Hi guys, I have fitted to my 2011 FL Scout, at great expense,  a Westfalia Towbar and 13 Pin electrics,

 

I fitted myself with a propper Loom and all the gubbins (not spliced and diced) into the fuse box, the can-bus and all that jazz

 

As the 13 Pin is subject to MOT testing (just the lights so Im led to believe) I will require the dash to show that there is a trailer fitted by way of illuminating extra arrows on the dash for indicators (again I am led to believe that this does exist)

 

Can anybody with VAG Com or similar coding device assist me with this or is it a dealer only thing.

 

Didn't wire a buzzer in becuase I didn't have one and the noise would drive me round the bend....

 

Got until November for the MOT but I want it sorted ...

 

If anyone can assist either by way of information or meeting up one weekend and coding it for me would be greatly appreciated,  Can happily provide lunch and ale at an establishment as way of payment.

 

Regards

 

 

 

I have a professionally fitted, and coded, removable Witter bar on my Estate and I do not have any indication on the dash when the caravan is coupled up and I indicate. The car passed the MOT last March without any problems but as the towbar is removable it was not fitted at the time. I believe that the requurement is to know that the trailer lights are working. As they are connected to the Canbus any failure of a bulb would show up on the dash. It is option 5 on this site http://www.rightconnections.co.uk/trailer-indicator-failure .

Only reason I ask is that I bought this wiring kit for the car:

 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/skoda-octavia-all-models-13-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-june-2004-2013-29220508rc.html

 

and it states that after coding I will get the trailer LED on dash, pdc sensors will not activate when towing and fog cut off.

 

 

Is there anybody on here that has the right computer equipment to do the coding or is it a dealer / specialist only thing

 

Thanks

Reading that link above, the website says this:

 

"Dedicated wiring kits operate three types of warning device (model dependant), audible bleeper, visual dash warning light when indicating and the original indicator warning light will flash at twice the usual rate when a trailer indicator has failed."

 

This reads to me that you get one of the three features, not all three. Are you sure you don't instead of the in-dash warning light get the fast flash instead?

 

I also understand that as the Octavia has a CANBUS monitored blown-bulb warning system (warning light on the dash) that this can also be used for the trailer lights i.e. if the indicator on the trailer fails it prompts the dash warning light. Therefore no additional warning lights or beepers are needed.

 

Looking on page 26 of the Octavia manual (which identifies all of the possible in-dash warning lights) there doesn't appear to be one dedicated to the trailer lights.

Edited 14 July, 201510 yr by silver1011

There is no light on the dash and no buzzer for indicators.

If you have PDC with OPS you will get (with correctly coded dedicated electrics) a visual display on the headunit (Bolero, Columbus, etc.)

None of the cars with towbar a I've owned have had any form of visual or audible indication of a trailer attached, only minibuses I've driven have.

PDC? OPC?

 

Ok so I will get a symbol or warning on the DVD screen but not in the binnacle .

 

Thats fine, but I will need it coding at a dealer for this to work....

 

Just don't want to have it fail an MOT on something so trivial as this

 

Cheers

PDC? OPC?

Park Distance Control. Optical Parking System.

The parking sensors and the display on the headunit.

Ok so I will get a symbol or warning on the DVD screen but not in the binnacle .

Basically, yes.

Thats fine, but I will need it coding at a dealer for this to work....

Just don't want to have it fail an MOT on something so trivial as this

Cheers

Anyone with VCDS can code it - probably better than the dealers do from what I have read on this forum...

I don't see how it will fail an MOT because there is no display on the instrument panel. The operation of the lights on the 13-pin socket is part of the MOT though.

Ok Thanks

 

I spoke to Skoda today who said the following:

 

"The 13 Pin is not part of the MOT" (I know however that it is... so I have no idea what they were playing at)

"For the dash to show the indicator arrows etc (model dependant) you have to buy the SKODA  wiring kit and control module. This then gets coded to the car and then it all works in unison... "

 

..... I have on my car a "universal" wiring kit which plugs into the canbus etc and has a bypass relay.. so the vehicle and towing electrics are separate units... to cut a long story short, he said that this can not be coded to tell the car I am towing and therefor the ABS and such like can't be programmed to respond to towed items...

 

 

Just thought I'd share my findings... I am going to reluctantly install a buzzer (deep inside the boot lol) to keep the MOT people happy just incase...

 

Rob

I have an official Skoda wiring kit fitted.

No buzzer. No dash light.

Just the display on the Columbus.

I seem to recall that the MOT specifies that the socket must be secure, free from damage and the appropriate controls operate the correct lights on the trailer (a plug in test meter is used). There is no mention of any trailer warning lights on the dash.

This confirms what I thought.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_190.htm

On re inspection of my wiring kit i have a bcm body control module which i believe means I can have it coded to operate correctly...

Anyone with vcds in the midlands fancy helping me out?

Cheers

I'm in Bromyard, Herefordshire and have VCDS if you want to head over to me.

That would be great ! Are you about Sunday evening?

Unless you fancy doing it one evening ?

I have an official Skoda wiring kit fitted.

No buzzer. No dash light.

Just the display on the Columbus.

 

Am I reading this right, confirmation that the indicators on the trailer are working is displayed on the radio head unit?

 

I am aware that the parking sensors display on the radio i.e. distance to the object etc. and accompanied by the beeping but isn't the OP making a particular reference to the operation of the trailer lights?

That would be great ! Are you about Sunday evening?

Unless you fancy doing it one evening ?

An evening is best at the moment. I'll PM you.

Am I reading this right, confirmation that the indicators on the trailer are working is displayed on the radio head unit?

I am aware that the parking sensors display on the radio i.e. distance to the object etc. and accompanied by the beeping but isn't the OP making a particular reference to the operation of the trailer lights?

No. There is nothing to indicate the indicators are working other than the standard dash light in all cars (irrespective of a trailer attached).

The Columbus / Bolero display shows the vehicle rear end (unless front parking sensors are also fitted, then it shows the whole car) with the A-frame of a trailer attached.

The buzzer for the rear sensors and the PDC is disabled (not sure about front sensors as I don't have them).

The only warning about indicators on the trailer is if a bulb is blown or broken, in which case I assume that a message appears on the Maxidot screen (or a little bulb warning light if you don't have Maxidot).

Ah OK, I'm with you now.

 

Just out of curiosity then, if it is a requirement that the driver is alerted to a failed indicator bulb on the trailer, how is this done?

 

Is it a fast flash of all the indicators, or does it utilise the same blown bulb warning light on the dash used for the cars bulbs?

I don't know. Sorry.

When I've had bulbs blown on the car (not trailer) I just had a warning lamp on the dash (non-Maxidot). I'd imagine that with Maxidot you'd get the same lamp plus a written message telling you which one and where. Even on the trailer.

Have dedicated electrics and a trailer / bike rack is still new to me. Sorry.

Ive had a bulb out, and it has the orange bulb symbol and "check XYZ bulb" appears in the screen between the speedo and rev counter...

I too have had the orange warning lamp on the dash when a bulb on the car has blown. As mentioned on cars with Maxidot the orange warning is accompanied by a written message identifying the exact bulb.

 

Given that there are no additional bulbs built in to the cluster to specifically cover the trailer lights then I was wondering how, without the usual retrofitted buzzer (as I have), it was possible to alert the driver to a failure of the trailer lights.

 

Hmm, even more intrigued now!

If a indicator bulb fails on the trailer the lights flash twice as fast.

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

Now all sorted and correctly coded (20 mins including before & after scans).

I am impressed that the front parking sensors still work while the tears are disabled. I thought it would, but good to see it in action.

One question, should the reversing lights on the car go off with the trailer attached?

Can't thank you enough for you help KB

 

Just for reference of anyone needs it, here is a pic of what happens when you engage reverse.  Rear Sensors deactivated, Fronts still work (if you have them)

 

One question, should the reversing lights on the car go off with the trailer attached?

I believe so assuming the ones on the trailer are working, I'd also expect it to prevent the cars rear fog light working.