..because you need a full relay set to drive the trailer electrics, which needs a live feed so that the original signals are not loaded - unlike older cars, you can't just piggy-back onto the existing electrics. Sadly, the advent of electronics in new cars has made some things quite a lot more complex. Having said that, it wasn't that big a job, but you DO need the right equipment.

also, my "instructions" were for the twin-air - if the exhaust silencer is bigger on the 1.2, then my trick of not removing the bumper may not be valid.

PS: it's a permenant live, otherwise the hazard lights won't work when the ignition is off.....

cbdubs said:

Hi, I am a newbie having only owned - well the Wife has only owned her 500 for four days. It's only a 1.2 pop. I have got a tow bar and set of eletrics from a previous car in the garage. Can I ask why you need to run a live wire to the trailer electrics? Never had to do this before on any other cars I've fitted towbars to. Also is it permanent live or just ignition live? Thanks

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum

have a read of this:

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-pu...ng-towbar-12-n-socket-7-way-bypass-relay.html

(ok its for a punto) But if you dont do this you run the risk of screwing up the body computer and the car throwing a hissy warning light fit when you fit the trailer or the socket gets damp

Hi guys, thanks for your responses. I have got the tow bar fited today - took about 1.5 hours. Had to remove rear bumper and bumper iron so I can bolt the tow bar on and then refit the iron and bumper cover. Also I had to slip the exhuast off it's hanger to get space to fit the two bolts to the plate you slide down the chassis leg. Didn't have to mess about with heat shield as there wasn't one there. What a carry on!! Why don't they just make the two bar to replace the bumper iron like all the others I've owned! Would be a lot less messing about! Anyway am ordering my wiring relay tonight ready for fitting nex weekend. Will let you know how that goes. Cheers for now.

Me again - sorted wiring out today. Ran alive strainght of battery and through a blanking grommet into bulkhead and then fed it under the sill overs, under the back seat and into boot, it was a doddle. Then connected my relay to the cable off the towvar electrics and scotchlocked the other wires off the realy to the rear light wires. Sweet, job done.

cbdubs said:

Me again - sorted wiring out today. Ran alive strainght of battery and through a blanking grommet into bulkhead and then fed it under the sill overs, under the back seat and into boot, it was a doddle. Then connected my relay to the cable off the towvar electrics and scotchlocked the other wires off the realy to the rear light wires. Sweet, job done.

Click to expand...

just hope the scotchlocks hold the loom on my Grande punto was that thin they kept on making an intermittent connection i got fed up in the end i soldered the lot


btw having seen your location you seen this?
https://www.fiatforum.com/events/301206-yorkshireitalia-meal-ship-inn-sat-14th-july.html

we did scarbrough in Feb this year guess the location

Could you post a photo of where the grommet is in the engine compartment? I spent at least a hour poking around the engine bay of the twin-air tyring to find a suitable one that came out in the passenger compartment. In the end I gave up and attacked the fuse box feed in the parcel shelf.

I did try and follow the fuse box feed wire back to the battery, but I lost it somewhere in the jungle.....

Hi yes i will try to post a photo in the next day or so. The grommet is just down slightly and to the left of the brake servo, only a couple inches away.

Tried to upload photos tonight - how do you do it!!!

Think I've sussed it! Pictures should help identify where I thread the wire through the bulkhead.

Just a further thoguht I used a 10 amp fuse and with brake, tail and hazard lights on it did not blow. Use the lowest rated fuse possible that way the fuse will blow before you melt the wire - sorry if Im teaching you to suck eggs.