Hi all

Last weekend, I borrowed a friend's towbar mounted cycle carrier (a Thule Velocompact 927, if it makes any difference!) for a weekend away.

This has a built-in light board, and is fitted with 7-pin electrics. I used a 7-pin to 13-pin adapter to connect it to the car (a 150 TDI SEL Exec 4x4 estate).

After loading up, we did a lights test.

Indicators, sidelights, brakelights all worked OK on the carrier.

However, when I tried the rear foglight, there was nothing on the carrier - and no foglight on the rear of the car either.

I had ignition on, engine running, light switch turned to headlights "on" (not auto) and pulled out two notches (front & rear foglamp warnings lits on the dash).

Car detected a "trailer" OK, as an image of the trailer was shown on the reversing camera graphic, BSD was disabled and the ability to open the tailgate remotely was disabled.

Is this expected behaviour - that the car foglight doesn't illuminate ?

Maybe the cycle carrier doesn't have a foglight, yet when the car detects a trailer is coupled, the car foglight doesn't illuminate ? I could understand this being the case as if you were towing a caravan, you perhaps wouldn't want the bright red glow reflecting back at you...

I don't have the handbook to check. Also haven't checked it again since without the carrier fitted.

Edited 30 March, 201610 yr by muddyboots

That is how they are coded to work, I too can only assume the light board had no fog light??

It´s normal behaviour, that the car disables the rear foglights when something is connected to the trailer socket. You don´t get a foglight option on the "towed device" when using a 7-pin socket. Can be done with 13-pin.

Sounds like it's all as expected then, thanks!

Looking at buying my own rear cycle carrier, if I do it'll be a 13-pin one with rear foglight.

Trailers below a certain width don't need a foglight, so the boards tend to be made along those lines.

If it's the little square light units, they don't have foglights in.

How bright is your back bike light? Mines as bright as a car foglight, just spin it round and turn it on if you hit fog.

Fog lights are the most badly used bit of car kit. ie the numpties who insist turning them on in rain.

Fog lights are the most badly used bit of car kit. ie the numpties who insist turning them on in rain.

Hear Hear

The 7-pin socket does not have fog or reversing light capability. This is one of the reasons why I went for a 13-pin genuine Skoda socket.

Once you've used the 13-pin physical socket, you'll never go back to a 7-pin one. The simple twist connection is so much more secure and reliable.

Simply clever. (I know Skoda didn't invent it).

For the record, I've got an Atera Strada DL3+1 with rear fog and reversing lights.

Edited 1 April, 201610 yr by KBPhoto