T6.1 2023> Towbar Wiring

[Argent]

Hi Guys,

I’ve ordered up a Tow Trust tow bar and dedicated ECS wiring kit (VW28907U) for my T6.1 (10/2023).

I was about to embark on installing it but saw a few notices about not coding it and no coding required. Confused, I started googling it and it seems that the version pre 2023 can be coded and 07/23> can’t. Could someone shine some light on this? Is there anyway I could get a trailer working with the parking sensors and infotainment (showing trailer)?

 

[Pauly]

Do you have a link to the electric kit you bought ?

 

[Argent]

Do you have a link to the electric kit you bought ?

VW28907U

MULTIKIT

www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk

 

[Pauly]

No coding because it’s not a vehicle specific kit and not made for a Transporter, it’s a generic VW kit
If you read the description it’s says it does not cut off the foglight and the parking sensors get some kind of manual switch to override them ?

 

[Argent]

Thanks @Pauly It's listed on towbars-uk.co.uk as dedicated vehicle electrics which is frustrating. (I believed dedicated vehicle kit means works with all the van electrics but apparently just means it has the right connectors to plug in). I spoke to them on the phone this morning and he told me any vehicle post 07/23 can't be coded even by VW which I thought was a strange comment.

I'm returning the kit and have purchased this wiring kit from PF Jones - Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 11/2019 Onwards 7 Pin PF Jones Dedicated Wiring Kit WOTP so hopefully that will work correctly. The person who I spoke on the phone too seems to think it can be coded.

 

[Pauly]

I would agree with everything you and they are saying and think thats the best plan of action

 

[Argent]

So I managed to install the wiring and coded it and I believe it is all working (can see trailer on screen when in reverse), indicators and brakes work on trailer board however I do have the following errors on the screen now.

• Please check brake fluid level. (Consult vehicle wallet.)
• Please check front-left turn signal.
• Please check left daytime running lights.

I have also noticed that the temperature displayed on the MFD shows now as -16.5°C.

Is this a VCDS issue, have I got wiring wrong (I would expect none of the other lights to work on the the rear or trailer) or could I simply have blown a fuse or bulb when disconnecting/reconnecting battery ?

Encoding Gateway_19 Installations List -> 69 Trailer hitch control module -> installed
Encoding EZE_09 (electronic central electric controller): Access authorisation: 31347 Adaptation -10 Adaptation channel: networking trailer connection device -> installed Trailer hitch control module -> installed
Encoding DIS_13 (distance control) Access authorisation 20103 Encoding Control module for trailer -> installed
Encoding ZKS_46 (central module comfort system) Trailer control unit -> installed
Encoding EPH_10 (PDC controller) Trailer ->Trailer device can be removed manually

 

[Pauly]

Does everything in the trailer work as expected ?
This should include disabled reverse sensors/van rear foglight etc

What does a fault scan show ?

 

[Argent]

Attached. Forget the speaker as I have that out at the moment. Interesting that I also don't have a horn.

 

[Pauly]

Hmm, quite varied, doubt its a fuse as affected circuits are spread out
If there was no faults before you started then its fair to assume they are a consequence of the towbar install ?

Have you tried clearing them to see what comes back, if they all return then guess you need to start back tracking and troubleshooting it, my first steps would be to tak eit for a drive and make sure it starting and driving ok then make sure the battery has a decent charge and not getting low followed by reverting coding changes and unplugging all the towbar kit, then reset everything and go for another drive and see where your at

 

[Argent]

So in the interest of helping anyone else in this situation, after spending about an hour checking fuses, wires, unplugging and plugging connectors I decided to speak to PFJones who like us were stumped. They spoke to the technical team of the company that produces the wiring kit. They advised to remove the red/black connector from their supplied connector and wire it back into the BCM-B module slot 10. After this everything works again as normal.

It's nice to know I didn't mess up ^^

TLDR: Skip Option 1 BCM-B in the PFJones wiring diagram (which ironically is the hardest part of the whole install).

 

[Pauly]

Good to hear you got it sorted mate