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[Andy B]

Due to a lack of time I got a local tow bar 'specialist' to replace the 12N socket on my 'new' car with a 13 pin. Had a quick look in the boot area at what they'd done and straight off could see that 2 earths (zero volts for the pedants) had been made my drilling the body & using a self tapper!  There was a proper 6mm stud within reach of the 2 wires!! Unfortunately though can't un-drill the hole.
If you want a job doing, do it yourself! 

[henryd]

Due to a lack of time I got a local tow bar 'specialist' to replace the 12N socket on my 'new' car with a 13 pin. Had a quick look in the boot area at what they'd done and straight off could see that 2 earths (zero volts for the pedants) had been made my drilling the body & using a self tapper!  There was a proper 6mm stud within reach of the 2 wires!! Unfortunately though can't un-drill the hole.
If you want a job doing, do it yourself! 

bleeding philistine's

[OOMV6]

Re: Would you complain?

Yes

[Andy B]

Glad others agree.
I'll be back in the morning. 

[tunnie]

Yes, I'd take it back & get dealer to sort it. 

[Andy B]

Yes, I'd take it back & get dealer to sort it. 

You don't take a car to a dealer for towing electrics ....... you might as well take it to the local Women's Institute! 

[YZ250]

It's fair to say I wouldn't be happy, especially when there are usually ample places that could be used for a 'proper' earth. As you say though, you can't undrill the hole. 

[Entwood]

Andy .. if there's a caravan workshop near you .... pop down and ask if you can use their test point for the 13 pin .... my local place lets you do it for a couple of quid in the charity box... that way you can check ALL the 13 pin functions ... including fridge/battery charging .. under a pseudo load .. rather than just a voltage check.

If you do that before going back to the fitters then you'll have a better idea if they've done anything else stupid before you start having a go ...... 

[tunnie]

Yes, I'd take it back & get dealer to sort it. 

You don't take a car to a dealer for towing electrics ....... you might as well take it to the local Women's Institute! 

No doubt outsource, they do that for nearly all "specialist" jobs now

[Steve B]

Due to a lack of time I got a local tow bar 'specialist' to replace the 12N socket on my 'new' car with a 13 pin. Had a quick look in the boot area at what they'd done and straight off could see that 2 earths (zero volts for the pedants) had been made my drilling the body & using a self tapper!  There was a proper 6mm stud within reach of the 2 wires!! Unfortunately though can't un-drill the hole.
If you want a job doing, do it yourself! 

:-[but u told me how to do the job :-[why you gone to cowboys

[Andy B]

Due to a lack of time I got a local tow bar 'specialist' to replace the 12N socket on my 'new' car with a 13 pin. Had a quick look in the boot area at what they'd done and straight off could see that 2 earths (zero volts for the pedants) had been made my drilling the body & using a self tapper!  There was a proper 6mm stud within reach of the 2 wires!! Unfortunately though can't un-drill the hole.
If you want a job doing, do it yourself! 

:-[but u told me how to do the job :-[why you gone to cowboys

As said, it was a time thing. I only realised the other day that  the car only had a 12N socket fitted, and we're away on Sunday with the caravan. We could've managed just using our beer fridge plugged in on our way to Devon but thought we might as well get it sorted properly. The tow bar place has a good reputation & is where all the local dealers take their customer's cars for tow bars.
The lighting on this is CANbus & a completely different kettle of fish from an Omega to wire up 

[Andy B]

Andy .. if there's a caravan workshop near you .... pop down and ask if you can use their test point for the 13 pin .... my local place lets you do it for a couple of quid in the charity box... that way you can check ALL the 13 pin functions ... including fridge/battery charging .. under a pseudo load .. rather than just a voltage check.

If you do that before going back to the fitters then you'll have a better idea if they've done anything else stupid before you start having a go ...... 

They have a good name & have been around for years. I will be back there in the morning though to tell them I think their standard is sh1te if they think a self tapper is good enough for an earth and the fact I now have an extra hole in my car! 

[Vamps]

I would complain but not sure what it would achieve and the holes are drilled.....

Where are we now with electrics? it used to be on plug with a blue wire of the fridge, then, iirc for fog lamp, we went to 2 and now you mention a 13 pin, is that all you have now? The Jeep has a tow bar and a single socket, never checked it out to see what it does I have an old 'Trailer Board' to test it out but assuming things have changed..........

[Andy B]

I would complain but not sure what it would achieve and the holes are drilled.....

Where are we now with electrics? it used to be on plug with a blue wire of the fridge, then, iirc for fog lamp, we went to 2 and now you mention a 13 pin, is that all you have now? The Jeep has a tow bar and a single socket, never checked it out to see what it does I have an old 'Trailer Board' to test it out but assuming things have changed..........

If you were to buy a brand new caravan it would arrive with a single 13 pin plug http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_13pin_Wiring_Diagram.html
The 12N became full years ago, as you say, the blue wire used to be for a fridge if you were lucky enough to have one, but then went to the trailer's rear fog.
It's common for cars to still have the 12N http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/7pin_12N_Wiring.html and a 12S http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/7pin_12S_Wiring.html but you have 2 sockets and both are inferior to the design of the 13 pin. And if you have a detachable towbar with electrics that swing out of the way, you only have a single socket to worry about. 

[Vamps]

I would complain but not sure what it would achieve and the holes are drilled.....

Where are we now with electrics? it used to be on plug with a blue wire of the fridge, then, iirc for fog lamp, we went to 2 and now you mention a 13 pin, is that all you have now? The Jeep has a tow bar and a single socket, never checked it out to see what it does I have an old 'Trailer Board' to test it out but assuming things have changed..........

If you were to buy a brand new caravan it would arrive with a single 13 pin plug http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_13pin_Wiring_Diagram.html
The 12N became full years ago, as you say, the blue wire used to be for a fridge if you were lucky enough to have one, but then went to the trailer's rear fog.
It's common for cars to still have the 12N http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/7pin_12N_Wiring.html and a 12S http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/7pin_12S_Wiring.html but you have 2 sockets and both are inferior to the design of the 13 pin. And if you have a detachable towbar with electrics that swing out of the way, you only have a single socket to worry about. 

Thanks Andy, must check it out, as I believe my tow bar is detachable, just curious really.....