13 Pin Euro-electrics

[Brian941]

New car delivered with factory-fitted 13 pin electrics socket. I use a 13 pin to two 7 pin adaptor for connecting car to caravan.

When collecting new caravan last week, dealer pointed out that no power was getting through to caravan fridge... even when ignition on and angine running.

Car electrics checked today and I'm told that only 7 of the 13 pins are wired - not happy!

VW garage want £300 to wire the other pins correctly!!

Car was a factory-build-to-order and I think 13 pins means 13 pins, not 7.

Are 13 PIN factory-fitted electrics usually supplied incomplete as has happened here?

 

[PaulT]

Brian

Certainly not - I've had two new cars fitted with 13 pin plugs and in both cases they were fully wired. Isn't there something in the Sale of Goods Act Act about the fact that a product has to be fit for the purpose for which it was sold?

 

[RogerL]

It'll depend on the small print in the brochure.

Vauxhalls with factory-fit towbars have 13-pin connectors but the brochure makes clear that there's no provision for supplentary circuits.

 

[Geordie]

Brian, I have a VW also,and the electrics were wired correctly.

 

[Lutz]

I think you'll find that a minimum of 8 pins of the 13 will always be connected. The standard main wiring harness, certainly of all Opel/Vauxhall models, does not, however, include a 12 volt lead to power the fridge or to charge the on-board battery in the caravan. Because these are only necessary for caravans and not for other types of trailer, such leads, where required, need to be added separately as an aftersales item. The provisions are there in the socket but the wires need to be routed to suit.

 

[Nidge1]

Hi Brian,

Had exactly the same problem with a brand new BMW X5.

See my posting in Technical, Page 5,13 Pin Continental Socket, 16 October 05, Nidge.

The dealer was adamant it was wired correctly and gave me the same story that there would be a charge for the re-wire. I explained that at ordering we stated that we wanted a tow-bar fitted to tow a caravan and this is what we expected ,not a half wired socket!.Go to the most senior guy available at the garage and say you are not happy with the state of the wiring. This worked for me although if you read my posting it did take some sorting.

Stick to your guns and let us have an update.

Hope this helps,

Regards Nidge.

 

[RogerL]

I don't know about 2001-on cars, but all my new Vauxhalls, up to 2000 - whether built in UK, Belgium or Germany, had a square 9-pin connector hidden behind the rear trim ready for connection to the trailer socket wiring. 8 pins were connected, 7 for the 12N and a 20-amp supply from the battery which just needed the fuse adding to activate the circuit. I've used this battery supply just to operate relays in the trailer lighting connections and by-pass the bulb failure check control system. I always added fridge and supply cables, myself, for the 12S - using 30A cable to minimise the voltage drop.

I'd be interested to hear how German caravanners, who expect a 13-pin socket on a German car, get their caravan fridges to operate. Do they have to pay the

 

[Lutz]

At least on left hand drive Opels, the extra 12 volt leads for the fridge and caravan battery fell victim of a cost-cutting exercise several years ago so anyone requiring these connections has to add the leads as necessary. The percentage of cars towing caravans compared to other types of trailer was so low that the Marketing Dept. considered deletion of the leads to be justifiable. (I don't know whether this also applies to right hand drive models as they have a different main wiring harness). However, all cars with a factory-fitted towbar already have the 13 pin socket, even though only 8 pins are connected.

 

[Brian941]

Discussed again today with my supplying VW dealer and he agreed to collect the car early in the New year and resolve the wiring problem!!

Thanks for all the advice.