Are Diodes Needed If Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter 118158 Is Used to Tow European Trailer  

Dear Mike, I understand your reply posted below I limit your quote to the section I am going to replicate. I read on your website that the tail light isolating diode system 38955 will need to be used with the converter 118158 to prevent power feedback. Vehicles with separate turn signals and brake lights will need a total of 6 diodes. Does this apply? Can you clarify what the diode is used for? Where are the diodes going to be installed? I am not going to tow another car but just a trailer. Do I still need six diodes? Many thanks, LDB Expert Reply: You have 2 options. First you can convert the Ford Focus wiring harness, after installed, to match the trailer. Or you can convert the trailer connector to match the vehicle connector, once it is installed. The easiest thing to do would be to convert the trailer but there may be certain lights and functions required in Europe that are not required in the U.S. I will try to cover both ways for you but there is no simple adapter for either method. To convert the vehicle, first you will need to install trailer wiring # 18252. This is a hardwire harness so you will need to test the vehicle wires to determine function and then attach the wires to the harness as follows: white = ground earth, attach to bare metal surface on vehicle frame brown = running lights yellow = left turn signal and brake lights green = right turn signal and brake lights To separate out the signals you will need a converter, # 118158. Cut off the 4-Way end on the 18252 harness. Then connect green to green, yellow to yellow, and white to white. The brown wire will bypass the converter. Then you will need to obtain a vehicle side European 7-Way locally and attach the wires as needed. I think on a Euro 7-Way there is also a fog light function. You can just attach the running light circuit to it as well as the running lights.

asked by: Ludovico D