B6 Passat Towing

[passatpout]

For what it's worth, I towed the boat for another 300km or so a couple of weeks ago.. only towards the end of one trip (after about 130km) did any warning light come on, but no error messages on the MFD.

Trailer lights are properly wired and connected - made up by myself, using incandescent globes, and checked when I used to conveniently work with an auto sparky.

Still get the reverse beepers going on when the trailer is connected.

[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 thetrailer 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.)

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.

[passatpout]

Thanks for the tips..

Like you, I'm thinking about rewiring the trailer to suit the 13-pin Euro.. but I was thinking about putting a junction box on there, and having 2 inputs (one to allow a standard 7-pin flat, the other the Euro), and being able to secure the one not in use. Built properly, it could also act as a dummy load so LED trailer lights would work properly as well. It would be handy for me to be able to put a power outlet onto a box trailer, and leave my camp fridge in there while travelling. At worst, a diode on the respective cables should minimise inadvertent energisation... Any joy being able to source appropriate 12 (or 13) core cable in Australia??

Anyhow, I've checked out my adaptor, and there's no lead between pins 12 and 3, so I'll have to put a bridging link between the 2. I'm sure I have some suitable wire around somewhere...

Also contacted Vanline, the price for the plugs is a little higher than I was expecting (about $20), but no big dramas.. was thinking of picking a couple of them up next time I'm in Sydney, which is now looking like late January. Also makes me feel a bit more secure, since I was always a little worried about losing or damaging the adaptor and being forced to spend a fortune on a new one.

[scoutau]

Well after havingmy scout in at the dealers for a week working out the bad install and making them talk, serious like, to VAG technical, I have some answers as well as my car back. In the Genuine VAG/Skoda electronics cabling kit I have fitted, which is EEA 600 002C E4, the black control box is made by Hella (Saw it on the box myself, along with VAG car symbols and genine VAG part numbers.). Upon discussion with VAG technical, it was found that the towbar electrics where not coded in at/correctly: Yes the trailer lights would work but no bulb detection, rear sensor disconnection etc would work.

I have yet to see if the reversing lights and rear fog will not work on the car but work on the trailer as my trailer isn't here at the moment and like you, I have to get a 13 pin Euro connector for the trailer as it currently has a 12 pin flat connector (This is available from stockists of Utilux parts, truck spare parts.). This may not happen as rear lighting for trailer is also set by entering country code in the lighting section which gives Australian cars 2 rear reversing lights instead of the 1 given in Europe/England which on the opposite side to the single rear foglight. What does worry me is that the VAG supplied 13 pin to 7 pin adapter has the 13 pin Euro pin 2 blue wire (Rear Fog Light.) wired to the electric brake pin on the 7 pin Aus Socket! Could be interesting!

The VAG system detects the trailer fitted by passing a small current down the lighting circuits to see if a loop is connected back by the earth in the trailer connection! VAG doesn't use the loop in it's current wiring kits, so as long as the genuine electrics are fitted, the loop on pin 12 to pin 3 is not needed.

To utilise the charging and other facilities you need the "Constant Plus extension kit for the 13 pin socket" Part number ZGB 000 055 200 w. (This kit is suitable for: VW Passat B6limousine, Variant & Coupe, Passat B7, Touran, Golf V+V1, Golf Variant, Golf Plus, Jetta A5 & A6, Tiguan, Sharan (7N), Skoda Octavia II, Skoda Superb 3T, Seat Leon 1P, Alhambra (7N) ) The reason is that the VAG kit is missing the 3 connections for the 3 pins in the socket, you mayneed to check your socket as mine is missing those 3 pins altogether but the vehicle fusebox is factory fused up for the option and a 3 pin socket off a rear loom is there for the extension kit in factory prep for towing.

I'll check with the supplier of the 13 pin connector as the 12 and 13 wire cable is used on trucks for trailer wiring for special use. When talking to VAG customer care they did tellme that a special "LED load box" was available as a VAG accessory part that would mount on a trailer to allow LED lighting to be used on the trailer, give em a ring for the part number, wouldn't hurt. I thought of the dual tails on the trailer as well but am more down the line of a reverse adapter for the trailer, 7 pin Plug to 13 pin Euro

Let us know how you go. I will do the same.
Cheers

[passatpout]

The VAG system detects the trailer fitted by passing a small current down the lighting circuits to see if a loop is connected back by the earth in the trailer connection! VAG doesn't use the loop in it's current wiring kits, so as long as the genuine electrics are fitted, the loop on pin 12 to pin 3 is not needed.

As far as I can tell, mine has the genuine electronics fitted, but I'll have a closer look on the weekend. It could also be a case of not having the country set right - which I should get the dealer to check now that it's up for its next service.

To utilise the charging and other facilities you need the "Constant Plus extension kit for the 13 pin socket" Part number ZGB 000 055 200 w. (This kit is suitable for: VW Passat B6limousine, Variant & Coupe, Passat B7, Touran, Golf V+V1, Golf Variant, Golf Plus, Jetta A5 & A6, Tiguan, Sharan (7N), Skoda Octavia II, Skoda Superb 3T, Seat Leon 1P, Alhambra (7N) ) The reason is that the VAG kit is missing the 3 connections for the 3 pins in the socket, you mayneed to check your socket as mine is missing those 3 pins altogether but the vehicle fusebox is factory fused up for the option and a 3 pin socket off a rear loom is there for the extension kit in factory prep for towing.

I'll check that out as well. The other option is to run an extension cord from the boot outlet - for the number of times I can see myself using the fridge on the trailer, that would probably work reasonably well. My fridge draws about 6.5A, so it's not overly sucking the juice down.

I'll check with the supplier of the 13 pin connector as the 12 and 13 wire cable is used on trucks for trailer wiring for special use. When talking to VAG customer care they did tellme that a special "LED load box" was available as a VAG accessory part that would mount on a trailer to allow LED lighting to be used on the trailer, give em a ring for the part number, wouldn't hurt. I thought of the dual tails on the trailer as well but am more down the line of a reverse adapter for the trailer, 7 pin Plug to 13 pin Euro

Let us know how you go. I will do the same.
Cheers

I checked with Vanline - they can't supply the cable, and weren't able to point out anyone who could. I'm going to call an auto sparky I used to work with and see what he knows, he's fairly cluey about most stuff that's available and if worse came to worst, he could probably order it for me cheaper than I could get it myself. The other reason I was thinking about making up my own dummy load box is because VW quoted me over $200 (although I reckon they should have supplied it), and I'd probably go for 3 at worst case - one for each trailer I have, plus a spare in case of hiring/borrowing one. The adaptor might be easier as well, since it wouldn't be often that they'd be towed by other cars.

Anyhow, will keep you posted how I go..

Cheers..

[passatpout]

So I just had the 105,000km service done.. nearly $1600 out of pocket, but that's the price of (hopefully) reliable and well running car..

Anyhow, I mentioned to them again about the towbar... so they checked it out.. and found the following:
A short circuit within the trailer adaptor, which i said must have been there from day one and given me the grief in the past (they'd replaced the trailer control module at the 15,000km service). So they offered to order me a new one, for $174 (no hint of throwing it in for nix). So I said I'd rewire it myself. The adaptor hasn't been knocked, damaged, or dragged...
A blown fuse (methinks there'd be a link between the two).
The trailer was "recoded".. I assume to the right country..

So now all I need to do is rewire the adaptor (I'll check for a short myself), and then test it out again..

[Umai Naa!!]

I've seen the adaptors fail in the past.

Also, don't get checking things with an LED test light. Pull the 13-pin round connector apart on the vehicle, and check for corrosion and broken wires.