Hi,

 

Had a towbar fitted by the main dealer (Westfalia Detatchable one). My car will shortly be due back to the dealer as it’s on PCP and wondered if anyone has a how to guide on removing the towbar? I paid for it so technically belongs to me and not the Finance company.

is it just a case of removing and unclipping things, or will programming need to be done too?

It very much depends on how it was fitted.

 

There are various options from splicing into the cars existing wiring, using a dedicated electronics box (mobile fitters usual preference) or utilising a factory fitted 'towbar preparation' system (the wiring from the battery / CANBUS to the rear of the car).

 

If it's a PCP (or PCH) car then Skoda will insist that the car is returned to standard prior to collection, so that will involve the removal (not just disabling) of the wiring and electronics. As most of it is hidden just disconnecting it will probably suffice, but depending on how it was fitted will determine if it needs the coding altering first. If the CANBUS has been programmed to expect a towbar to be there and it is removed then you might get an error flag up on the dash.

 

Also, was the bumper cut to fit the towbar? If so then this will need fixing. Skoda Finance told me that I could cut the bumper, but the towbar would need to stay on the car when returned. If the towbar was removed, leaving the hole, then I'd need to replace the bumper.

 

Another consideration is that it is very likely the rear bumper was removed to fit the towbar mounting bracket. To remove it (if you're planning to sell it) means you'll need the bracket and therefore will need to remove the rear bumper to do so.

 

All-in-all it's a bit of a faff, the cost and effort to remove it is unlikely to be recouped by selling it.

 

This was why I never bothered fitting one to our leased Octavia, I knew I was unlikely to get enough use out of it to justify the £400 I was quoted.

Cheers, this was fitted using dedicated wiring at double the cost you were quoted so if it’s poss me to get it removed I will. Not sure if the bumper has been cut as it a bottom entry removable type but will have to check. I seem the think i will have to remove bumper to get it off and possibly some inside trim to get to the wiring!

Did the car have towbar prep, this can be checked via a code on a sticker in the boot.

 

To physically remove the towbar from memory you have to remove the rear light clusters, to be able to remove the towbar. You then refit the rear crash bar thing back to the rear of the car. Then you can unplug the towbar wiring from inside the boot area out of the towbar prep ECU.

 

I fitted mine 4 years ago, and i too have the same removal of the towbar from my existing Octavia, in order to be able to refit it to my new replacement Octy. But this time with the benefit of hindsight i have ordered the new car with towbar prep.

What would this sticker say on it to check?

 

i watched a couple of time lapse vids showing bumper off, lights out, l/h interior boot side (I assume this is where wiring hides). My only concern is getting an error on dash if I do this. If it did indeed have two bar prep would this then not need any programming

Did you retain the crashbar? This has to be removed before fitting the towbar.  This has to be refitted when the towbar is removed.

No, as it was fitted by the dealer I guess it just got tossed in the spares area! Is this something that I could buy perhaps?

When I got my towbar fitted by scallop towing in Shrewsbury they gave me the crash bar back. Mine was a fixed brink towbar with dedicated wiring.

Maybe you could ask your dealer if they have one you could have they have that they recently removed from a other towbar fitted car, especially since they kept the one belonging to your car, would not surprise  if they sell it as a new part as mine still looks brand new, guess being hidden behind the bumper keeps it protected and clean.

Edited 5 April, 20188 yr by POWYSWALES