Towbar alarm

[rover220]

Fitted a westfalia bar and wiring kit to an audi a4 b8. All coded fine with vcds and trailer alarm works as well. Maybe of Jones should invest on vcds!

[muddyjim]

Is there something we missed in the testing or does the Right Connections module not support this feature?

 

Right Connections website suggests that their setup should support it:

 

 

Integration Of The Trailer In The Anti-theft Alarm Of The Vehicle

All manufacturers may produce their alarm systems to recognise the disconnection of the towing plug from the alarmed vehicle. This would require a can-bus module based wiring harness to be fitted to the vehicle and may also require the towbar specialist to perform a simple coding operation to activate the feature. On vehicles with network systems, this feature will not function should inappropriate towing electrics be installed!

http://www.rightconnections.co.uk/towing-related-safety/

Edited 17 January, 2017 by muddyjim

[Llanigraham]

This is moving more and more to an inability of the fitter to correctly do the re-coding.

Now where have we heard that story before!

[Frenchtone]

In the words  of that ancient singer/part time comic,

 

Come in, sit down, make yourself comfortable, I'm going to tell you a story!!  ; - ))

[VAGCF]

It gets stranger..... PF Jones spoke to Westfalia instead as their own fitters had seen this function work but only in some cars with a Westfalia module.  Westfalia couldn't guarantee it would function though - they said a factory fit module needed to be present in the vehicle to power and operate the towbar electrics when the vehicle is off.  They couldn't name the module or provide any details though but suggested asking a Skoda dealer if it was fitted (and said they may not be able to tell). So asking the dealer if a module that I know nothing about including its name is fitted is a bit of a long shot here.....  They had also spoken to Right Connections who immediately gave them the same line as they gave me - factory fit only (think PF felt a little fobbed off too) and SP Diagnostics who do the Westfalia tool and thought the programming would be ok for this.

 

This is the kit that was used: https://www.pfjones.co.uk/skoda-yeti-13-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-oct-2009-on-29220508rc.html  We also fitted the switched and permanent power which was spliced from the rear of the drivers side interior fuse box rather than taking it back to the battery (apparently a dealer recommendation - this company fit for various Skoda dealers).  Everything else was per instructions - I was chatting to the installer throughout most of the process and generally impressed by their ability.

 

Bulb failure works (double flash rate and icon), trailer stability works (see below), park assist warns a trailer is attached and ends, parking sensors show the caravan on screen and only the front sensors work.

 

Not sure how to proceed now other than checking the hazards work with the ignition off.  This may be the excuse to buy VCDS and check the coding myself....

 

 

To check trailer stability: ESP light switches off about 2 seconds after the ABS light if a trailer is plugged in - normally switches off before. This is working for me

 

I watched with interest - there are three modes - a guided automatic mode that programs everything for the tow bar, a manual mode that allows you to choose the modules to program (then automatically programs them) and an advanced mode that lets you edit the bits in each module, run module diagnostics, enter security codes etc. It was the advanced mode they used in the tool

I wonder why they used the advanced mode?

 

Logic would say that you use the automatic mode first, check that everything works and then if not, then use one of the other modes? Unless he was very experienced and had done loads of Yetis and had more confidence of doing it manually?

 

I had a Westfalia installed (as used as OEM) by a third party installer and my car didn't have tow bar prep. Glad it wasn't P F Jones!

 

I must see if the alarm works when the trailer is unplugged. Read somewhere that the alarm covers the trailer - must dig out the tow bar instructions and check.

[Llanigraham]

Simple check:

 

Plug trailer in.

Lock car on fob.

Unplug trailer.

 

If all correct the alarm will sound.

 

EDIT

I have heard of one person who uses the system with his rear bike carrier. He routes the cable from the trailer board through the bikes so they cannot be removed without unplugging the cable.

Edited 17 January, 2017 by Llanigraham

[skomaz]

I have heard of one person who uses the system with his rear bike carrier. He routes the cable from the trailer board through the bikes so they cannot be removed without unplugging the cable.

 

Yep - similar here - I lock the bikes to the rack and then wrap the trailer board cable around and through the lot.  Bikes can't be removed from the rack without removing the board and cutting the lock and the rack can't be removed from the car without the alarm sounding.   ;-)

 

Incidentally I didn't know about the unplug = alarm sounding 'feature' until I did it myself one day with the car locked - I'd not noticed it in the manual...

[KBPhoto]

I knew about it but still caught me by surprise once.

I'd unlocked the car but not opened any doors. Car auto locked just seconds before I twisted the plug!!!

[tkerby]

That's exactly why I wanted the feature - to secure bikes.

[tkerby]

Last tests done for me. The lights work with the ignition off (hazards and coming home lights). I've also disconnected the battery to see if that resets anything. No luck there.

What I have realised is the installer did not disconnect the battery during the install. I didn't realise the tpms, esc and steering lights stayed on after a battery disconnect. I'm wondering if this has either caused an issue with the coding as the ecu wouldn't have reset before they coded the car or whether the module could be damaged.

I think the first attempt should be to recode it. If that doesn't work then they either need to fit a working module or refund the cost of getting a dealer to fix it. Given some solder connections were made to a loom and the Westfalia harness has a different set of connections, I can see some significant problems there

[Llanigraham]

Last tests done for me. The lights work with the ignition off (hazards and coming home lights). I've also disconnected the battery to see if that resets anything. No luck there. (1)

What I have realised is the installer did not disconnect the battery during the install. I didn't realise the tpms, esc and steering lights stayed on after a battery disconnect. I'm wondering if this has either caused an issue with the coding as the ecu wouldn't have reset before they coded the car or whether the module could be damaged. (2)

I think the first attempt should be to recode it. If that doesn't work then they either need to fit a working module or refund the cost of getting a dealer to fix it. Given some solder connections were made to a loom and the Westfalia harness has a different set of connections, I can see some significant problems there (3)

 

1/ Thought that would happen.

2/ Don't think mine did either, but it doesn't matter. Yes the lights will be on, but as soon as you drive a couple of hundred yards they should all go out. Don't worry about it.

3/ That is the best course of action. I still can find no reference to this additional module so do not know what the supplier is on about.

    Where are these solder connections? 

    Have you talked to PFJ yet? As said they refunded me the re-coding fee plus a sum that would cover the cost of fuel down to my dealers (160 mile round trip!)

 

PFJ had such a good reputation, but it appears that some of their sub-contractors are letting them down.