Just wondering if anyone knows what the factory prep towbar electrics actually is ?, my new car came with it and i'm now looking into having a tow bar fitted - but was trying to avoid paying the whopping cost my dealer wants, i only need the standard 7-pin electrics and will only tow two or three times a year. I can get a witter detachable with a free standard electrics kit for under 200 pounds which i'm more than happy to fit myself. Any advice would be appreciated, cheers

Just wondering if anyone knows what the factory prep towbar electrics actually is ?, my new car came with it and i'm now looking into having a tow bar fitted - but was trying to avoid paying the whopping cost my dealer wants, i only need the standard 7-pin electrics and will only tow two or three times a year. I can get a witter detachable with a free standard electrics kit for under 200 pounds which i'm more than happy to fit myself. Any advice would be appreciated, cheers

My dealer advised against the factory tow bar prep, he said they still need to rip the guts out of the car to get the electrics in anyway. He also warned me that any work done by non Skoda technicians would invalidate the warranty.

If you're only going for the standard 7 pin electrics then you won't need the electrical feed from the front fuse box which is a lot of the expensive work. With a dedicated wiring loom for your model, the electrics should just plug in to the can bus system, hopefully it won't be as expensive as the full 13 pin euro connection.

Just wondering if anyone knows what the factory prep towbar electrics actually is ?, my new car came with it and i'm now looking into having a tow bar fitted - but was trying to avoid paying the whopping cost my dealer wants, i only need the standard 7-pin electrics and will only tow two or three times a year. I can get a witter detachable with a free standard electrics kit for under 200 pounds which i'm more than happy to fit myself. Any advice would be appreciated, cheers

There are a number of threads on here re Skoda factory fitted tow bar prep and tow bars which can answer the question - sorry I can't find the links at the moment. Basically since sometime in the middle of last year, a car with tow bar prep connected to the Skoda removable tow bar system, when connected to a caravan will work all the usual caravan bits (lights, indicators etc) and also charge the van battery and power the van fridge while on the move. It will also recognise if caravan is attached and so not illuminate the car rear fogs lights if activated ('van's come on instead, no blinding of driver in mirror from white front of caravan) , and turn off reversing sensors. Disconnection of the van will also activate the car alarm (if set). If the caravan is removed and tow bar left on, the reversing sensor pattern is set so the tow bar is not picked up by sensors. Early versions of the car did not have the correct wiring in the main loom to put some of these features into effect and many people , like myself, who really wanted to use the Superb as a good caravan tow car battled with Skoda UK for several months until our cars received new main looms free of charge - a two day job.

The factory fitted Skoda stuff is expensive, but does a great job. When the removable bar is removed, visually one wouldn't know the car is used for towing. Most Skoda dealers are useless when it comes to understanding the complexities of tow bar electrics, and salesman certainly won't know about the differences between 7 pins and the Euro plug. The latter is of course the Skoda standard fitment and should now be the only plug/socket fitted on new caravans/trailers . It's also a good system, maintains good electrical connections and doesn't fall off due to vibration.

PM me if you want any more information.

regards

Brian

There are a number of threads on here re Skoda factory fitted tow bar prep and tow bars which can answer the question - sorry I can't find the links at the moment. Basically since sometime in the middle of last year, a car with tow bar prep connected to the Skoda removable tow bar system, when connected to a caravan will work all the usual caravan bits (lights, indicators etc) and also charge the van battery and power the van fridge while on the move. It will also recognise if caravan is attached and so not illuminate the car rear fogs lights if activated ('van's come on instead, no blinding of driver in mirror from white front of caravan) , and turn off reversing sensors. Disconnection of the van will also activate the car alarm (if set). If the caravan is removed and tow bar left on, the reversing sensor pattern is set so the tow bar is not picked up by sensors. Early versions of the car did not have the correct wiring in the main loom to put some of these features into effect and many people , like myself, who really wanted to use the Superb as a good caravan tow car battled with Skoda UK for several months until our cars received new main looms free of charge - a two day job.

The factory fitted Skoda stuff is expensive, but does a great job. When the removable bar is removed, visually one wouldn't know the car is used for towing. Most Skoda dealers are useless when it comes to understanding the complexities of tow bar electrics, and salesman certainly won't know about the differences between 7 pins and the Euro plug. The latter is of course the Skoda standard fitment and should now be the only plug/socket fitted on new caravans/trailers . It's also a good system, maintains good electrical connections and doesn't fall off due to vibration.

PM me if you want any more information.

regards

Brian

Thanks for that - i've been to both of my local dealers and got different stories (and costs) from each, although both insist that the factory prep doesn't provide the split charge / fridge feeds, the dealer from whom i bought the car are getting back to me with a revised labour cost. Its very frustrating, i used to have Volvo's and my last V70 was a simple case of a short loom that plugged into a socket in the boot - that said i'll put up with a bit of hassle over the tow bar as the rest of the car more than makes up for it!

Thanks for that - i've been to both of my local dealers and got different stories (and costs) from each, although both insist that the factory prep doesn't provide the split charge / fridge feeds, the dealer from whom i bought the car are getting back to me with a revised labour cost. Its very frustrating, i used to have Volvo's and my last V70 was a simple case of a short loom that plugged into a socket in the boot - that said i'll put up with a bit of hassle over the tow bar as the rest of the car more than makes up for it!

It's regrettable but as you have discovered salesman especially know little about towing or indeed some know little about cars! Try a dealer who has sold one specially for towing and been through the hassle of getting the electrics sorted out. Or best of all there was one senior technical person in Skoda UK headquarters who did understand the issue and was very helpful to me to get it sorted - John Goode. Try him. The split charging should now work as standard (if specified on order) and the new looms to fix previous problems were delivered to the UK around August 2009, but I don't know when they got into new production cars. I find it hard to believe they haven't got into them by now. As Skoda didn't do a recall on this issue, anyone buying a second hand Superb for towing, from that era will be in for a nasty shock as the modifications for Skoda solution will be prohibitively expensive. Third party solutions should work (running another power cable from front to rear) but the niceties in the software allied to detecting the caravan etc are then unlikely to be available. It's a pity as it's a great tow vehicle and one of the few that can pull a 1590kg (MTPLM) 'van - I really didn't want a standard 4x4 type of vehicle for my non-towing life, which is the majority of my driving. Other than the hassle with the tow bar electrics, I haven't had a single thing go wrong with the Superb or my caravan! regards

brian

It's regrettable but as you have discovered salesman especially know little about towing or indeed some know little about cars! Try a dealer who has sold one specially for towing and been through the hassle of getting the electrics sorted out. Or best of all there was one senior technical person in Skoda UK headquarters who did understand the issue and was very helpful to me to get it sorted - John Goode. Try him. The split charging should now work as standard (if specified on order) and the new looms to fix previous problems were delivered to the UK around August 2009, but I don't know when they got into new production cars. I find it hard to believe they haven't got into them by now. As Skoda didn't do a recall on this issue, anyone buying a second hand Superb for towing, from that era will be in for a nasty shock as the modifications for Skoda solution will be prohibitively expensive. Third party solutions should work (running another power cable from front to rear) but the niceties in the software allied to detecting the caravan etc are then unlikely to be available. It's a pity as it's a great tow vehicle and one of the few that can pull a 1590kg (MTPLM) 'van - I really didn't want a standard 4x4 type of vehicle for my non-towing life, which is the majority of my driving. Other than the hassle with the tow bar electrics, I haven't had a single thing go wrong with the Superb or my caravan! regards

brian

Thanks for this Brian

I found this info really useful also

I plan to order my new combi with the factory prep - this still leaves quite a bit of work to be done by the dealer i believe - but i have been advised - and you have confirmed - that the factory prep will see the onboard electrics working in tandem with the trailer more effectively

I will only be towing a boat so don't need to charge a battery on the trailer - but can i assume that the 13 pin plug will still work with just a light board?

Thanks Brian

Thanks for this Brian

I found this info really useful also

I plan to order my new combi with the factory prep - this still leaves quite a bit of work to be done by the dealer i believe - but i have been advised - and you have confirmed - that the factory prep will see the onboard electrics working in tandem with the trailer more effectively

I will only be towing a boat so don't need to charge a battery on the trailer - but can i assume that the 13 pin plug will still work with just a light board?

Thanks Brian

Yes the 13 pin output socket on the car will work anything, as long as it has a 13 pin plug on it or at 13 pin converter lead - these have two heads, 13 at one end and two sevens at the other. Or if your trailer has one 7 pin, you could just rewire your trailer/light board with a 13 pin - much more reliable especially in the wet. Towsure and other sites have good wiring diagrams. The link below shows correct wiring.

http://www.sargentltd.co.uk/ISO11446_Data.pdf

Pins 10 and 11 are the problem ones for split charging; Pin 12 is a spare and not connected (spare for what, no-one knows); and also be careful as Pin 9 is 'always on', and provides power to the caravan or trailer as soon as plug connected - this is very useful for caravans with the latest stability control . Pins 10/11 only work when the engine is running to ensure battery can't be flattened by a fridge/battery which takes considerable power.

I would certainly recommend that you get tow bar prep but also put in writing on the order that you need the main wiring loom that will enable power to pins 10 / 11 just in case you want to sell it as a tow vehicle later, or indeed have more than just a simple boat trailer.

Brian

You've got me worried now. I ordered my 4x4 Octavia about 4 weeks ago without the tow bar prep. The salesman assured me it wasn't required. I've ordered the dealer-fit removable towbar with full 13 pin electrics. They're charging £500 just for fitting as they say it takes most of the day to get all the trim up to get the wires to the fuse box at the front.

I assumed that the clever stuff for ignoring the parking sensors when towing etc was a programme change in the ECU, nothing to do with the wiring.

Oh dear, have I done it wrong? :'(

You've got me worried now. I ordered my 4x4 Octavia about 4 weeks ago without the tow bar prep. The salesman assured me it wasn't required. I've ordered the dealer-fit removable towbar with full 13 pin electrics. They're charging £500 just for fitting as they say it takes most of the day to get all the trim up to get the wires to the fuse box at the front.

I assumed that the clever stuff for ignoring the parking sensors when towing etc was a programme change in the ECU, nothing to do with the wiring.

Oh dear, have I done it wrong? :'(

I'm sorry but I only really understand the Superb - the Octavia may be different (or it might not!). The Octavia is a much older design body wise but that that might not be the whole story - the electrics may have switched to CanBus in recent years. There should be a lot of advice somewhere by Octavia owners who have experienced this issue. You are right about the parking sensors and other things being controlled by software but the presence of the removable tow bar must be detected by a switch, and the actual electrical connection of the towing device must also be detected for the 'clever' things to happen. That all requires wiring and as I understand on the Superb, is part of the two bar prep wiring, which can only be fitted during the build. If they are having to run the high power cable to the battery area (ultimately pins 10 and 11 in the Euro socket) then the Octavia probably had the same fault as the early Superb II's with no main loom with cables for pins 10 and 11 even with tow bar prep.

Stripping out to fit the new power cable is a biggish task but I would have thought is a one day job. I had the complete loom ripped out and replaced in two days, a much bigger job. Getting trim on and off is difficult for the layman but easy for fitters. A third party specialist would charge less for sure.

I suggest you confirm in writing exactly what you are expecting as the finished result then if the dealer finds that more work is necessary as tow bar prep wasn't ordered, then it's down to him - he gave a price and should stick to it. Don't however assume they know what they are doing!!

Brian

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Thanks for the advice Brian, I'll do a bit more research.

Yes the 13 pin output socket on the car will work anything, as long as it has a 13 pin plug on it or at 13 pin converter lead - these have two heads, 13 at one end and two sevens at the other. Or if your trailer has one 7 pin, you could just rewire your trailer/light board with a 13 pin - much more reliable especially in the wet. Towsure and other sites have good wiring diagrams. The link below shows correct wiring.

http://www.sargentltd.co.uk/ISO11446_Data.pdf

Pins 10 and 11 are the problem ones for split charging; Pin 12 is a spare and not connected (spare for what, no-one knows); and also be careful as Pin 9 is 'always on', and provides power to the caravan or trailer as soon as plug connected - this is very useful for caravans with the latest stability control . Pins 10/11 only work when the engine is running to ensure battery can't be flattened by a fridge/battery which takes considerable power.

I would certainly recommend that you get tow bar prep but also put in writing on the order that you need the main wiring loom that will enable power to pins 10 / 11 just in case you want to sell it as a tow vehicle later, or indeed have more than just a simple boat trailer.

Brian

Brian - thanks so much for the advice - as I said before really helpful and much appreciated!

I was advised by a salesman that getting the 'towbar prep' on a new Superb Saloon wasn't worth doing.

Now major confused - sadly am too late to change spec as it's scheduled for build in week 20, so what are my best alternatives?

Not looking for full dual socket/caravan - only a small trailer or bike rack with light board.

An online towbar specialist have a very good offer, including vehicle specific wiring but cannot guarantee that their software update package will work with 2012 year models, or the dealer can do it in house at two and a half times the price, or the firm they use outside of the dealership offer a set up with a relay bulb failure unit "that has never been a problem before" and would stop the reversing sensors when needed?? Half the dealership price but still £100 more than the online people!!

Edited 3 May, 201214 yr by kaydee

Mmm. Confused now. The current brochure says it's not suitable for split charging so maybe the wires are out again? I was expecting to have to add the wiring for split charging even though I ordered the towing electrics prefitted. There are kits available from the dealers for fitting the rest of the elecrics, with and without factory prefitting.

I won't be paying anyone to do the wiring as that's my trade, so I ought to be able to give a report when I get my hands on the car. I will be fitting 13 pin electrics as I have already on my other cars.

My dealer advised against the factory tow bar prep, he said they still need to rip the guts out of the car to get the electrics in anyway. He also warned me that any work done by non Skoda technicians would invalidate the warranty.

I'm a bit late on the reply but I'd just want to point out that with the prep the wiring is run from the front to the back so all wiring afterwards is installed in the boot so there is not much in the way of dismantling the entire car, just the rear trim. You dealer is also misleading in saying that the warranty will be invalidated if any work is carried out by anyone other than a Skoda technician. Do a quick google search on block exemption rules which basically state that as long as the parts fitted are the equivalent to the parts the dealers would fit they will not invalidate the warranty. Hope this clears things up

I'm a bit late on the reply but I'd just want to point out that with the prep the wiring is run from the front to the back so all wiring afterwards is installed in the boot so there is not much in the way of dismantling the entire car, just the rear trim. You dealer is also misleading in saying that the warranty will be invalidated if any work is carried out by anyone other than a Skoda technician. Do a quick google search on block exemption rules which basically state that as long as the parts fitted are the equivalent to the parts the dealers would fit they will not invalidate the warranty. Hope this clears things up

That was my understanding, though I expected the supply to enable split charging / fridge not to be present based on the note in the brochure. Does anyone happen to know for sure whether it is or isn't on the current models? It makes no odds, really, just helps me get an idea how much work it'll be.

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by lowedb

The supply for split charging can be picked up from the permanent live in the towbar prep, it just spurs off to a seperate voltage sensitive relay

Edited 7 June, 201412 yr by ColinD
Reported as not valid by poster.

Oh, that's great news. I have a spare voltage sensitive switch ready and waiting, so it will save running a feed from the fusebox which I was expecting to do. So for me it was for sure worth getting the factory fit electrics.

Edited 7 June, 201412 yr by ColinD
Reported as not valid.

Apologies for a question from a tow bar 'numptie'....I'm ordering a Greenline II Hatch with tow bar prep.

I've read all of the above several times but regrettably still need to ask whether, if the factory prep is carried out, the canbus has to be reprogrammed in any way after a tow bar and Euro plug is fitted or is it the case that the canbus is preprogrammed at the factory as part of the prep.

I ask simply to help me decide whether to have the dealer arrange the fitting (they don't do it themselves - the work is sub conntracted and they've quoted £450 for a detachable which seems a bit steep) or to use a suitable third party installer myself.

I should add, hearing the sound of unrestrained mirth at the thought of the 105 trying to move a caravan, that the primary use of the bar will be for a bike carrier, maybe a motorcycle trailer or similar smallish trailer.

Jim

Hi Jim, the prep is simply wiring. The ECU will still need reprogramming once the rest of the wiring (ie - towbar socket and module) is installed.

Make sure the sub-contractors are fitting a vehicle specific wiring kit rather than just a bypass relay. The way to tell the difference is a bypass relay will beep when you indicate with the trailer connected and a vehicle specific kit will be silent. If they don't fit a vehicle specific kit then you are spending money on getting the towbar prep from factory for nothing. £450 for a detachable bar isn't that unreasonable, if you take into account the standard retail price on most detachable bars is £300 + VAT and most wiring kits are about £180 + VAT. Obviously you can get these cheaper on eBay but these are average list prices.

Phil, thanks very much for that information, sounds like I'd be best letting the dealer's sub contractor do the job and hopefully they can reprogram thereafter.

Thanks again.

Jim

It depends who they use but some towbar companies have the ability to recode the vehicle themselves.

Here's a link to all of our main wiring kit suppliers outlets: http://www.rightconn...uk/distributors - any of the places with "Vehicle Coding Available" are obviously places that can carry out the coding - to name a couple in Derbyshire area - North West Towbar Centre or a bit north of them MDS towbars. Or obviously Skoda themselves can do the programming

Edited 5 May, 201214 yr by phil_taylor_towbars

Thanks again (apologies if you're not actually called 'Phil').

I wish I was a bit closer to Hants, I know where I'd be taking it!

Jim

No worries, I'm actually Phil's son James but I'll answer to anything!

Fellow Superb 2 owners,

I have a 2012 140 Hatch which was off-the-shelf so to speak so I wasn't offered any options. I too am expecting to tow my caravan with the car but wondered what to expect as "standard" by way of tow bar electrics in the main loom?

I have asked my dealer but they ignored the question but offered to fit me a tow bar for £724.80!

I would be grateful for any information and/or recommendations for suppliers/fitters. I am in the Peak District and have always fitted my own in the past, but there again I have never had a car with rear parking sensors before so want to be a bit careful.

Thanks in anticipation.

Mike

Mike,

If your car is a standard build then there won't be anything in the way of wiring for a towbar fitted. There was nothing in my Octavia and I wanted the full monty electrics for mine. I went to see James and the gang at Phil Taylor towbars and asked for a swan neck towbar, vehicle specific wiring kit with split charging electrics, twin 7 pin sockets and coding for my car. If you are doing quite a bit of caravan pulling then that would be the set-up I'd go for, or if you want to go a bit extra, have the detachable towbar.

In order for the fitters to set up your electrics they would need to strip out the trim from the back to the front of the car and put in place the dedicated wiring loom they would supply, this then gets plugged, into a controller I believe, at the front of the car and from this loom a supply for the split carging will be taken.

Once this is all done then they would need to plug the car up to a box of tricks through the diagnostic port and re-code the car so that it knows when you have the caravan on the back and will change the car settings such as turn off the parking sensors and fog light. Also turn on the trailer stability control and the indicator monitoring.

£724.80 is steep, but then again that seems to be standard fare form a dealer, who in the end will farm most of the work out to a specialist. Much better to go to a specialist direct. I'm sure if you were to Google tow bar fitters in your area you would find a few and get some quotes. Just make sure they say they will fit vehicle specific wiring kits and code the vehicle to suit. Usually using the Autologic bit of kit.

Ian