Redarc Tow Pro

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

Try unplugging the Tow Pro to see if the problem goes away - it has a connector on the end so it's fairly easy (once you can get to the main box).

If the problem goes away when it's unplugged then it's related to the Tow Pro install - if the problem is still there I'd leave it unplugged and take it to the dealer. If the Tow Pro is still plugged in they will probably (quite reasonably) blame it...

[InnerCityBoy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close InnerCityBoy]

Thanks, will have a tinker this arvo. I'm a bit freaked as I also got a dual battery with a RedArc isolator installed, but surely that can't have possibly mucked up anything!

Can u guys remind me ... when you're holding down the brake pedal and then press in the start button (to start the car), I thought the brake pedal used to sink down a little and make a slight mechanical noise (like it has some sort of hydraulic servo). Is that right or was I imagining it? It definitely does not do it now, the brake pedal stays sitting up, the pedal feels noticeably higher.

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

Can u guys remind me ... when you're holding down the brake pedal and then press in the start button (to start the car), I thought the brake pedal used to sink down a little and make a slight mechanical noise (like it has some sort of hydraulic servo). Is that right or was I imagining it? It definitely does not do it now, the brake pedal stays sitting up, the pedal feels noticeably higher.

Mine sinks down a bit and makes a bit of a noise - 2015 GXL (ie model before yours)

[InnerCityBoy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close InnerCityBoy]

Disconnected and re-connected the TowPro, no difference either way. Brake fluid under bonnet looks fine. But there is a small amount of oil on a part behind the brake pedal in the cabin, I'm guessing there's some sort of booster unit there, perhaps there's a problem with it. Either way it's off to the dealer, I'll see how it goes.

[Hally Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hally]

Disconnected and re-connected the TowPro, no difference either way. Brake fluid under bonnet looks fine. But there is a small amount of oil on a part behind the brake pedal in the cabin, I'm guessing there's some sort of booster unit there, perhaps there's a problem with it. Either way it's off to the dealer, I'll see how it goes.

How did you go today at the dealer did they find the fault???

[InnerCityBoy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close InnerCityBoy]

All fixed ... nothing to do with the TowPro. Sparky called me (before I got to the dealer), he was working on another Prado yesterday and realised what had happened. He (or rather his apprentice) had cable-tied the TowPro unit to some part of the braking mechanism that sits behind the panel underneath the steering wheel, roughly where the driver's right knee is. It was restricting a lever or something, I don't really understand but apparently there are parts of the braking mechanism there.

Took all of 5 minutes to fix and the brakes are now fine. He was very apologetic, the apprentice said something had changed with the layout with the new Prado but I don't know if that's true or not.

So ... all good ... although somewhat alarming, I hope the rest of his work (on the dual battery etc.) holds up!

[ozimacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozimacca]

All fixed ... nothing to do with the TowPro. Sparky called me (before I got to the dealer), he was working on another Prado yesterday and realised what had happened. He (or rather his apprentice) had cable-tied the TowPro unit to some part of the braking mechanism that sits behind the panel underneath the steering wheel, roughly where the driver's right knee is. It was restricting a lever or something, I don't really understand but apparently there are parts of the braking mechanism there.

Took all of 5 minutes to fix and the brakes are now fine. He was very apologetic, the apprentice said something had changed with the layout with the new Prado but I don't know if that's true or not.

So ... all good ... although somewhat alarming, I hope the rest of his work (on the dual battery etc.) holds up!

I am glad you sorted it out as I have a Tow Pro Elite sitting on my desk for fitting tomorrow, when I get in to drive home I better be careful

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

The TowPro instruction sheet said not to cable tie the unit onto vehicle wiring or in the close proximity of electrical cables.
I mounted my unit on the passenger side trans tunnel below the glove box (no wires in sight) and fed the cable to the remote behind the dash and mounted it in a spare blank.
I had to machine out the blank to fit the control unit. Has worked perfect since install 12 months ago.
Mine is the model just before the Elite, only minor change on Elite is auto initial adjust as against manual but still same sensitive electronics

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Just cable tied mine to the steering columb mounting bracket never had an
issue with it, can't see any issues as long as it is mounted firmly and can't
move. As for not in close proximity to wiring, it's going in a car, if it's that sensitve to
stray fields they shouldn't be selling it as fit for purpose!

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I did the same as Leigh, works fine.

[markl Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close markl]

I have installed the Redarc Tow Pro in my new Prado. Had another brand in a previous car. Mainly use it towing my Jayco Eagle Outback. I have to say the Tow Pro wins hands down against the previous one installed in the previous car. The previous one was quite jerky with brake activation on the Jayco particularly at lower speeds whereas the Tow Pro is very smooth at all speeds. Personally can highly recommend the Tow Pro. Very happy with it.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

All fixed ... nothing to do with the TowPro. Sparky called me (before I got to the dealer), he was working on another Prado yesterday and realised what had happened. He (or rather his apprentice) had cable-tied the TowPro unit to some part of the braking mechanism that sits behind the panel underneath the steering wheel, roughly where the driver's right knee is. It was restricting a lever or something, I don't really understand but apparently there are parts of the braking mechanism there.

Took all of 5 minutes to fix and the brakes are now fine. He was very apologetic, the apprentice said something had changed with the layout with the new Prado but I don't know if that's true or not.

So ... all good ... although somewhat alarming, I hope the rest of his work (on the dual battery etc.) holds up!

cable tied!!!!

[InnerCityBoy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close InnerCityBoy]

cable tied!!!!

Yeah, scary! Just got back from camping at Jindabyne, I have to say the TowPro is fantastic, super smooth compared to the Tekonsha Voyager I had in my previous rig.

However looks like the sparky's work on the dual battery system was also questionable, but that's for another forum ...

[AllanJC Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AllanJC]

Tow Pro Install Advice.

Hi folks, I hope this is not a stupid question, but what method have people used to connect the towpro brake signal input wire (red) to the vechicle brake signal wire wire (purple)? I have got everything else for the Two Pro installed and wired up and want to make sure I complete this bit properly. The red wire (in split tube) is currently coiled up under the drivers side dash.
Have people used wire taps (aka scotch clips) or soldered splice joints to join to the purple wire?
With my dodgy shoulder l'm trying to work out how to get at that purple wire. Do you need to remove the lower dash facia and disconnect the brake light plug wiring to get to it?

Cheers,
Al

(I'm in the process of preparing for a trip to Cape York in May this year and need to set up the 150 after upgrading from my trusty 120 series in August last year - Drifta Drawers should arrive in a couple of weeks

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

I took a wire to the rear and got a feed from the brake light. This was because I used a wiring harness from Derek at ABR which was made that way.
At the time I didn't know which colour wire on the brake switch to use.
As a sparky I would prefer to solder as wire taps can fail.