Octavia 2-litre diesel auto, June 2016, under 100 miles  My first post, so be gentle!

 

We took delivery of the car a couple of weeks ago and immediately ordered a towbar to be fitted.  This has caused a couple of issues.

 

1. The dealer didn't seem to understand towbar electrics and kept referring to 8-pin sockets.  (We need 12N and 12S for the caravan.) The kit had to be fitted with either a 7-pin or 8-pin socket, which was news to me.  It turns out he meant a 13-pin socket.  This was duly ordered (and a harness adapter) and a date for fitting was booked.

 

2. We took it in and they estimated 4 hours for the job.  At the end of the day, we phoned them and they asked for an extra day to finish.  In the end, they had it for two full days and then realised they needed an extra bit of wiring, which they had to order separately.  So we got it back with a towbar but no wiring, and another date for fitting the extra harness.  All well and good, except that the car's brake lights were on permanently with the ignition.

 

3. A week later, we took it in for the additional work.  Again, a full day without the car, although to be fair they offered us a courtesy car, but only a manual (my wife needs an auto) so we declined.  Now the towing electrics are fitted and working (at least the 12N part, which I have tested with my trailer lighting board) bit the rear window wiper has stopped working.  I assume that this is related to the work they have done on the wiring loom, as it was working fine before.  I'm going to ring them about this tomorrow.

 

4.It's a detachable towbar, but there is no bag or case for the towing hook when it is taken off and no blanking plate for the socket on the car.  My last car had a detachable Witter, and the towbar came with both of these.  The towing hook is very greasy on the part that fits into the chassis, so we can't leave it rolling around in the boot.  We're currently arguing with them about the blanking plate (they say they left it in the boot, we know they didn't).

 

It's all a bit unsatisfactory, although we are delighted with the car itself.  The dealer is acting as though fitting a towbar is a rare and difficult request (I seriously think it's the first one they have done) but I keep telling myself that Skoda are a European make, and Europeans tow caravans probably more than we do.  I'm pretty sure I know more about towing electrics than they do!  They keep blaming Skoda for lack of info and inaccurate fitting instructions, but I'm a little cynical and I think they are just out of their depth.  I don't want to be harsh on them, as they are extremely nice and helpful people, but I am starting to lose confidence in their technical know-how.

 

I don't have a specific question, just interested in observations and comments from anyone who has experience of this kind of thing.  It's our first Skoda, and I tend to stick with older cars so the CANbus electrics are a bit foreign to me.  Thanks for reading, and sorry that my first post is such a long one.

Can I ask why you didn't have the tow bar fitted when ordered as it is cheaper than dealer fitting afterwards?

 

Had one factory fitted and it has been no problem.

 

With it plugged in you get a picture on the Infotainment of the car and caravan coupling.  Not a real time photograph of course, as there's no camera.

 

You should  get a tow ball cover, a 16 pin to 12N adapter, 2 keys, a blanking plug and a polystyrene gizmo which fits either in the spare wheel or the spare wheel space for all the bits..

Further to the harness adapter would recommend one of these (which I use myself) rather than the "Y" shaped adapter which can make your coupling cables unnecessarily long.

We were told by the dealer that a factory fit towbar could only be with the old 12N electrics, and that a modern 13 pin would have to be dealer fitted. I queried this, as it sounds like complete *******s (Europe haven't used the 12-pin setup for nearly 20 years), but the guy was insistent. The dealer fit was almost £800, so you can see why I want it right. We have a towball cover, keys and Y-shaped adapter, but no blanking plug or anywhere to store the towbar while not in use. The car has the optional space saver spare, if that makes any difference. Will chase up that harness adapter, thanks.

Thanks for the input. It gives me more to go back to the dealer with. I don't anticipate any problems as they have been very accommodating so far, but I'm beginning to doubt their confidence. They have been a Skoda dealer for several years now.

Sorry, that should read 'doubt their competence'.

The more I think about it, the more concerned I am getting. On the very first visit to the dealership, we said we wanted the Octavia to tow our caravan. The salesman was absolutely adamant that this could not be done at the factory. I think I will get onto Skoda GB on the morning to see what's going on. I appreciate the responses, thanks.

Richard

I ordered my Scout with a factory fitted tow bar as like you I tow a caravan , it came fully wired with a 13 pin socket , 12N adaptor, blanking plug for the socket on the car when the hitch is detached and stored its place in the spare wheel insert and has been no problem at all

Thanks William.  I am beginning to think we have been a bit misled over this.

The information from Skoda and standard fitting has been very variable since the Octy 3 came in. I had lots of fruitless conversations with Skoda UK about what was and could be fitted.

As far as I understand it now there are three bits of wiring needed. If your car has "tow bar prep" it will have the necessary wiring from the front of the car to the back. If not you will need this loom and the time it takes to run it front to back.

There are then two looms that plug into this wiring (and other points in the boot area) one for standard wiring and another for the split charging etc all into a 13pin socket.

From the factory mine came with a fully wired (12pins) 13pin socket, the ball fits in the cutout in the spare wheel centre tool kit, 12N adapter, and a square blank to fit in the square hole in the bottom of the bumper. As others have above.

There was a time you could not get a factory tow bar so that may be what the dealer was thinking of but that is certainly not the case now

The last brochure I downloaded had lost the factory fit towbar.

Some of the electrical gremlins are probably down to canbus wiring being swapped around by accident.

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The last brochure I downloaded had lost the factory fit towbar.

Some of the electrical gremlins are probably down to canbus wiring being swapped around by accident.

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Still available on all models except GreenLine £550

The vast majority of franchised Skoda main dealers contract out tow bar work to a local expert, with good reason.

 

This is why if you didn't get the factory fitted set-up it is always best to take it to a tow bar specialist, some one who fits tow bars all day every day.

 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

Reading the posts so far it sounds to me as though you would have gone for the factory kit had you known it was possible to have it how you wanted it. This to me is good grounds for a reduction in the dealers fitted price. You have already been unacceptably inconvenienced. Them blaming Skoda is of no interest to you.

 

£800 is also obscene. I've recently had a quote for a detachable Westfalia swan neck (albeit with single electrics) but fully CANBUS compliant for £380 on our 2016 Octavia estate from a local tow bar specialist.

 

Give Skoda UK a quick call in the morning. Explain the situation and ask them to take over and sort this out for you...

 

 http://www.skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us

Really helpful info, thank you.  The dealership said that they always used a local towbar specialist, one I have used several times myself and which the local Ford dealer uses too.  I was planning to get them to do it, but when I phoned them I spoke to someone I didn't know, who seemed very unclear about the model and fitting.  I stalled and said I would get back to him, then spoke to the Skoda dealer, who confirmed that the specialist had gone out of business.  I decided to go with the dealer fit despite the extra cost, as I reckoned that at least they would know what they were doing (!!!) and any warranty issues weren't fogged up with one company blaming the other for any faults.  Hindsight is indeed wonderful.  Not to exaggerate ... the cost was £765 fitted.

 

I will contact Skoda in the morning and see what they say.  Meanwhile I will get the car back to the dealership to see if they can restore the rear wiper function.  I am on annual leave from work this week, and we were originally planning to go away in the caravan.  We changed our plans for a separate reason, but if we hadn't our plans would have been goosed by all of this.

4 Yrs ago when I ordered the Mk2 VRS, I specified the pre install wiring kit and was going to fit the bar myself - ordered from one of the online dealers. I had some issues with paint and Skoda agreed to fit a proper tow bar.

Easy for the "professional" mobile fitter... He made a complete Bol1cks of it and that coupled with the dealer making a complete Bol1cks of the coding I decided to get a factory fit for the MK3 Vrs (and buy the VCDS) - £550 and complete.

Well worth the money and no repeat visits.

The sales gent suggested the local tow bar fitters as the dealership had an issue 4 yrs ago with a mobile fitter......... So he was told to go and visit a taxidermist.

It looks like all the dealers want to do it local, as there is a bit of profit to be made. 

Richard

I ordered my Scout with a factory fitted tow bar as like you I tow a caravan , it came fully wired with a 13 pin socket , 12N adaptor, blanking plug for the socket on the car when the hitch is detached and stored its place in the spare wheel insert and has been no problem at all

Same here with my vRS estate.  Factory option I selected and fully integrated into the cars systems too.  A place to put the towbar in the spare wheel (a selected option too).  I ordered my car on the 5th March this year.

Right, I have spoken to Skoda UK and outlined the issues.  I have a case reference number and a promise of a callback within 24 hours. I've followed it up with an email giving dates and times, and the salesman's actual words, so that they are fully aware.  The car is going back to the dealership on Wednesday to have the rear wiper issue rectified.  I'll post an update when there is more to tell.

 

The car drives beautifully and is a pleasure, but we have totally lost confidence in the dealership. Once the car is out of warranty, it's gone.

Towbars are not "bread & butter" for dealers so as silver1011 mentioned the majority tend to subcontract out. Sounds like your dealer decided to try and make a killing on it by having a go themselves - not only pricing it at a ridiculous price (my third party detachable was £560 on the Superb Mk3) but also making a hash of it.

Toad, we cross-posted.  Following information above, I have found the space in the spare wheel moulding that fits the towbar exactly.  Thank you.  It just needs a plastic bag over the end to keep the grease from getting all over the boot.  I imagine that somewhere on the dealership floor there is a Skoda-branded item that is intended for the job, but we don't have that, so it will have to be a Tesco bag.  I have worked out how to mount and demount the towbar, but crikey you need strong hands!  Not sure how an elderly person would cope.  My wife hasn't got a hope of doing it.

 

Onwards and upwards ...

Towbars are not "bread & butter" for dealers so as silver1011 mentioned the majority tend to subcontract out. Sounds like your dealer decided to try and make a killing on it by having a go themselves - not only pricing it at a ridiculous price (my third party detachable was £560 on the Superb Mk3) but also making a hash of it.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up!

Toad, we cross-posted.  Following information above, I have found the space in the spare wheel moulding that fits the towbar exactly.  Thank you.  It just needs a plastic bag over the end to keep the grease from getting all over the boot.  I imagine that somewhere on the dealership floor there is a Skoda-branded item that is intended for the job, but we don't have that, so it will have to be a Tesco bag.  I have worked out how to mount and demount the towbar, but crikey you need strong hands!  Not sure how an elderly person would cope.  My wife hasn't got a hope of doing it.

 

Onwards and upwards ...

No worries, the end of the towbar that connects to the car on mine is greased (obviously) but not excessively.  I need to see if its leaving much in the spare wheel / jack 'mould' thingy as it goes in upside down.  The tow ball has a cover with it so no issues of a bit of grease getting about there.

 

They are tricky to connect / remove, it took me a few times but now getting the hang of it.

I've tried it in the spare wheel moulding and it's fine.  Just the blanking plate to find and we will be home and dry! I had a detachable Witter on my last car and that came with an instruction booklet, which I kept in the boot and left with the car for the next owner.  That's how it should be IMO.  Nothing at all from Skoda - I really shouldn't have to go on the internet to find out how it works. When we picked it up with the towbar fitted, the guy gave us a 5-minute demo, but he obviously didn't have a clue and it was me that ended up taking it off and on again in their car park.  I've decided I need four hands to mount it.  One to stop the key from turning back to the locked position, one to hold the little button in, one to hold the bar itself and one to depress the lever against a very strong spring ... and one to lift it up into position.  Five hands.  I'm joking, but only a bit.

I had a tow bar fitted to my Scout recently and I am in conversation with the fitter, who one of my local dealer use and recommended, about the ball height being too high. Also, they had problems fitting it to the car. After making the bumper cut, the detachable tow ball and electric socket could not be fully accessed, so they had to cut out some more of the bumper! And then I think they have missed something out on the coding,  as when the car is locked and the electrics are unplugged, the alarm should sound, but this feature does not work. It is a Westfalia detachable and cost £465 (dealer wanted over £1100) fully fitted and nearly fully coded!! I have asked them to suggest to Skoda that the tow bar is not the correct one for the car, because of the height issue and the extra cutting to make it fit. Am waiting for replies to this and will up-date when I get it.

You don't want it greased if your towing anything with a hitch head stabiliser

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Skoda official towbar fitting and remove instructions are in the handbook with pretty pictures..

Rodger, find someone with VCDs and the coding will be sorted. 

Edited 20 June, 20169 yr by the rooster

You don't want it greased if your towing anything with a hitch head stabiliser

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We have an Alko stabiliser and always keep the ball itself clean as a whistle.  It's the bit that fits into the chassis socket that is greased up (and I'm happy with that).