Towing harnesses and Non disconection of reversing sensors info

[scoutau]

I have a MY2011 Skoda Octavia Scout fitted with a factory harness.

On most recent European cars (Well VW, Skoda, Audi and Seat.) since 2002, Pin 12 on the trailer or caravan unit being towed must be linked to Pin 3 (Earth return pins 1-8.) in the trailer plug as it is used as a plug coupling indicator to tell the car it has a trailer connected when plugged into the 13 pin vehicle socket, this will disable the reversing sensors, disable the vehicle rear fog lights in preference to the trailer / van fitted ones and will also sound the vehicle alarm if the trailer connector is unplugged from the vehicle when the vehicle is locked. Some also disable the vehicle reversing lights and electric release tailgates and also tells the vehicle to activate its Trailer Stability Program and Adaptive Cruise Control as well.

This link must be done in the 13 pin Euro to 7 pin adapter lead that is supplied with all genuine kits sourced out of VAG (Best Bars nz towbar and VAG genuine wiring kit.) or on the trailer if you fit a 13 pin plug to it. Be warned-: This link has not been factory fitted to a lot of these adapter leads!

The vehicle should have the 13 pin Euro mounted to the vehicle rear apron and the adapter in with the spare tyre in the boot. It should only be plugged in when towing as it disables or enables varied things. I am now contemplating re-wiring my trailer to the 13 pin Euro and having an adapter to 7 pin flat Aus to tow it on other cars! Easier as well as full bulb check on trailer lights as well is a bonus. Utilux Australia carries both Plug and Socket in the 13 pin Euro style as well as Ebay. http://www.vanline.com.au/VPDF/Trailer%20Connectors.pdf

The onboard vehicle CANbus ECU must be told that a towbar is fitted and must be coded correctly. Most problems are fixed when "Australia" is selected as location instead of "Rest of the World" under country in towbar (65) when coded by VAG VAS VCDS

The reason I know this is my system was dealer fitted last week when I took delivery of the new car and they didn’t set it up properly, plugged the adapter in then tucked the 13 pin plug and socket (Minus its waterproof shroud!) under the bumper apron and screwed the 7 pin flat to the apron! I now have to tell them that they need to follow the correct procedures when installing and to rectify it now.

Well it was the dealerships second car sold and the first where genuine accessories had to be fitted but still.
Cheers.

[gldgti]

THanks for that good info - i've got a towbar on mine but i havnt tried towing yet. I'm a little concerned the wiring is not done properly as I just have the 7 pin plug screwed to the rear apron and worryingly, it has "nissan" written on it

i've got a vcds cable in the post so next week sometime i can atleast see if i have the "towing attachment" shown as installed in the ECU.

[scoutau]

Good on the VCDS cable, I have yet to order one as only 1 dealer up here and their strike outs are so far 2 for 2 with the dealer fitted genuine options. They didn't do the MDI install properly either and I am locked out of the HDD access on the RNS510 Columbus unit, can't copy anything to the HDD as the sub menus are missing and HDD access is greyed out.

My cable on the 7pin to 13 pin adapter lead had "Made In China" printed on the label!

Check under the apron where the cable goes from the aus 7 pin, that's how I found mine after checking a few various owner threads in Europe and here. Found the 13pin plug and half the 13 pin socket wrapped in tape cable tied to the tow bar. They had even thrown away the outer mounting shell of the 13pin euro socket, just pushed the plugs together and wrapped in a bit of tape. No chance of keeping the tropical rain water out of that wiring!

Now they will have to try and source a replacement 13pin socket base as I will not accept anything else! I paid for it so I should get it fitted!