I have an issue with the towbar fitted on my 2017 T32 Transporter. Originally a panel van it was converted to a campervan in 2021 and had a Westfalia removable towbar fitted. I have a Westfalia bike carrier that I use on the van and on my 2002 Subaru Outback. The carrier works perfectly on the Subaru but when on the van the reversing lights on the van and the carrier do not work. When I disconnect the carrier electrics, the van reversing light still does not work but disconnecting the battery restores them. My VW commercial garage cannot find anything wrong with either van electrics or the carrier. They suggest it may be a ‘coding’ issue but since the towbar is not a VW accessary? (I thought Westfalia were the OEM) are reluctant to change any of the van electrics coding. I see from the forum that the van coding is either 1DO for not prepared for towbar or 1D7 if it is. I have not checked yet but would have hoped the garage would have done. Is this a simple job to rectify? Has anyone any other ideas for a remedy?
Towbar electrics
- Thread starter EvansJim
- Start date
DaltonPrice
New Member
I also want to know.
Pauly, Thanks for response. No, as far as I know it has never worked correctly and I assume now that the installation was not completed correctly. I believe the coding change cuts out the reversing sensors when something is connected to the towbar electrics. At the moment the warning light and sound alarm operate every time I go into reverse with the bike carrier on the back. I haven't used the bike carrier on the Van very often as yet but certainly want to get the issue sorted. Do you (or anyone) know how difficult it is to have the coding change and what it entails?
Coding is easy if you know what you are doing and have a suitable lead/software
Any VW retrofitter in your area will be able to do it (and also see any fault codes etc if there’s a wiring issue) or any local towbar fitter will have a programming tool that connects to (nearly) any vehicle and just inputs the relevant changes for that vehicle
Any VW retrofitter in your area will be able to do it (and also see any fault codes etc if there’s a wiring issue) or any local towbar fitter will have a programming tool that connects to (nearly) any vehicle and just inputs the relevant changes for that vehicle
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