new 09 Ocy - towing electrics

[sparky2]

:confused: Does anybody know if a factory fitted towbar (09 new facelift) with electrics and the new 13 pin socket will be wired for a caravan ? eg wired for permanent 12v and fridge power via a relay ? cheers - Stuart

[nick348]

:confused: Does anybody know if a factory fitted towbar (09 new facelift) with electrics and the new 13 pin socket will be wired for a caravan ? eg wired for permanent 12v and fridge power via a relay ? cheers - Stuart

I'm currently in discussion with Skoda UK and my dealer whether the towbar is in fact factory fitted or a dealer only fit option, still waiting on the definitive answer:(

Do a search on the forum as there seems to be some back ground info in respect of towbars + cavavan electrics issues with the Superb .

Have you been told its a factory fit option for the facelift Octavia?

[sparky2]

Yes, the car is on its way to the dealership as we speak from germany,have been told its a £350 option for the scout, hopefully its fitted and just not some wiring in place. cheers -Stuart

[nick348]

Yes, the car is on its way to the dealership as we speak from germany,have been told its a £350 option for the scout, hopefully its fitted and just not some wiring in place. cheers -Stuart

I take it from your post you've ordered the Scout, which has the removable towbar listed as a factory fit option as does the L and K. Strangely, the Elegance doesn't have the factory fit option mentioned.:confused:

[Marcus100]

This seems to be an issue with many cars fitted with 13 pin sockets from the factory. I have read a few isssues on caravanning forums/mags stating that the pins for fridge/battery/ATC are not wired.

My dealer arranged to have towbars fitted by a local specialist to both my vRS's. They have both been correctly wired (albeit twin sockets).

We will possibly change our 'van next year for one with a 13 pin socket ... same specialist will take £45 to change the twin sockets to a 13 pin.

[sparky2]

:eek: You can buy the socket for about £10 and it will be easy to change as all the wires are there, just remember to kill the 12v permanent feed and make a note of where the differant coloured wires go.Yes you are right Nick I have ordered a new scout then hopefully no more getting stuck in wet grass with the caravan. cheers - Stuart

[nick348]

Yes, the car is on its way to the dealership as we speak from germany,have been told its a £350 option for the scout, hopefully its fitted and just not some wiring in place. cheers -Stuart

Stuart

I take it it will be a 13 pin continental plug, did you ask for 'Towbar Preparation' ? It's a struggle to find out exactly just what this preparation is. I'm guessing this will be an additional wiring loom to take care of the additional electrical functions.

It will be interesting to see exactly what you will get, when do you take delivery?

[sparky2]

Hopefully in the next 7-10 days, on the skoda system it listed the car with a code and this is supposed to be the full towbar fitted with 13 pin electrics if the dealer is correct ? it would be a tad expensive £350 for a wiring upgrade, the specs for the whole car are vague as they are reprinting the catalogues to correct some info.

[Marcus100]

:eek: You can buy the socket for about £10 and it will be easy to change as all the wires are there, just remember to kill the 12v permanent feed and make a note of where the differant coloured wires go.Yes you are right Nick I have ordered a new scout then hopefully no more getting stuck in wet grass with the caravan. cheers - Stuart

Ta but when the time comes i'll get the experts to do it ... I know my limitations!

Enjoy your Scout ...if it tows as well as my vRS you'll be laughing!

[sparky2]

Hi Marcus, I have a Ocy TDi (110bhp) and it tows brill on the road but it starts to loose grip on wet grass so hope fully this should solve the problem, if it doesn't then its time to go the full hog and buy a big proper 4x4 with vastly increased running costs.

[Marcus100]

Not had any wheel spin issues with either vRS ... but we will be looking at a Yeti next time round.

Or a Scout if by then its available with the 170 CR unit.

[sparky2]

:thumbdwn: Update on electrics - changed 13 pin socket and added 3 new wires, just about to find a switched feed for the fridge. cheers - Stuart.

[sparky2]

Where is the best place to pick up a switched feed for the fridge/battery charge, when I say switched, it has to only be on when the engine is running not just ignition controlled, on my last Ocy there was a strip of terminals above the pedals and I just tapped off there, can I do the same on the FL scout ? PS just run the wires to the side dash fusebox and not looked above the pedals yet, has any of the tech lads a circuit diagram of whats available ? can I just obtain a couple of fuse terminals for the fuse block and push it in the correct holes ? is there a factory fitted module for the towbar electrics - if so would there be a switched output there ? sorry about all the questions - cheers - Stuart.

[sparky2]

update- I have run the wires to the fusebox at the drivers side, where would I be able to obtain the actual fuse/wire connection to insert into an unused output off one of the fuses ? anybody know the make etc. cheers - Stuart.