Hi I have just bought a 2018 Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 Sportline with factory fitted tow-bar and when I took it to Skoda yesterday for a check they found that the electrics on the towing socket was not working, they tested it with a socket tester and there was no power, they couldn’t understand that there was no fault code showing. The only fault code that came up was for Digital radio antenna. They want to charge me £96 for a diagnostic for the tow-bar and another £96 for an diagnostic of the digital radio antenna. I don’t mind paying for a diagnostic but I thought an hour of testing would cover both test. The other thing I only bought the car on the 1st of February 22 with 90 day warranty, would the dealer ( not Skoda ) have to sort this out ? 

thanks for any advice

Welcome.

You have a Warranty from where you bought the car

. Read your T&C's on the Warranty, know what is covered and then have them make the car fit for purpose and since there is a tow bar the electrics need to work. 

 

If you are going to a Skoda Main Dealers which you have done already but to have the diagnostics done than chose one that is a Participating Dealer for Fixed Servicing & Maintenance.

The first 30 minutes of a diagnostic is £60. 

Just get the Tow Bar electrics checked.           If they are not going to play the game then maybe best go to an Auto Electrician. 

Hi thanks for the reply, I am taking it back to the car dealer for them to do a free diagnostic test the only problem is they can’t fit me in until the 13th April. The only thing that bothers me with the warranty is it states.

mechanical breakdown where the fault (s) could be reasonably stated to have existed before the commencement of this warranty or the breakdown or failure of any components not covered by the warranty.

does the towbar not working come as a failure on the mot ?

Use your consumer rights at the seller. Nobody is testing a towbar at a MOT, it can be folded away, detached or fixed with no electrics and maybe just there as a bike carrier on vehicles not approved for towing.

Edited 24 February, 20224 yr by roottoot

The electrical socket on the factory fitted towbar is quite clever, there may not be power there if there doesn't need to be.

 

An electrical socket tester (depending on which one they used) is not always indicative of a fault.

 

Have you tried plugging an actual trailer or trailer lighting board into it and seeing if it works? The car will only provide power if it thinks it needs to.

silver1011 

I didn’t no about that and I don’t think the Skoda dealer I took it to yesterday new that, I just asked them to check it because I want to get a bike carrier and I wanted to make sure it worked. They said they tried 2 different leads just in case one was faulty so not sure what leads they tried but if it wasn’t a lighting board that may well be why they couldn’t understand it not working and no fault showing. I will have to see if I can find someone who may have one for me to try. 👍🏻

@BigMark1969Usually it is a Test Light Board that is plugged in to test if the plug is working, sometimes even a full length trailer light board.

7 hours ago, silver1011 said:

The electrical socket on the factory fitted towbar is quite clever, there may not be power there if there doesn't need to be.

 

An electrical socket tester (depending on which one they used) is not always indicative of a fault.

 

Have you tried plugging an actual trailer or trailer lighting board into it and seeing if it works? The car will only provide power if it thinks it needs to.

I've also found this when I thought I had a problem; caravan lights were not working, I used a multimeter to try and check and there was no power - thought I had a problem but took it to a towbar fitter and he plugged in his test kit (full light box ext) and everything worked. It's just 'smart' tow bar electrics.

Turned out that the caravan plug had corroded and that needed replacing.