Towbar Electrics

[Runswick Stag]

Having just taken delivery of a tdi 140 yeti, I had fitted a witter towbar with dedicated wiring loom, everything works as it should BUT if the Yeti lights are on auto, the trailer tail lights come on even in daylight,even though the front lights are not on, turning the lights to the off position turns the sidelights off. I have looked in the handbook but can`t find any referance to this, anyone have any ideas before I quiz the towbar fitters?

[Llanigraham]

Having just taken delivery of a tdi 140 yeti, I had fitted a witter towbar with dedicated wiring loom, everything works as it should BUT if the Yeti lights are on auto, the trailer tail lights come on even in daylight,even though the front lights are not on, turning the lights to the off position turns the sidelights off. I have looked in the handbook but can`t find any referance to this, anyone have any ideas before I quiz the towbar fitters?

1/

Has the car be reprogrammed by the dealer to "accept" the towing electrics?

2/

What wiring kit has been used on the tow bar? Model specific or general?

3/

Was the person doing the fitting experienced with the Skoda electrics system?

[Runswick Stag]

The towbar was fitted using the vehicle specific wiring loom and has been coded to the vehicle, everything else works as it should including the caravan electrics and the disablement of the rear parking sensors, just cant understand why the trailer lights come on with the light switch in the "auto" position? even in broad daylight? does anyone else`s towbar equiped Yeti display this symptom? Is it supposed to do this?

[Llanigraham]

Sorry, but can't be much help, as Dewi the Yeti isn't equipped with "auto" lights.

[freedie]

So you can't drive it at night? Oh! I see what you mean...

[danbarnes]

I have just had a witter towbar fitted at an independent tow bar specialist garage. yesterday I attached my bike carrier, while I was admiring it on the back of my yeti I noticed the lights randomly coming on for a few seconds then going off again.

will need to have another look to try and find out what was going on.

Edited 28 March, 2011 by danbarnes

[countryboy]

Hi, checked my Octavia yesterday on my caravan and had exactly the same thing happening you have, when the light switch is in auto the caravan lights are on and the car lights are off.Turn the switch to off and off they go. I too went for the vehicle specific wiring kit and had the car coded to suit. Strange one that but I'm not going to worry about it.

Ian

[the_raz]

I remember noticing at some point if the door was open (indoor light on) also the lights on the trailer were on even though the car wasn't running. When I closed the door the trailers' lights went off - maybe this is related.

[Tonyp5a]

Hi,

Had a towbar fitted at the dealers (with 13 pin electrics), however they did subcontract the fitting to a specialist. I do not have this issue, with the switch left in auto, the caravan lights come on and off with the cars headlights. I was wondering if you had somehow got the caravan lights linked to the DRLs, but that would not count if they go off when you turn the light switch off.

Sorry, overall not much help.

[rockhopper]

Hi,

Had a towbar fitted at the dealers (with 13 pin electrics), however they did subcontract the fitting to a specialist. I do not have this issue, with the switch left in auto, the caravan lights come on and off with the cars headlights. I was wondering if you had somehow got the caravan lights linked to the DRLs, but that would not count if they go off when you turn the light switch off.

Sorry, overall not much help.

Can you charge the fridge etc with the 13 pin electrics?

I'm going to be borrowing my parents 'van later this year and it has the double 7 pin ones. I'm planning on having the single 13 pin fitted and using a 13pin to double 7 pin converter to connect the two together. So my question is will everything work with this setup?

Mike

[Runswick Stag]

Can you charge the fridge etc with the 13 pin electrics?

I'm going to be borrowing my parents 'van later this year and it has the double 7 pin ones. I'm planning on having the single 13 pin fitted and using a 13pin to double 7 pin converter to connect the two together. So my question is will everything work with this setup?

Mike

[Runswick Stag]

Thanks for all the help on this one! spoke to the dealer and guess what? didn`t have a clue! mine has the twin 7 pin sockets and runs the fridge etc ok, so I am sure an adaptor should work! I will speak to the company that fitted the towbar and see if they have any answers, Its probably not an issue but when youv`e spent £500 on a "proper job" then in my view it should be well "proper"!

[Tonyp5a]

Can you charge the fridge etc with the 13 pin electrics?

I'm going to be borrowing my parents 'van later this year and it has the double 7 pin ones. I'm planning on having the single 13 pin fitted and using a 13pin to double 7 pin converter to connect the two together. So my question is will everything work with this setup?

Mike

I can only tell you what I was told when I picked the caravan up and that is that the fridge will run off the caravan battery, but not via the 13 pin electrics.

[rockhopper]

I can only tell you what I was told when I picked the caravan up and that is that the fridge will run off the caravan battery, but not via the 13 pin electrics.

So does the car through the 13 pin electrics charge up the battery?

[Tonyp5a]

So does the car through the 13 pin electrics charge up the battery?

Sorry to be vague about this, but I don't believe so (I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm either way). Last year was my first year caravanning and I ensure the battery is topped up before a trip and I've not had any issues with running the fidge for journeys to sites, however eveywhere I've stayed has had electric hooks ups, so the battery has only been called upon for the journeys.

[g6zru]

Can you charge the fridge etc with the 13 pin electrics?

I'm going to be borrowing my parents 'van later this year and it has the double 7 pin ones. I'm planning on having the single 13 pin fitted and using a 13pin to double 7 pin converter to connect the two together. So my question is will everything work with this setup?

Mike

The car should operate the fridge if the engine is running above tickover speed. Likewise it should also supply a charge to the caravan battery. Both of these statements assume that both the car and the caravan have been wired correctly, and any adaptors are also correct. 13pin to 13pin is best!

Fred

[a65rocket]

I use a 13pin to twin 7 pin Audi lead, and had to add the fridge earth pin to the connector, my towbar wiring was correct, the problem was in the splitter.

[900000]

So does the car through the 13 pin electrics charge up the battery?

As far as I understand no. You need the additional split electrics to also charge a caravan battery. This is an option as some people (like myself) will only ever attached utility trailers or bicycle racks to their towbars. Thus the split charging facility is not required but once installed will charge the caravan's battery via the 13pin connector. That is my understanding of things anyway.