Fitting a, A-Frame on fiat 500s convertable.

[WestiesOnTour]

Hi All,

Soon I will be fitting a a-frame to a fiat 500, has anyone done this them self's on there car.?
Its easy enough I have fitted one before on a ford ka 08 plate, but my concern is as this is a 66 plate and has canbus can I still wire up to the rear of the lights ?.

If I did could this cause damage to the ecu ? or would it be ok ?.

Members with fiat 500s and with a-frame fitted could you please advise on how yours is wired up please big thank you in advance.

Jason.

 

[Macca1954]

Hi All,

Soon I will be fitting a a-frame to a fiat 500, has anyone done this them self's on there car.?
Its easy enough I have fitted one before on a ford ka 08 plate, but my concern is as this is a 66 plate and has canbus can I still wire up to the rear of the lights ?.

If I did could this cause damage to the ecu ? or would it be ok ?.

Members with fiat 500s and with a-frame fitted could you please advise on how yours is wired up please big thank you in advance.

Jason.

Watching this with interest just fitted the adaptor frame next got to do brake assembly and lighting but it’s on a 14 plate. Had to do grinding cutting and drilling as wasn’t originally fitted to a 500

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Hi,
the adaptor you fitted have you any photos ?
Jason.

 

[Macca1954]

Hi,
the adaptor you fitted have you any photos ?
Jason.

Ex

 

[Macca1954]

New I should off taken some. Got to take front panel off again to do the brake cable and wiring so will send you some. Can take a pic of the crush box I removed to fit adapter if that’s any good for now. Had a bit of feedback on this subject so maybe worth doing a search some good pics and measurements

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[Carolyn and Kev]

Ignore the Scotch block connectors as I have soldered and used shrink tubing. The electrics were a doddle as they were easily adapted to fit our car in the photos . No electric errors on the Led's at all. If the truths known...The biggest issue was getting through the fire bulk head behind the engine and into the car to get on to the brake lights ! However...it was done with relative ease and a little bit of patience!
The centre Trailer socket was supported behind as well as at the sides using 1/8th flat bar.
The last picture showing the socket actually shows the points at which the A frame connects to. These just had not been removed at the time of the picture.

This is the second one I have completed. The first being on our 2019 Fiat 500 lounge above. The Badge bar hides the Connectors the A frame connects to.

Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

That's brilliant, funny enough the electric plug that's what I was going to do, a lot of company's put the plug under the bonnet in which I think is not very good yes you has to cut or damage the lower plastic grill but looks far far better.

The electrics ? did you go directly to the rear lights or did you fit a bypass relay ?

 

[WestiesOnTour]

p.s I was looking at the brake cable that goes through the bulkhead now that looks a pig of a job, I think that's would be the hardest job of the lot.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Look behind the engine at the top middle. You will see a grommet. Its a bugger to get to but a long handled screwdriver and ....a wife! Get her to push on it whilst you look just above the brake switch under the dash in the passengers footwell. When she pushes on it you will see it flex a little! When it flexes enough to crack the rubber top coating on the bulkhead cover...grab a smaller screw driver and push back until it breaks through. It will be central to the hole and ideal for a cable to be pulled through. The cable you will use will be the red wire off the plug socket . This comes through and goes on to the Green and white cabe in the harness by the passenger seat. Dont try to fit it to the inner fuse box....its a bastard! Sorry but it is!
Pull the red cable alongside the passengers seat and either scotch block it or solder. What ever suits you.
The other cables are a bit easier as they are easy to get to with the front panel /bumper off
Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Interesting,

I do have a serious question tho. speaking to the professionals they do tell me you must use a bypass relay as it could do damage to the ecu this is on 16 plates onwards as the lights are leds so canbus is used.

On you vehicle its a 19 plate so it will have canbus did you fit a bypass relay ?.

Also I was told when wiring up wire to the rear lights ?, looking at what you have done its the front lights in which does look a lot easer to do.

Only joined today and feel like ive had me money worth all ready.

Jason.

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[Carolyn and Kev]

No relay needed on the Fiat 1200 lounge. As stated fitted directly to the side lights not the Led running lights so led not affected. Rear tail lights again...Side lights Halogen and not Leds.
Rear brake lights...hard wired into the harness as stated by the passenger seat. Done it now with the 19 plated lounge and just recently...the Abarth Which was a bit more of a task but only because of the firewall as stated

Should you wish to change the bulbs to leds then you will need to consider the Canbus relay idea. If like me , the lighting was more than ok with the halogen bulbs...it will be spot on

It works well trust me...Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Here is the ka I done last year

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Just a thought.....You are going for a braked over run system yes? CaBle through the floor and on to the pedal?
Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Think i'm a little confused I thought my was led's lights maybe not.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Just remember the brake on the fiat 500 has the servo in the passenger side and is connected via linkages from the driver side. My car was set up using the electronic RV2 Brake buddy system. No cable onto the pedal at all...all electric sensing and pendulum driven.

Kev

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[WestiesOnTour]

Just a thought.....You are going for a braked over run system yes? CaBle through the floor and on to the pedal?
Kev

yes braked system

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Think i'm a little confused I thought my was less lights maybe not.

No thats the same as our Abarth. The Tail lights are in the lower section of the rear light cluster and the brake light is the top
The side lights are the central small front heads lights . Dont think of the DRL leds....You dont need to. Just use the Low beam headlight connectors which bring on the side lights all round

Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

originally fitted the a frame to a 08 plate ka then I bought a ka convertible so swopped every think to the convertable as you can see in the photos.

once I finish the fiat 500 I will be selling the ka with a frame.

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Just remember the brake on the fiat 500 has the servo in the passenger side and is connected via linkages from the driver side. My car was set up using the electronic RV2 Brake buddy system. No cable onto the pedal at all...all electric sensing and pendulum driven.

Kev

yes I noticed that today will be interesting on how im going to get round that.
kev can you give me a call please. 07748 108881

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Im sure you will crack it! Dont look too deep at the electrics! It can throw you off! Just stick to simplicity and it will look after you with out an issue.

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[Carolyn and Kev]

Can I call you tomorrow Jason ? Its just that I have a really crap BT signal here at the moment ! Its seriously naff!
I can get you tomorrow morning if thats ok?

Kev

 

[WestiesOnTour]

brilliant kev thanks.

I was going to buy a bypass relay this evening off ebay but im not now joined the club today cost £15 the bypass relay £20 so saved a fiver all ready lol.

just heads up been a member of the sister club for 4 years now RVOC

every day is a school day

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Hi Jason.

Nice talking to you earlier. Pictures attached for you to ponder on
The end result meant I could use the car with the Badge bar on the front and not see the electric plug behind it

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Nice one thank you Kev, just got to buy the chassis bracket then I can fit and wire it up .
looks easy enough.
Jason.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Jason...The lower grill is available quite cheaply on ebay if you should ever want to put it back to normal at some point?
2013/14 is roughly £20 The one on the 19 plated one is £45 plus vat

All the best with it.

Kev

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[WestiesOnTour]

Jason...The lower grill is available quite cheaply on ebay if you should ever want to put it back to normal at some point?
2013/14 is roughly £20 The one on the 19 plated one is £45 plus vat

All the best with it.

Kev

Just bought the chassis bracket, cable and jockey wheels so should have it all by Friday.
Jason.

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Just bought the chassis bracket, cable and jockey wheels so should have it all by Friday.
Jason.

Hi kev,

Just a update the chassis bracket still not arrived, so hopefully it will arrive on Tuesday

 

[Old and wise 1]

Just a thought. I've been towing a smart car for 3 years behind my Autotrail Cheyenne, but in the UK only.
Had to buy a trailer for France (and other countries) due to the conflicting laws between the EU and French government.
The trailer btw is far easier to manoeuvre. It's possible to receive fines of €130 Each time you are stopped by the police.

 

[Keith E]

Just a thought. I've been towing a smart car for 3 years behind my Autotrail Cheyenne, but in the UK only.
Had to buy a trailer for France (and other countries) due to the conflicting laws between the EU and French government.
The trailer btw is far easier to manoeuvre. It's possible to receive fines of €130 Each time you are stopped by the police.

And yet, theoretically, whilst we are EU members, the vehicle or combination of vehicles should be legal in any EU state if it is legal in your own country.
Hence the reason why Johnny Foreigner was allowed to tow an eight foot wide caravan I the UK long before Britain moved the goalposts.

 

[WestiesOnTour]

Well A-frame finally arrived today took me apx 6 hours to do would of been a little less if I had the right drill o well all done.

I put the electrical plug in the lower grill thought it looked better and no lifting of the bonnet to connect it.

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