2011 FWD GT hitch install but trailer pigtail is AWOL

[jrtouareg]

Well, I have a 2011 FWD GT and installed a Curt Hitch today, no problems. I have read all the threads posted in this forum on the hitch and factory harness install so I ordered factory harness and jumper since my car had code CA26 on the radiator. Upon taking the rear shelf and trim pieces off to install the factory harness, I discovered that there is no pigtail to plug the factory harness into. I looked on the left and right sides and even removed the subwoofer and side panels and no pigtail to be found. I thought that the pigtail should already be in the car, correct? How are we suppose to know if the car has the pigtail or not?

So another unexplained Mazda phenomenon. So guys do not assume that this pigtail is on your CX-9. The parts guy at my dealer looked at a 2011 FWD GT in the showroom and he said it had the pigtail. (headshake

I guess I will have to buy an after market harness and run power to the battery.

 

[table5511]

I would do some more searching before you buy a harness...it may be coiled up, rubber banded in some super secret corner that you can't see. Just like fog lights, every car now has fog wiring all the way to the fillers in the bumper, but to get the actual lights, it is an "option." I think the tow harness is the same way on the CX-9.

 

[jrtouareg]

I would do some more searching before you buy a harness...it may be coiled up, rubber banded in some super secret corner that you can't see. Just like fog lights, every car now has fog wiring all the way to the fillers in the bumper, but to get the actual lights, it is an "option." I think the tow harness is the same way on the CX-9.

I have looked everywhere and taken the subwoofer and side panels off as well. Only wires there are the ones going to the tail light and the keyless remote box. The pigtail should be coming off the main harness going to the tail lights but its not there. Only wires coming off the main harness are to the tail lights.

 

[ceric]

code CA26 on the radiator

What does that mean?
Did you assume that your CX9 is pre-wired?
AFAIK, only AWD models are pre-wired. Maybe I am wrong because I have 2008, not
so sure about later models.

 

[jrtouareg]

What does that mean?
Did you assume that your CX9 is pre-wired?
AFAIK, only AWD models are pre-wired. Maybe I am wrong because I have 2008, not
so sure about later models.

It means (CA26) that the tow prep package (trans cooler, larger radiator fan and trans programming for towing) is not on the car and I'm limited to 2000 lbs towing capacity vs (CA27) 3500 lbs w/tow prep package. It also means I will need a jumper harness to plug in between the tow harness and pigtail. According to my dealer and several posts in this forum all Tourings and GTs w/FWD regardless of whether they have the tow prep package or not should have the pigtail. Otherwise, numbnuts, I would not have ordered the factory towing harness and would have just bought the Curt or Hidden Hitch harness, which is cheaper, BTW. Now I have to scramble to get one before next weekends trip, which I had planned on towing w/the CX-9.

 

[jrtouareg]

It means (CA26) that the tow prep package (trans cooler, larger radiator fan and trans programming for towing) is not on the car and I'm limited to 2000 lbs towing capacity vs (CA27) 3500 lbs w/tow prep package. It also means I will need a jumper harness to plug in between the tow harness and pigtail. According to my dealer and several posts in this forum all Tourings and GTs w/FWD regardless of whether they have the tow prep package or not should have the pigtail. Otherwise, numbnuts, I would not have ordered the factory towing harness and would have just bought the Curt or Hidden Hitch harness, which is cheaper, BTW. Now I have to scramble to get one before next weekends trip, which I had planned on towing w/the CX-9.

Well, took the CX-9 to the dealer today as the regional rep was in town. Took all panels off in the rear to expose all wiring and no pigtail. He scratches his head and makes a phone call to head office and they are puzzled as well. Their only explanation was a mistake during production. Makes me question Mazda's quality/assembly control. They said all Tourings and GTs FWD and AWD are suppose to have the pigtail installed at factory as part of the wiring harness. The dealer offered to have a hitch shop install an after market kit. I said I could do that myself. The dealer then offered me 4 free oil changes. Mind you this was the dealer who offered. The rep pretty much said that's the way it came and I would have to accept it. He was not apologetic in any way. I told the rep he's pretty lame to an owner who's been a loyal Mazda owner for 25 yrs. and if it weren't for the dealer, this was going to be my last Mazda and would post all over the internet on how Mazda treats customers.

 

[Shaft333]

Any Mazda information I've seen has shown that the trailer package (3500# capability) is an option on FWD regardless of trim.
Did the window sticker show that it had the tow-prep package? I don't believe there was a production error. I think your dealer misled you.

 

[jrtouareg]

Any Mazda information I've seen has shown that the trailer package (3500# capability) is an option on FWD regardless of trim.
Did the window sticker show that it had the tow-prep package? I don't believe there was a production error. I think your dealer misled you.

Regardless of whether you have the Tow Prep Package or not not, all Tourings and GT FWD should have the pigtail that the tow harness wiring plugs into under the trunk storage box. By not having the Tow Prep Package, it means your tow capacity is only 2000 lbs vs 3500 lbs because the tow prep package includes the trans cooler, larger radiator fan and tow programming for the trans as I had already mentioned above.

 

[nuru]

Regardless of whether you have the Tow Prep Package or not not, all Tourings and GT FWD should have the pigtail that the tow harness wiring plugs into under the trunk storage box. By not having the Tow Prep Package, it means your tow capacity is only 2000 lbs vs 3500 lbs because the tow prep package includes the trans cooler, larger radiator fan and tow programming for the trans as I had already mentioned above.

Yep; I was told that if you have the Code CA26, you need the jumper harness installed, and CA27, you do not and you have the Heavy Duty towing set-up for the radiator and the transmission. CA26 = 2k towing recommended, CA27 3.5k towing max recommended