I've had a search through for towbar specific topics but nothing answers my question so here goes...

Last week I had a Witter towbar installed with dedicated electrics and the appropriate coding (or so I thought). I've finally had chance to test today using a 13->2 7 pin connector and all seems to work except the reversing sensors aren't disabled and I don't see an A-frame on the Columbus when I select reverse. All the lights work and the car rear fog is disabled as expected when the caravan is connected (enabled when it isn't) so it's just the sensor configuration.

Has anyone had this? And what was the cause/result?

I'm contacting the fitting company tomorrow to see about having them re-check but thought I'd ask around in the mean-time.

Ta.

When we fit 13pins to volvos the rear fog is disabled when van connected but nothing else is

I don't think its a good idea to disable reverse lights as if its dark you won't be able to see behind you, still need to see where vans going when its dark

There is a thread somewhere that confirms that reverse sensors (not lights) are disabled to stop the irritating beep, and the van shows up in the display.

I don't think its a good idea to disable reverse lights...

I know - it's the sensors I want disabled

There is a thread somewhere that confirms that reverse sensors (not lights) are disabled to stop the irritating beep, and the van shows up in the display.

Thought so - looks like I definitely need to get in touch with the fitters as they're still active and I don't get the a-frame image on the display.

Thanks.

I had a tow bar fitted last year and from what I can remember there is 2 places that need recoding 1 for the fog light and another for the reversing sensors and trailer stability control

This is definately a coding issue. The company that installed the towbar either haven't recoded the vehicle at all or have merely forgotten to recode the sensors. A way to test if any programming has been done is to put an indicator on with a lighting board/caravan/trailer etc plugged in and remove the relevant indicator bulb (obviously be careful as it will be hot). You should then notice a bulb fail light on the dash and the indicator will flash at double rate. We only normally recode the bulb fail indication and sensor cut-off. Usually the fog cut-off and trailer stability is already programmed in from factory.

Edited 31 May, 201214 yr by phil_taylor_towbars

Thanks for all the advice - the half-coding sounds like a likely candidate as the fog light is disabled with the caravan electrics attached as expected. I'm popping it in tomorrow morning for them to check.

All sorted now - took it back in and they tried a different coding option. I now get a picture of a trailer and no warning beep. Not sure how they failed to spot that when they tested the light function originally but no harm done.