I have fitted "plug and play" looms for the older style 12N and 12S sockets to my D3. As far as I know it never had a tow bar or electrics fitted previously.
Having searched on here and elsewhere there seems to be a divergence of views on whether any coding changes are needed to the CCF file. Some say yes others say don't be silly or that is only for D4.
I have a BBS faultmate2 so I can recode if there is anything to do - but there is nothing on their site or in the docs about where in the setup this might be lurking.
My reversing radar works when I have a trailer or caravan hitched up - so do the rear foglights on the car - some postings suggest that these would be disabled by recoding, others that it shouldn't be required. I am wondering if I needed to fit a switched 12N socket (the type that switches off the foglights) - but then if that was needed and I fitted the non-switched - surely I'd have had a "spare" connection at the socket - and I didn't?
Can we nail this once and for all? Special bonus points for where the setting resides in the Faultmate software if anyone knows.
I promise to update with results........;.
9th Nov 2021 5:47 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4142
Were the looms you fitted genuine LR ones or aftermarket? and did you replace the entire loom (both sections or just the end part nearest the 12N/S sockets ?This will make a difference...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)
9th Nov 2021 6:17 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
So I would go with the option, the D3 does not require changing.
However, if your park sensors aren't being disabled, then clearly it does need changing.
The D3 uses the trailer indicator BULBS to detect whether a trailer is fitted.
Therefore, if your trailer indicators are LEDs you will get various problems.
When you indicate with the trailer hooked up, do you get an extra green light on the bottom of the dash flashing.
Just live with your fogs being on
9th Nov 2021 7:11 pm
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
Being pedantic - I didn't replace anything as there was no towbar electrical loom or sockets fitted.
Just been back through my emails to find the order and it appears it's a Britpart kit I bought -
This was a while ago because for ages I only used it for a bike rack, but more recently I have actually been towing with it.
9th Nov 2021 7:12 pm
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
Pete K wrote:
So I would go with the option, the D3 does not require changing.
However, if your park sensors aren't being disabled, then clearly it does need changing.
The D3 uses the trailer indicator BULBS to detect whether a trailer is fitted.
Therefore, if your trailer indicators are LEDs you will get various problems.
When you indicate with the trailer hooked up, do you get an extra green light on the bottom of the dash flashing.
Just live with your fogs being on
I do get the little green trailer symbol - nothing I've been towing is new enough to have LEDs fitted
9th Nov 2021 7:13 pm
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
Interestingly, looking at pictures of the loom I have and the genuine LR one (which is about twice the price of course), the genuine one does seem to have additional wires and even small extra fusebox - that explains a post I saw where someone was troubleshooting and another poster told him to check the fuses - but there weren't any -as there aren't on mine. I am pretty handy at wiring - I wonder if I could add the LR bits to what I have....
9th Nov 2021 9:21 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
Nothing to be gained by messing with it.
Just makes it more unreliable
9th Nov 2021 9:54 pm
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
I'd still like a definitive answer about how the D3 "knows" it has a trailer and how the fog light/PDC defeat works (or doesn't as in my case).
It can't be just that that trailer indicators are detected - if that was it, mine would have disabled the fogs/PDC, because by that measurement it does "know" - since the trailer symbol flashes when the indicators flash.
I think there are two possibilities
Either the almost mythical vehicle coding change - some claim this doesn't even exist, but various suppliers say it's required, including Witter who will charge you for it according to their website.
Or
There's something in the genuine LR loom/sockets (possibly related to the fog light switch included in some 12N sockets) has some additional wiring and/or a 12N socket with the fog light switch built in - and this is what controls the PDC and fog lights rather than any vehicle coding.
I think different people are reporting different things possibly due to the different wiring kits in use.
10th Nov 2021 10:14 am
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080
I had a new D3 in early 2005 and after the dealer fitted genuine Towing electrics , it would occasionally through up all sorts of warning lights just driving it with no trailer. After I returned it to be repaired they said it was all their fault for not reconfiguring the vehicle to accept the towing electrics , so my thoughts are that they do need coding.
10th Nov 2021 12:35 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
There certainly is a coding option. Mine is set to fitted.
The good news is the trailer lights work without it. The bad news appears to be the park sensors aren't disabled. It should also prevent suspension height changes when trailer hooked up
The fogs won't get disabled by software and there is physically no way to disable them. (unless you do it the old way)
I have the genuine LR wiring. You aren't missing anything fancy
10th Nov 2021 1:38 pm
V8man
Member Since: 01 Jan 2021
Location: Dunno i was just following the satnav😳
Posts: 288
I fitted britpart loom to mine and this comes with fuses and a separate loom (switched) to disable fogs which i didn't fit because i want them on as i only tow a trailer not a caravan.
Deffo changed ccf to read fitted and have aftermarket reverse sensors (all ready on car when purchased) so cant help with that bit sorry.1996 Defender -died (now in landrover heaven😇)chassis to ashes , rust to dust !
2004 Defender td5 gone
2012 Evoque gone
2007 D3 V8 HSE
10th Nov 2021 5:14 pm
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
Thanks everyone - this is waiting for me to get time with the faultmate to see if changing the CCF setting makes any difference, so far this thread reflects what I was able to search already - i.e. inconclusive, but iI appreciate everyone's posts.
24th Nov 2021 12:23 am
BradC
Member Since: 29 Apr 2019
Location: Perth
Posts: 118
In answer to your question about about "How the D3 knows", it senses the current draw of the trailer indicator bulbs through the CJB. It sends continuous small pulses (a couple of milliseconds) down both the trailer indicators and measures the current consumption. The current drawn by a cold filament is considerably more than the bulb rating but the pulses are both short enough and infrequent enough to not warm the filament. This is why LED indicators on a trailer connected to a D3 flicker constantly and annoyingly.
There is no switch, relay or other trickery, just the load on the trailer wires from the CJB. Can't comment on the setting changes, but that's how it knows there's a trailer fitted from an electrical point of view. I assume the setting tells it to either ignore or heed that information.
24th Nov 2021 5:08 am
jagbloke
Member Since: 06 Dec 2009
Location: leicestershire
Posts: 66
As I have some time off I spent some time with the BBS Faultmate Extreme 2.
I changed -
Base Vehicle Config -
Towing Ball Fitment Change - I updated to Fitted.
Interior & exterior lighting -
Rear Fog lights off when trailer connected - I updated to Enabled.
Then I connected the Caravan.
and the fog lights on the car still came on.
Of course your experience may vary.....
30th Dec 2021 10:00 pm
Tmass
Member Since: 28 Nov 2021
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1
Trailer issue
Simply buy a loom whith resistors which are in line. This tricks Disco into thinking your trailer has bulbs not led's. Here is an image of what you need.
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