Comments on: Wiring a 13 pin Euro plug

By: Sam Point

Sam Point — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:53:47 +0000

I have a MY2011 Skoda Octavia Scout fitted with a factory harness. On most recent European cars (Well VW, Skoda, Audi and Seat.) Pin 12 on the trailer or caravan unit being towed must be linked to Pin 3 (Earth return pins 1-8.) in the plug as it is used as a plug coupling indicator to tell the car it has a trailer connected when plugged into the 13 pin vehicle socket, this will disable the reversing sensors, disable the vehicle rear fog lights in preference to the trailer / van fitted ones and will also sound the vehicle alarm if the trailer connector is unplugged from the vehicle when the vehicle is locked. Some also disable the vehicle reversing lights as well. The onboard vehicle CAN ECU must be told that a towbar is fitted and must be coded correctly.
The reason I know this is my system was dealer fitted last week when I took delivery of the new car and they didn’t set it up properly and I now have to tell them that they need to follow the correct procedures when installing.
Cheers.

Forgot to mention that the Pin12-3 link also tells the vehicle to activate its Trailer Stability Program and Adaptive Cruise Control as well.
Cheers again.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:04:53 +0000

Hello Colin,

You should be able to rewire your electrical socket providing that the wires that connect to pins 9,10 and 11 can be found on your wiring loom. If your cars manufacturer fitted the plug and left those pins empty it makes me think that those wires may not be present. If this is the case I would look into a new vehicle specific, dedicated wiring loom. We can supply this, but it will cost in the region of £200 and will need recoding by an Audi dealer.

Thanks, Kris.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:26:03 +0000

I have a 2007 Audi A6 All Road with factory fitted Euro 13pin. Positions 9,10,11 have no metal connectors. I’m told Volkswagen- Audi didn’t fit them at that time, so I guess the relays/control ‘kit’ for caravan fridge and permanent electrics is not fitted either.

Can the 13 pin socket be replaced (or missing female pins inserted in current socket) and suitable controls/relays and cables be retro fitted so I can hook up to caravan ?

This must be a problem which a lot of Audi – Volkswagen must have – yes?
Thanks very much, Colin

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:59:50 +0000

Hello,

To open the Euro socket you simply open the flap and push the connecters inside until they drop out of the back of the socket. To open the plug you have to turn the inside part (where the pins are) a quarter turn counter-clockwise and then pull it out. The cap that usually comes with the plug makes an excellent tool for this.

Thanks.

By: FIlip

FIlip — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:29:54 +0000

Hello, would anyone had an advice how to rewire the Euro socket, namely how to open it?
Thanks

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:06:18 +0000

Hello, this sounds like a problem with your wiring rather than the lighting board. How you fix it depends on how confident you are at vehicle wiring. If you can get someone to operate lights while you use a multi-meter to check the wires leading to the light board, you may be able to identify the faulty wires and trace them back to the problem. If you’re not too good with wiring I would suggest taking it to a professional.

When buying a trailer that has been used off road or around a farm it is usually a safe bet that the wiring is a mess. This is because all of the water and mud that covers the underside of the trailer on a daily basis will eventually corrode wires and connections. Worst case is that you will have to re-wire your horse box. This is a pain, but at least you would know it was right.

Thanks.

By: David

David — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:56:07 +0000

Hi just bought a rice hunter horse box but have a problem with the lighting board.
When I brake the off side light goes out and near side brightens and when I put on the off side indicator, the off side brake light goes out & nearside brake light flashes.
Help

Many thanks

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:05:36 +0000

Pin 12 was originally set as a coding pin, but this has not been adopted by many manufacturers. Thanks.