K200CSR Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Is there a legal requirement to have some form of indicator mimic in the towing vehicle? If so where is this stated? I've had a tow bar fitted and unlike every towing vehicle I've owned in the past there is no light or buzzer to mimic the indicators but they claim that the integration with the vehicle electric via the CAN is sufficient but that only appears to cover a bulb failure while in use. I pointed out that with all previous vehicles failure to connect the electrics to the trailer or the plug becoming disconnected with result in no buzzer/light and the response was these situations do not need to be covered. Cheers Charles K200CSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_C Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 My 2008 mondeo doesn't have a buzzer or additional dash indicator. If any of the bulbs fail I get a warning error on the dash and if the indicator bulb fails then the flasher goes at double speed. I'd remove a bulb from the trailer as see what happens. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K200CSR Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Hi John, Was it a factory fit or after market tow bar? Feedback much appreciated and you are the first person I've heard from that has seen this solution. Kind regards Charles K200CSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I fitted a factory supplied towbar to my BMW and it did not come with a buzzer however, if there is a fault with the trailer lights I get a warning message on the dash to check the trailer electrics. I would do what John has suggested and remove a buld and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted July 25, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted July 25, 2013 Ditto. I had a tow bar fitted to my new VW by local specialists. No separate indicator for tow bar electrics, but on board computer was altered for trailer including disabling parking sensors and automatic parking when trailer attached. Dash display now shows a trailer drawbar at rear of car when trailer attached - COOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K200CSR Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 How Pauls is setup I spot on, in my opinion, as you know you have connected the trailer and faults are reported! Kind regards Charles K200CSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_C Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Hi Charles, Its a genuine Ford tow bar with single electrics, it was fitted before I bought the car but I do have the fitting / wiring instructions. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 No buzzer or other tell tale on my insignia. It does give 6 flashes instead of 3 with a quick flick of the indicator stalk though. Also tells me if a bulb is out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 My 2001 Focus simply goes beep-beep with the trailer attached compared to the usual tick-tock IYSWIM. If a bulb is out then the beep-beep returns to tick-tock to warn me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brookside2004 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Charles, I have just received a new company car with factory-fitted towbar and electrics, and there is no mimic installed. Like you I am a little concerned that this is a retrograde step. If the weather is reasonable over the weekend I will run a test or two to determine whether the all-singing canbus system alerts to a bulb failure, and will post up the results. paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brookside2004 Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Tested mine yesterday as follows:- 2013 Passat with dealer-fitted towbar and electrics. When trailer electrics are connected the rear parking sensor becomes aware of the trailer and indicates as such on the parking display. There is no indicator mimic (either visible or audible) when all is operating normally. Failure (in this case removal) of a sidelight or brake light bulb is signalled via the car's bulb failure warning system (warning light on dash). Failure of either indicator bulb is signalled by the dash indicator light flashing and sounding at double-speed when in use. So no positive indications as in the older trailer electrics, but effective warning indications when necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 2003 Passat with aftermarket electrics: No indication, but if an indicator fails, it flashes at double speed. How it detects the trailer I don't know. I have two trailers with LED lights. One flashes at normal speed (has Hella lights) the other does not draw enough current and hence flashes at double speed. The socket has a switch, but that's just to disable the rear fog light, as that's the only thing that happens if I fit an 13-7way adaptor without attaching the trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now