Did they mention anything about the additional / uprated cooling fan?

Something else that confuses me, if they install all the wiring (except the last bit that the fitter does), why don't they modify the ECU at the same time?

No mention of the cooling fan, I'll ask when they call back.

I dont know why they don't do the coding at the same time, probably some obscure reason!

There isn't an uprated cooling fan, we don't replace the cooling fan or add another one when we fit a genuine tow bar at the dealer so I don't see how or why factory prep would have one.

Trust me, I actually see the cars with prep and fit the bars on the cars. Tow bar prep has the basic wiring to the back. As for not having to take any panels off how do you think we get to the connections to wire it all in never mind fit the bar itself, it doesn't have that.

They canT do the coding at factory as its not complete, it would log fault codes all over the place.

There isn't an uprated cooling fan, we don't replace the cooling fan or add another one when we fit a genuine tow bar at the dealer so I don't see how or why factory prep would have one.

Just a point of interest then on differing fans, as the parts books I've seen do list different fan part numbers for vehicles with trailer;

http://vagcats.info/base/sk/3/238/666/9/14556

Are they for European spec cars that can be factory ordered with the full bar installation :wonder:

TP

The extra charging circuit is omitted from every tow bar electrics on all VAG cars, When I got my Audi it only came with lights through the socket and I had to pay an extra £130 for the auxilary charge circuit to added later, my Yeti also has an inline fuse near the battery for the charge/fridge socket. It must be a German thing why they don't fit.

There isn't an uprated cooling fan, we don't replace the cooling fan or add another one when we fit a genuine tow bar at the dealer so I don't see how or why factory prep would have one.

Trust me, I actually see the cars with prep and fit the bars on the cars. Tow bar prep has the basic wiring to the back. As for not having to take any panels off how do you think we get to the connections to wire it all in never mind fit the bar itself, it doesn't have that.

They canT do the coding at factory as its not complete, it would log fault codes all over the place.

fair point about the coding, that makes sense.

skoda uk were just saying that no extra wiring was required so no panels off on the inside to take wires from the engine or dash fuse box.

so when you fit electrics with tow bar prep is there a connector in the boot for you to use and can you only fit single electrics or is there connections to fit a 13 pin socket that has 12v power for charging/fridge etc.

Cheers

I had the split charge system fitted and all the drivers side and passenger side plastic trim in the car has been off for the wires to go from the battery to the R send and for the lights as the extra split charge thing does the reverse light too.

I can assure you interior trim has to come off if the full 13 pin electrics are being fitted.

fair point about the coding, that makes sense.

skoda uk were just saying that no extra wiring was required so no panels off on the inside to take wires from the engine or dash fuse box.

so when you fit electrics with tow bar prep is there a connector in the boot for you to use and can you only fit single electrics or is there connections to fit a 13 pin socket that has 12v power for charging/fridge etc.

Cheers

On something like an Octavia you have to take the rear trims out to remove the rear bumper. Plus to get to the connectors on any cars boot trims have to be removed.

Also there is not the additional wiring as said. And if you believe ETKA additional wiring is not compatable with prep, although it is. But even then you still have to remove trims to run a feed from the battery

The parts manual shows that there are two radiator fans, one 220W and one 190W. Also shown are an alternative pair, 300W and 200W. Could it be that what they mean when they say that an 'extra' fan is fitted as part of tow bar prep done by the factory, is that the fans are upgraded to the more powerful types.

If anyone didn't have a factory tow bar prep and was worried about cooling, perhaps their fans could be replaced by the higher wattage ones.

I suppose it's a possibility. But surely if there was a requirement for such we would have to fit them with a retro fitted tow bar to.

Quick update to say skoda uk rang me on the 19th and today to say they still had no further information on what is included with tow bar prep.

You would think three years on they would have a bit of paper with it all listed but sadly not the case!

Been there, done that! I even contacted Skoda Cz but they referred me back to Skoda UK. I don't think anyone actually knows but it does give them a reason for getting more money out of you.

Fred

Skoda called me today to say the wiring included in tow bar prep terminates in a 13 pin euro socket behind the rear bumper but this is only suitable for euro spec caravans.

If you want to tow a UK caravan and need split charging then there is little point in ordering tow bar prep as the included wiring does not allow split charging which apparently is unique to the UK. If you want this feature then a new loom has to be fitted.

An email is to follow from Skoda which I will post on here in due course.

PS: In the meantime if anyone has a yeti with Tow bar prep I would love to know if there actually is a 13 pin socket visible when you remove the hatch in the bumper!

I think the UK standard for all new caravans is now to fit 13 pin sockets, so that advice from SUK is somewhat out of date. I would also say that our Adria, though an EU made caravan, was fitted with battery and fridge circuits specifically for the UK market, so that seems to conflict with SUK's comment. However I would agree that it does seem to be a specific "need" by UK caravanners. TBH I have never bothered about it as the 12v supply to the caravn doesn't actually do a lot, only keeping the fridge at the ambient temperature and putting very little charge into the battery.

And again, tow bar prep includes extra fans so that is useful, especially if you are towing a larger van in hilly or warm areas.

I can confirm that my car has a 13pin socket that swings down when the hatch is removed, and does have towbar prep.

Where do the extra fans go then when a car already has two behind the radiator?

In the original documentation it said that tow bar prep included an extra fan, other than that I haven't a clue.

Perhaps originally they only had one fan, or possibly that the fans are bigger with TB prep?

Only going on what we were originally told and was in the brochure.

Thanks Llanigraham that's good to know there is a 13 pin swing down socket fitted.

I dont need split charging either so when my Yeti arrives I just need to have a detachable tow bar fitted and coding.

There's been no mention of fans so maybe its standard now or just a fanciful addition to the brochure!

It's a bit cold and dark out their at the moment, but I was under the impression that tow bar prep did not include any final wiring, it just added a wiring loom from the front to the back of the car into which you would plug whatever final wiring you wants (single/double 7 pins or 13 pin). Every post I have read, including wiring figment diagrams etc, have said you need to have the boot interior trim out to fit the final wiring, including whatever plug you have gone for.

I'll be out on my hands and knees tomorrow to see what's what but will be very surprised if I find a plug there.

Please let this be final.... Towbar prep has electrics to the near side rear of the yeti, it is a block connector behind the near side rear interior trim which needs to be removed to gain access, there is no 13 pin socket from factory, this part of the wiring loom is added when the towbar is fitted... I know what I'm talking about, I've fitted one to my own yeti and to numerous yetis in two skoda dealerships...... Please let this be an end to the constant mis information on this subject........ Sighhhhh

Please let this be final.... Towbar prep has electrics to the near side rear of the yeti, it is a block connector behind the near side rear interior trim which needs to be removed to gain access, there is no 13 pin socket from factory, this part of the wiring loom is added when the towbar is fitted... I know what I'm talking about, I've fitted one to my own yeti and to numerous yetis in two skoda dealerships...... Please let this be an end to the constant mis information on this subject........ Sighhhhh

Thanks fireblade that would make sense, presume that block connector cannot be used to provide split charging but is fine for everything else.

How many contacts does the block connector have?

Cheers

I have never been asked to fit split charging on a yeti, but I would definitely check the wiring to the block connector first , just in case. Off the top of my head I carnt remember how many contacts are in the block connecter, but it is square in appearance and I'd say approx 16 slots in the connecter. The towbar and wiring is very easy to fit , ( with towbar prep ) and can all be fitted in 1 1/2 hours max.

So does this once again highlight large gaps in SUK's knowledge or capabilities in customer service? I swear, if they told me the Yeti had four wheels fitted I'd go and count them to be sure.

I had mine fitted by MTS. The same people my dealer uses.

Took about 3 hours but I had no prep.

Very neat and no sign of any trim marks, squeaks or rattles........touch wood!

Oh dear! The saga continues. I went through this when I bought my Yeti. I asked for a definitive answer about what was included in towbar prep. I was given so many answers by SUK that I contacted Skoda Cz and they referred me back to VAG UK!

My conclusion was that not only do the dealers not know what is provided but neither does the manufacturer.

The towbar kit comes with towbar, 13 pin electrics (which includes the drop down socket as this is NOT part of towbar prep) a towball cover and a pair of cotton gloves. Towbar prep does include the cut out door in the rear bumper but I've never been able to discover if there are any additional fans fitted.

From what I have been able to gather from the guys who actually fit the towbar the wiring loom does have a socket that the towbar wiring plugs into but not a feed for split charging and this and a suitable relay has to be added.

Recoding also has to be done and this has generated so much traffic that I imagine every dealer now knows what has to be done, but not necessarily how to do it!

Without taking trim panels off I cannot prove what has been done to provide split charging, nor can I determine what if any additional fans are fitted. However, it works and I'm now leaving well alone until it's time for a new Yeti..................................

Fred

I understood the fans were the same in number but just uprated.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Llanigraham's point about not needing split charging because he does not really need the fridge cooling/battery charging while on the move is probably the view of most caravanners, myself included. However I am thinking of buying a new caravan which has ATC Trailer Control and I'm led to believe that the split charge facilty will be needed to allow it to work. A dealer told me that the ATC draws quite a large current, albeit for a short period, to put on the brakes to control any instability.

So I'm wondering if I need to upgrade my car electrics if I get a new van. I would like to be able to make use of this facilty on any new van. Any views on this?