Skoda Octavia I 2002

 

Hey guys!

 

Got a problem with my turn signals tonight, wich I could need some info about.

Borrowed a trailer with a 7-pole connector, and used a adapter to connect it to my 13-pole connector on my car.

I think I might connected it wrong though, and now there's no turn signal anymore on the car, even when disconnected adapter.

The relay is ticking alot faster, like when a bulb is broken, but the lights isnt flashing on either side.

Same thing with the hazard-lights.

The nr.2 fuse for left side parking lights is blown, wich happened last time I borrowed this trailer too, but that time the owner was connecting the adapter for me.

So after replacing the fuse again, all lights including brakelights on the car works fine, except for the turn signal.

 

The trailer-connector/contact is pretty muggy though, and the mounting bracket for it is really rusty and a bit loose.

So my ideas are, short circuit in the trailer-connector/contact, or the flashing relay.

However after some googling, but with no specific brand of car, many are talking about some control module wich feeds the trailer with power that might get blown if connecting a trailer wrong.

So my question is, does my Octavia -02 have this control module, or should I just concentrate on the other stuff I suspect might be the problem?

Does it matter if the mounting bracket for the trailer-contact have good grounding, or does it get grounding from one of the wires?

 

Using the car daily to get to my work, so feeling a sliiight bit of panic to get this sorted fast.

English isnt my first language btw, so apologize beforehand for bad gramma and strange choice of words

 

Urm a short, a relay can't think of much else

You may have a module in the boot for the towbar wiring if it has a dedicated wiring loom to the bar, although it was not seen as totally necessary by some bar fitters. I have one on mine and it is located in the n/s/r - l/h/r wing behind the trim panel there - near where cd changer is mounted.

 

I would be checking the earth to the unit if you have it by the l/h/r lamp. It is also fused separately by an in line fuse above the drivers pedals on a r/h/d car.

You may have a module in the boot for the towbar wiring if it has a dedicated wiring loom to the bar, although it was not seen as totally necessary by some bar fitters. I have one on mine and it is located in the n/s/r - l/h/r wing behind the trim panel there - near where cd changer is mounted.

I would be checking the earth to the unit if you have it by the l/h/r lamp. It is also fused separately by an in line fuse above the drivers pedals on a r/h/d car.

Some just use scotch locks on the other hand :(

Wow, such fast response and help here!

Ok, atleast there shouldnt be some ultra expensive super control unit for this thing then atleast

It's enough with the ABS unit that needs replacing.

 

Im pretty sure this is a original mounted towbar.

Will check around in the boot tomorrow and see if I can follow the wiring loom from the contact and inside then.

A little emberassing, but what does n/ s/ r/ and l/ h/ /r stand for? xD

I do know where the cd changer (was) mounted though, so I guess it's behind that panel somewhere if I have one

N/s/r is passenger side, it stands for near side rear which is the Side nearest the kerb when driving in Britain and lhr will be left hand rear so the same side!

The whole wiring kit including the module was about £90, so not cheap, but not hugely expensive either. Just may be a problem with the fact that they may have stopped making them now if they have no demand.

The whole wiring kit including the module was about £90, so not cheap, but not hugely expensive either. Just may be a problem with the fact that they may have stopped making them now if they have no demand.

Manufacturers legally have to keep parts available for cars until they're 10 years okd

Some just use scotch locks on the other hand :(

Father in laws fabia has that, is hours of fun when he shorts the trailer cable out by dragging it on the ground when driving.

 

Nothing really wrong with the method if it has a bleep or a lamp to let you know the trailer flashes, just my unit behaves like the car would normally and only warns you when you have a fault - like when driving solo.

Manufacturers legally have to keep parts available for cars until they're 10 years okd

Trouble is it was an accessory, not standard fit, not sure if that rule still applies - hopefully for OP it still does. I know you can't order vrs mats now as no longer made.

Oh, never heard that expression before about Near Side Rear. It could get confusing though if there are both r/h/d and l/h/d-cars in the discussion

Im from Sweden, so it's l/h/d here, though for your information, the cd-changer is still placed on the....lets see now.... l/ h/ r/ !

 

I dunno if that expensive module would be worth replacing if that's the problem though.

The car is pretty crappy as it is, and just using it as a get to work-car, and occasionally using it for the trailer.

If that's the case, would it be possible to buy a cheap 7-pole contact instead, and take the power from the rear lights/flashers/breaklights instead, or would it mess things up? :p

Oh, never heard that expression before about Near Side Rear. It could get confusing though if there are both r/h/d and l/h/d-cars in the discussion

Im from Sweden, so it's l/h/d here, though for your information, the cd-changer is still placed on the....lets see now.... l/ h/ r/ !

I dunno if that expensive module would be worth replacing if that's the problem though.

The car is pretty crappy as it is, and just using it as a get to work-car, and occasionally using it for the trailer.

If that's the case, would it be possible to buy a cheap 7-pole contact instead, and take the power from the rear lights/flashers/breaklights instead, or would it mess things up? :p

That's do able a lot of fitters do it over here with scotch lock connectors

Trouble is it was an accessory, not standard fit, not sure if that rule still applies - hopefully for OP it still does. I know you can't order vrs mats now as no longer made.

Ah well, the car is a 2002, and we have 2014 now, so it's over the 10 year limit either way :/

Ah well, the car is a 2002, and we have 2014 now, so it's over the 10 year limit either way :/

Some still stock bits

Our only local dealer here for VAG-parts probably importing their parts from the moon though, with their prices, so it's a great relief I can just install a simple 7-pole contact instead if needed

A million thanks guys, I'll update tomorrow when I've checked it out a bit

What is the legal requirement in Sweden to warn you if a trailer lamp is working or not?, or is there no law as such?. If it is a requirement you could fit an after-market bleep kit (about £5 in uk) and do the rest as Toxicvrs mentioned. If your 7 pin socket is as mucky as you say, a new one of those won't go amiss either.

What is the legal requirement in Sweden to warn you if a trailer lamp is working or not?, or is there no law as such?. If it is a requirement you could fit an after-market bleep kit (about £5 in uk) and do the rest as Toxicvrs mentioned. If your 7 pin socket is as mucky as you say, a new one of those won't go amiss either.

Exactly just remove the old one and get it out of the way! Then fit a 7 pin in the slot and run cables through into the boot floor, identify different lighting wires and scothlick to each one respectively!

This is a basic kit to do what you want, http://www.pfjones.co.uk/single-electrics-kit.html

 

Or if you want to get a little more advanced you could fit one of these in place of the bleep in the first kit.  http://www.pfjones.co.uk/towbar-universal-electrics-bypass-relay.html

What is the legal requirement in Sweden to warn you if a trailer lamp is working or not?, or is there no law as such?. If it is a requirement you could fit an after-market bleep kit (about £5 in uk) and do the rest as Toxicvrs mentioned. If your 7 pin socket is as mucky as you say, a new one of those won't go amiss either.

So that's why people are talking about that, never understood what that was about xD

Well, the only law about it is that the lamps should work, just like on the car, but there's no requirements for any special warning system for them, and nothing I have on my Octavia.

I dont have any warning system for a bulb going out on the car either, wich is a bit suprising since most newer cars do.

I guess newer cars may have a system for lamps on the trailer too though, but then the law would ofcourse only apply to those cars wich has the system when they are built, and not forcing owners of older cars installing it.

Yeah, it's one of those universal kits I had in mind. I installed one of those before, so shouldnt be a problem.

And since I dont have any warning system for bulbs going out, on either the car or trailer I hope I wont even need the by-pass relay

The UK system only notifies a driver whether a turn signal is operating or not, unless you have a special module, all the other lamp functions are left to divine trust that they are working.

 

As you have no requirements by law, and as such no modules to shield your car from trailer damage, I would check your existing trailer socket for shorts between either indicator cable and earth. If you have one and correct it, you may be lucky that it has not done any damage to the vehicle flasher module, which is built into the hazard switch behind the dash.

 

An hour spent changing the 7 pin socket or 13 pin socket if they are used in Sweden and wiring it correctly, then checking the system could be money and time well spent for you.

Why not just solder it instead of scotch locks?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

The UK system only notifies a driver whether a turn signal is operating or not, unless you have a special module, all the other lamp functions are left to divine trust that they are working.

 

As you have no requirements by law, and as such no modules to shield your car from trailer damage, I would check your existing trailer socket for shorts between either indicator cable and earth. If you have one and correct it, you may be lucky that it has not done any damage to the vehicle flasher module, which is built into the hazard switch behind the dash.

 

An hour spent changing the 7 pin socket or 13 pin socket if they are used in Sweden and wiring it correctly, then checking the system could be money and time well spent for you.

Oh, right ofcourse we have the turn signal indicator too, but except that there's no law for anything else atleast on a car like mine.

I remember my dad's old Volvo 245 -82 had such warning indicator for blown bulbs. Must have been pretty high tech in that time :p

 

Well even if the flasher module has been damaged Im perfectly okay with that.

My first thought of this problem after reading about other brands wich had some expensive control unit for feeding the trailer with power, was "okay great!, another couple hundred £ I need to put on this car"

So getting away with a new flasher module and maybe replacing the trailer socket to a good old 7-pole one, lifts a heavy stone on my heart

My main problem when recommending soldering something to other people is that you don't know how good or bad their skills are, and whilst Skotchloks are without doubt crude, it is difficult to screw up when using one by the instructions.

Oh, right ofcourse we have the turn signal indicator too, but except that there's no law for anything else atleast on a car like mine.

I remember my dad's old Volvo 245 -82 had such warning indicator for blown bulbs. Must have been pretty high tech in that time :p

 

Well even if the flasher module has been damaged Im perfectly okay with that.

My first thought of this problem after reading about other brands wich had some expensive control unit for feeding the trailer with power, was "okay great!, another couple hundred £ I need to put on this car"

So getting away with a new flasher module and maybe replacing the trailer socket to a good old 7-pole one, lifts a heavy stone on my heart

Good luck and I hope you sort it.