic....
Thanks for the heads up, but I had a non-LED trailer lighting board plugged-in during these tests.
(And a wheelie bin positioned to provide a close proximity object for the sensors to detect!).
Paul
Last edited by Pauliebanger on 23rd Jun 2023 10:20 pm. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Jun 2023 10:09 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
nigethecat wrote:
If you buy the correct rear socket it should come with a built in rear fog cutout, this pushes a pin down when you insert the trailer plug that breaks the circuit with the fogs. Doesn’t need anything coding..
Interesting posibility to which I'll give further consideration; but if I decide to upgrade to 13 pin I will not need a replacement 12N with rear fog light cutout.
Paul
23rd Jun 2023 10:17 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
A new 13 pin socket should come with the fog cut out, upgrade to 13 pin and half your issues (if not all) are solved I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
24th Jun 2023 11:19 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10679
well that is annoying.
When the trailer board is plugged in, turn the indicator on, and see if you get the additional trailer indicator light come on, on the dash board. (assuming it's done in a similar way to the D3).
Then you could recheck the sensors.
I wonder if a non genuine, bypass towsocket has been fitted.
EDIT: Arh you state " Ring RCT485 fitted", so that is probably why it's not working.
That is a lot of silly options in the CCF!
I can tell you, DON'T want:
Trailer Module 4 - Position socket
7 pins for USA
It's all a bit silly. What if you had a caravan, with fog and reverse lights
As I see it you have two options and assuming the trailer WON'T have LEDs.
1) Ensure the towbar indicator wires (yellow and green) are directly connected to the cars dedicated towbar socket. This is found on the left side of the boot. and NOT to the Ring 485 box. The D4 can then detect a trailer is hooked up and should disable sensors.
If you want the fogs disabled as well, you may have to do a similar thing with the blue wire.
2) fit a genuine loom. A fair bit of labour and expense for not a lot.
24th Jun 2023 3:52 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Thank you both for your further thoughts.
Pete K,
Yes, it is annoying, but that's how it was when I bought the car last year.
The installation looks a bit like a bowl of spagetti, but the added harness has a label attached* ' Trailer Towing Land Rover' with a 'passed' date of 30/11/13. My vehicle was registered on 9/9/2013, but was owned and operated by the dealership for several months so theoretically this could have been dealer fitted.
* this harness emerges from the LHS rear light cluster
The green and yellow wires from the 12N socket are connected to the RTC485, correct screw terminal positions on the right.
There are yellow and green wires also connected to the left hand pre-wired multi-terminal plug; for
Smart Logic sensing I presume.
The wiring appears to agree with the RTC485 wiring diagram.
I'd be happy to try your 1st suggestion, trailer lights will not be LEDs. How can I identify the car's 'dedicated towbar socket' to which you refer, please? (socket colour, number of connections, wire colours, anything that will help identification)
There are a few sockets in this location, plus a couple of 'blanks' - fixed to the car but no wires or terminals (top left in the photo). Each of these seem to have duplicates which have wires and plugs inserted.
First to emerge from the vehicle loom is a grey plug which has three heavy duty wires attached, Black, Brown/Blue and another Black. There is a socket fitted to it but no wires are fitted to this socket, so the connection is redundant. Any idea what this might be for?
Another redundant plug emerging from further along the vehicle loom is black, has 16 possible multi-connections but only fitted with 8 fairly lightweight wires. I don't think this is to do with the towing arrangements and may be for something not fitted to my car, tyre pressure monitoring perhaps. Can you suggest what this plug is for, please?
If I go for a dedicated 13 pin kit which may need coding, how do I go about this? Is it as simple as selecting the 13 - Position option on the Gap tool indicated earlier?
Obviously, I'm still learning about this vehicle and the Gap IID G3 tool, so I really appreciate your thoughts, time and help.
Paul
25th Jun 2023 10:48 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10679
Click image to enlarge
these are pictures of the D3 towbar plugs (thanks gstuart).
They look like the plugs at the top left of your pic. They have a blank fitted one side, and wires the other side.
I think the one with 4 holes is the one of interest.
Looking at a 2011 D4 wiring diagram, plug C1390 has 4 holes (3 wires, the indicator wires and a ground)
Green, yellow are the indicators.
The wires from the tow socket must connect directly to these wires, and not go anywhere else.
The foglight wire is on that other socket, a blue wire. Pin2.
You basically know how to code a towbar now. It is just selecting one of the options.
25th Jun 2023 12:17 pm
Pauliebanger
Member Since: 23 Jun 2023
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 25
Ok, some progress I think.
The two blanks shown top left have no wires at all, either in plug or socket.
But, the RTC485 harness has that connector type and is connected to a plug from the vehicle loom, though the 4 position has only two heavy guage wires from the loom, Red and Blue/Pink
The other RTC485 connector has 6 pins and is also plugged in to the vehicle loom, and includes two yellow wires, visible (but blurred) at the top of this photo:
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or the proper LR D4 specific kit is pretty much the same price if you shop around..
