Tow Bar Electrics
 

We have just purchased a new Audi as above with factory fitted tow bar and
13 pin socket.
Unfortunately the car has come with the socket wired for road lights and pin
9 wired as a switched live with no pins in 10,11 &12.

The standard says the pin 10 should be switched for the fridge and pin 11
should be the earth for pin 10.

Below is the response from Audi customer service regarding the problem. My
question to them was that I only needed the wire that is currently on pin 9
transferring to pin 10 and an earth putting on pin 11 to enable the fridge
to operate whilst towing. I am not bothered about a permanent live to pin 9
as I don't need to charge the battery whilst towing. What I find strange is
that the kit to wire socket correctly is quoted at £205 by Audi yet they say
it is not approved by Audi UK, so why sell the kit.
Also this requirementy of an extra kit is not mentioned in any brochures or
in fact by the Salesman.

Has anyone else had problems with Audi with reference to tow bar electrics?
'An upgrade on the towing electrics is available and can be fitted by any
approved centre or electrician. However Audi UK does not approve this, and
your insurance company may need to be informed as the security of the
vehicle may become compromised.

Once the modification has been carried out there also may be concerns
regarding the functionality of the electric system on the vehicle'.

Re: Tow Bar Electrics
 

Not same issue, but I did an install of Towsure towbar to A6 Avant '51

Trouble was that the reversing bleepers interfered with the towbar, and have
now been disconnected. So if anyone knows an answer to this one it would be
appreciated too. The Audi garage said that I should have bought an Audi
"disconnectable" one for £ loads.

David



"Peugeot 406" <hurst@briden.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dstm26$sbf$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> We have just purchased a new Audi as above with factory fitted tow bar and
> 13 pin socket.
> Unfortunately the car has come with the socket wired for road lights and
> pin
> 9 wired as a switched live with no pins in 10,11 &12.
>
> The standard says the pin 10 should be switched for the fridge and pin 11
> should be the earth for pin 10.
>
> Below is the response from Audi customer service regarding the problem. My
> question to them was that I only needed the wire that is currently on pin
> 9
> transferring to pin 10 and an earth putting on pin 11 to enable the fridge
> to operate whilst towing. I am not bothered about a permanent live to pin
> 9
> as I don't need to charge the battery whilst towing. What I find strange
> is
> that the kit to wire socket correctly is quoted at £205 by Audi yet they
> say
> it is not approved by Audi UK, so why sell the kit.
> Also this requirementy of an extra kit is not mentioned in any brochures
> or
> in fact by the Salesman.
>
> Has anyone else had problems with Audi with reference to tow bar
> electrics?
> 'An upgrade on the towing electrics is available and can be fitted by any
> approved centre or electrician. However Audi UK does not approve this, and
> your insurance company may need to be informed as the security of the
> vehicle may become compromised.
>
> Once the modification has been carried out there also may be concerns
> regarding the functionality of the electric system on the vehicle'.
>
>

Re: Tow Bar Electrics
 

Not same issue, but I did an install of Towsure towbar to A6 Avant '51

Trouble was that the reversing bleepers interfered with the towbar, and have
now been disconnected. So if anyone knows an answer to this one it would be
appreciated too. The Audi garage said that I should have bought an Audi
"disconnectable" one for £ loads.

David



"Peugeot 406" <hurst@briden.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dstm26$sbf$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> We have just purchased a new Audi as above with factory fitted tow bar and
> 13 pin socket.
> Unfortunately the car has come with the socket wired for road lights and
> pin
> 9 wired as a switched live with no pins in 10,11 &12.
>
> The standard says the pin 10 should be switched for the fridge and pin 11
> should be the earth for pin 10.
>
> Below is the response from Audi customer service regarding the problem. My
> question to them was that I only needed the wire that is currently on pin
> 9
> transferring to pin 10 and an earth putting on pin 11 to enable the fridge
> to operate whilst towing. I am not bothered about a permanent live to pin
> 9
> as I don't need to charge the battery whilst towing. What I find strange
> is
> that the kit to wire socket correctly is quoted at £205 by Audi yet they
> say
> it is not approved by Audi UK, so why sell the kit.
> Also this requirementy of an extra kit is not mentioned in any brochures
> or
> in fact by the Salesman.
>
> Has anyone else had problems with Audi with reference to tow bar
> electrics?
> 'An upgrade on the towing electrics is available and can be fitted by any
> approved centre or electrician. However Audi UK does not approve this, and
> your insurance company may need to be informed as the security of the
> vehicle may become compromised.
>
> Once the modification has been carried out there also may be concerns
> regarding the functionality of the electric system on the vehicle'.
>
>

Re: Tow Bar Electrics
 

Not same issue, but I did an install of Towsure towbar to A6 Avant '51

Trouble was that the reversing bleepers interfered with the towbar, and have
now been disconnected. So if anyone knows an answer to this one it would be
appreciated too. The Audi garage said that I should have bought an Audi
"disconnectable" one for £ loads.

David



"Peugeot 406" <hurst@briden.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dstm26$sbf$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> We have just purchased a new Audi as above with factory fitted tow bar and
> 13 pin socket.
> Unfortunately the car has come with the socket wired for road lights and
> pin
> 9 wired as a switched live with no pins in 10,11 &12.
>
> The standard says the pin 10 should be switched for the fridge and pin 11
> should be the earth for pin 10.
>
> Below is the response from Audi customer service regarding the problem. My
> question to them was that I only needed the wire that is currently on pin
> 9
> transferring to pin 10 and an earth putting on pin 11 to enable the fridge
> to operate whilst towing. I am not bothered about a permanent live to pin
> 9
> as I don't need to charge the battery whilst towing. What I find strange
> is
> that the kit to wire socket correctly is quoted at £205 by Audi yet they
> say
> it is not approved by Audi UK, so why sell the kit.
> Also this requirementy of an extra kit is not mentioned in any brochures
> or
> in fact by the Salesman.
>
> Has anyone else had problems with Audi with reference to tow bar
> electrics?
> 'An upgrade on the towing electrics is available and can be fitted by any
> approved centre or electrician. However Audi UK does not approve this, and
> your insurance company may need to be informed as the security of the
> vehicle may become compromised.
>
> Once the modification has been carried out there also may be concerns
> regarding the functionality of the electric system on the vehicle'.
>
>