13pin towing socket pin outs

[phiL&K]

Had factory fitted towbar with 'single electrics' using 13 pin socket.

In the socket pins 10, 11 and 12 are missing.

Purchased additional wiring kit from skoda which gives a permanent 12v feed (red - battery charge), ign switched feed (orange - fridge)and an additional earth(black).

Manual states that orange wire goes to pin 10, black wire to pin 11 and the red wire to pin 9.

That seemed fine to me, however when I opened up the socket pin 9 has a wire already located there (Red with yellow stripe). This wire is not sufficiently thick enough to carry the current required for the battery feed to the van.!!

Question is, what is this wire for and where should it be?

Or has anyone got a full wire colour chart or the correct pinouts with the additional van wiring installed.

Any help would be appreciated as skoda have not been too helpful with this.

[Exhausted]

10 is Power Supply (Ignition switched) this goes to 12S pin 6 fridge.
11 is Earth return for pin 10 this goes to 12S pin 7 fridge earth return.
9 is Power supply sready and goes to 12S pin 4.

I note that the cable spec for all of these is 1.5mm.

I don't have any colour codings but 1.5mm wire will carry 16A. It may look thinner than normal as the cable may be using a thinner but tougher plastic sheathing.

Check to see if pin 9 is powered all of the time and if so I guess you will be OK as it should be fused at 15A.

[phiL&K]

Thanks for your comments.

Skoda admit they have had problems with this before, but fail to know how to fix it.

My only option at the moment is to remove the red/yellow wire from pin 9 and place the red wire from the new kit instead. Pin 12 is not used on the 13-pins sockets so could place it there as a temp location.

Just need to check that skoda have placed all the other wires in the correct place direct from the factory first.

[Exhausted]

Pin 12 does have a function - but I don't know of anything that uses it -- yet.

It is called Coding Coupled Trailer and goes to 12S pin 2. So as long as your 12S pin 2 is vacant then good idea.

[Marcus100]

I'm glad I insisted on twin electrics!

Hope you get it sorted, certainly heard of other folks having similar problems, and not just Skoda.

[mdk1]

Yep, will be fun and games when all new 'vans come with single 13 pin plug for both electrics.

[Marcus100]

Glad i'll have a 2008 van! All the problems will be sorted by the time we get round to changing again. Probably!

[andypollard]

Contacted Bailey today; the new 13 pin connector is not being fitted until next September. Ah well.
Andy P

[Marcus100]

Yes its to come in with the 2009 model year. As I said above hopefully by the time we come to change our imminent 2008 model all the issues will be sorted out.

[mdk1]

Marcus, your probably change again by then.

[Marcus100]

Well stranger things have happened!

[y Me]

Paid a small mortgage to have the Skoda removeable tow bar and single electric socket with twin elecric adapter for my 1999 caravan. Used it for the first time recently and noticed no buzzer when indicators are in use, all other functions ok. Do you think this is a fault or is an indicator buzzer now not necessary - thanks?

[Marcus100]

You must have some means of knowing that the indicators are working by law. Most times these days its an audible buzzer, but some use a dashboard light.

I have a buzzer, but mine is a Brink bracket not the Skoda one.

I would get your dealer on the job on this one.

[Exhausted]

Skoda (and maybe other VAG cars) do it differently. When you are connected to your trailer you get no sound when indicating BUT if a trailer indicator bulb blows the you do! Connect up the car to the trailer and then remove a trailer indicator bulb to find out.

Don't forget to report your findings back here!

[Gizmo68]

Originally Posted by phiL&K

Any help would be appreciated

Sell the caravan & stop holding us all up on the road!


Sorry couldn't resist it

[Marcus100]

Originally Posted by Gizmo68

Sell the caravan & stop holding us all up on the road!


Sorry couldn't resist it

Ha ha how original!

Got 12 holidays planned so far for next year, more will be arranged on the spur of the moment, the happy life of the caravanner!

[Marcus100]

Originally Posted by Exhausted

Skoda (and maybe other VAG cars) do it differently. When you are connected to your trailer you get no sound when indicating BUT if a trailer indicator bulb blows the you do! Connect up the car to the trailer and then remove a trailer indicator bulb to find out.

Don't forget to report your findings back here!

Now you mention I had heard that before somewhere. I think my dad's X-Type Jag has a similar system with factor fitted towbar.

[phiL&K]

Thought I would update on the original part of this post.

Skoda admitted they had overlooked this problem. After insisting that I purchase a £90 extended wiring kit from them.

Pin 10 (Orange) and 11 (brown) were all that were required.

Pin 9 was part of the factory wiring and is correct.

Tried and tested on my new van recently, with no problems.
No indication on the dashboard or a sound when indicating, however will try, failing a bulb to see if it is noticed.

Incidentally, programmed fogs to turn off when the trailer is connected using vagcom.

Thanks all for your constructive comments.

(caravanners get used to non-constructive comments after a while!!)

[No Waiting]

and if you disconect the electrics to the caravan when the car is locked the alarm goes off....

To make things neater, you could alway convert your 'van so it has a simbgle 13pin plug - I've done this and it's much neater that having the 12N & 12S plugs hanging around...

[No Waiting]

Originally Posted by phiL&K

(caravanners get used to non-constructive comments after a while!!)

Likewise you get used to the folk who overtake you thinking you're the one holding the traffic up only to find that it's a tractor/combine etc