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Subject Topic: Touran towing before ECU reprogrammed
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Personnerdbiker
18/2/2017 at 5:45pm
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Without going in to the details, I need to quickly fit a tow bar to my 2007 VW Touran in the next 5 days, which means I can't get it professionally fitted in the time I have.

I'm happy to fit the bar myself and do the electrics; I'm going to buy a VW specific wiring kit.

My question is can I use the tow bar before getting the ECU recoded?

I've seen other threads on the topic of recoding, such as this one: Fitting towbar to a VW TOURAN, so I know I will have to get the encoding done eventually. I just would like to know if it's even possible to use the tow bar before the coding is done?

I've heard the basic electrics (indicators and lights) may not even work until the recoding is done. Does anyone have any experience of this with a Touran?

Thanks,
Anthony


PersonRob and Tina
18/2/2017 at 7:02pm
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It might be worth joining one of the VW owners forums to see if there is any information to help you. On many cars the trailer lights still work but the bulb failure lamps and reversing sensors don't work properly until the reprogramming is carried out, unfortunately I haven't got any VW knowledge to know what is likely to happen with your car.

Rob

PS Welcome to the forum.


PersonLlaniDavis
18/2/2017 at 8:15pm
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You could, but you risk damaging the lighting control unit (not cheap to replace) by overloading it.
You would also have no warning system for trailer bulb failure; the flasher one is a legal requirement.


PersonFrancais
18/2/2017 at 8:54pm
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Does the car have Stop/Start, if so have a read of the handbook, regards towing.


Personbirdman101
19/2/2017 at 8:41am
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Son in law works at VW dealership and compulsory,so,if not done may invalidate your insurance.


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Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 11:17am
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Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 18/2/2017
It might be worth joining one of the VW owners forums to see if there is any information to help you. On many cars the trailer lights still work but the bulb failure lamps and reversing sensors don't work properly until the reprogramming is carried out, unfortunately I haven't got any VW knowledge to know what is likely to happen with your car.

Rob

PS Welcome to the forum.


Thanks Rob,

I'm going to be calling round as many dealers and garages as I can on Monday to find somewhere to get the coding done, I was just trying to get as much information as I could in advance so I may give the other forums a try.

Anthony


Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 11:24am
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Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 18/2/2017
You could, but you risk damaging the lighting control unit (not cheap to replace) by overloading it.


Interesting, I thought the relay in the electrics for the tow bar protected the car's electronics. I'll bear that in mind though, thanks.

Quote:
You would also have no warning system for trailer bulb failure; the flasher one is a legal requirement.


Ahhh, that would be a problem.

Anthony


Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 11:25am
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 18/2/2017
Does the car have Stop/Start, if so have a read of the handbook, regards towing.


Our car doesn't have a start/stop button, good old ignition key :)

I'm interested to know why that would make a difference?


Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 11:27am
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Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 19/2/2017
Son in law works at VW dealership and compulsory,so,if not done may invalidate your insurance.


Thanks birdman101, that would be big problem, I hadn't thought it might invalidate insurance.

Anthony


PersonFrancais
19/2/2017 at 3:02pm
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Yep nerdbiker, for VAG cars with Stop/Start, dedicated cam bus electrics will disable this feature.

Although Stop/Start can be manually over riden, it does automatically put itself back into Stop/Start, each time the ignition key is re-inserted.

Towing with Stop/Start in operation is not permitted according to the hand book.

Which pretty much means, that a bypass relay, lash up should not be used on such a vehicle.


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PersonLlaniDavis
19/2/2017 at 4:56pm
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Quote: Originally posted by nerdbiker on 19/2/2017
Interesting, I thought the relay in the electrics for the tow bar protected the car's electronics. I'll bear that in mind though, thanks.


Your car has a CanBus system so there are no physical relays.


PersonLlaniDavis
19/2/2017 at 4:59pm
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Quote: Originally posted by nerdbiker on 19/2/2017
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 18/2/2017
Does the car have Stop/Start, if so have a read of the handbook, regards towing.


Our car doesn't have a start/stop button, good old ignition key :)

I'm interested to know why that would make a difference?


Stop/Start has nothing to do with having an ignition key, but is the ability of the car to stop the engine on it's own, typically when stopped at traffic lights or in a queue.
It makes a difference since the ignition is still "live" and would therefore still be charging the caravan battery and running the fridge.


Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 5:44pm
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Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 19/2/2017
Quote: Originally posted by nerdbiker on 19/2/2017
Our car doesn't have a start/stop button, good old ignition key :)


Stop/Start has nothing to do with having an ignition key, but is the ability of the car to stop the engine on it's own, typically when stopped at traffic lights or in a queue.
It makes a difference since the ignition is still "live" and would therefore still be charging the caravan battery and running the fridge.



Ahh, sorry, my mistake. Our car does not have the automatic Start/Stop facility. Thanks for the info though.

Anthony


Personnerdbiker
19/2/2017 at 5:55pm
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Thanks everyone for all the help and information.

Looks like I will have to find a dealer or garage that's able to do the recoding before I can tow, and if I can't manage that by next weekend I'll have to find another vehicle to use.

Thanks again,
Anthony


Persondiesel steve
19/2/2017 at 7:25pm
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fit a by-pass relay system. simple and cheeper, most garages won't touch it to code in if you fit it yourself


PersonLlaniDavis
19/2/2017 at 9:14pm
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Quote: Originally posted by diesel steve on 19/2/2017
fit a by-pass relay system. simple and cheeper, most garages won't touch it to code in if you fit it yourself


There are many reports on various VAG forums of problems with people fitting by-pass relay systems, especially with those cars equipped with CanBus systems, and even more so if the car is equipped with a StopStart system.

I have heard of NO garage that has refused to recode a car that has been self-fitted with the correct wiring kit.



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