never had any indication by the Treg when I have a trailer and lights hooked up.

Have you confirmed that the trailer wiring is correct and that the connections are clean and not corroded?

 

That is the same thing that I had on my Touareg when I plugged in my trailer.

You need to get a VAG COM and program the trailer control module for NA trailer wiring. The factory default is European wiring.

I don't know the VAG COM settings, but when you find the trailer it is just a matter of switching a 0 with 1 or vise versa.

 

In my experience with the trailer I've towed the most, it doesn't seem to light properly until it is actually attached to the ball, grounding the trailer chassis to the Touareg chassis. (I think this is a ground issue with that particular trailer, but it may still be a possible issue.) So, if you tested by just plugging in the trailer wiring, try actually hitching it up too.

Matt

 

Thanks guys,

CsTDI -
I did mention on the last paragraph I hooked up my brand new trailer which includes brand new North American Standard factory wiring from Shore-Line trailer company. It works perfectly on GM and Dodge factory NA hook ups as I tried on my friends pick-up(s). No flaws in the trailer structure as traced connections were made by me and at delivery.

North Van 997c2s-
I did mention in the 1st bullet (paragraph) No VAG re-coding was needed due to VW releasing this statement on the new Revision TCM interface, unless you are reading something in this official TSB I am missing (Link here) Remember new Module to by-pass coding complaints of the past:
http://www.billswebspace.com/touaregtowcontrolmodules20050912.pdf

Vegas Matt -
Thanks for articles in the past. Big help. Yes I did hook up my new trailer, full latch locked with 4 pin adaption as described. You and I must accept the fact ...OEM wiring harness supplied has the green female connector assembled as a seperate lead for the pre-grounded male adapter lead on a self-ground point of the 2006 Egg frame already.

I think we must all realize with everyones help on this forum we are trying to avoid the worst case. Paying our friendly dealer a $100.00 dollar per hr to map your system to find my problem here in Connecticut. The game here is to stay under the $1250.00 complete trailer kit install price if I was to go to those dealers. It won't take long as this process is near 800.00.
Maybe someone in this forum has spotted other troubleshooting options I am willing to play with (???).

Thanks again...( Ken )

 

The coding still needs to be checked and confirmed, despite the TSB. I believe that the primary reason for the original flash of the trailer control module was to increase the amperages to the lighting, charge and aux circuits. Overloading of the circuits would cause the lights to flash. Also, unless your hoppy simulator is simulating a full load with resistance, it's going to function as you have described. The VW computer sends small pulses into the lighting circuits to help it determine the status of the lights. This is most noticeable on LED tail lights (faint flashing of the entire array that is most noticeable at night, even with the vehicle off but trailer plugged in).

Get a simple test lamp that has an incandescent bulb and test the circuits one at a time. the LED test light don't have enough draw to tell the computer to turn the circuits on. And make sure the module is coded right. Don't assume it is.

 

+1, I had a new unit and when installed my mechanic thought it wasn't needed. we checked everything, brake controller, connection at the trailer, and then just to check everything we decided to try the coding, and sure enough.

I am surprised that since you are sarcastic about the install of the being a easy set up that you would be against the checking of the coding it's self.

 

NorthVan997C2S-

Thanks for the reply and persuasion where I just might throw this inoperative trailer light issue at someone with the VAG tool ( or dealer).
You and I have to admit, VW throwing a TSB out to the Techs implying statements within (No coding needed) is a way of redirecting their own team of guys in a opposite direction. It slows the techs down with a inconsistent instruction process by going in a 180 direction for solution. I feel I should have received some sort of compensation on the revised TCM based on the un-truth that it was designed to be turn-key without reprogramming for coding. This is to say, ideally, the 2006 Touaregs MAIN CPU is talking correctly with a revised TCM. It appears not in this case where one or the other needs a "curve-ball" to work correctly.
Those guys at VW installing these revised TCMs have other mechanical jobs to complete in the work day never mind doing work arounds you and I now have to pay for. Nice pitch VW but I will not swing at ball-four.
I think this issues reiterates just how much of the Touareg platform is inconsistent in its design and using its buyers as R&D gini-pigs.
Yehhh.....I am belly-acking....apologize .

 

Did you ever get this working? I'm about to order the TCM for $377 and wondering if I still have to get it reprogrammed at the dealer.

Thanks!

--Navid

 

Not as of today.
The dealer in Connecticut needs a trailer brought in by myself to verify the connection and application for standard trailer wiring. Two lamps only on trailer with no LED draw. Very low wattage pull. The roads I travel to work on do not allow trailer pulling and the location of the dealer is around the corner from work.
I need to locate a trailer local to work because VW does not have a simplified lighted test rig for this application they could simply store in a closet.
WOW!!!! You’re going to pay what for the latest OEM, TCM?
Here….thank me later:
VW Touareg OEM Trailer Control Module – 7L0907383G - $279.36
If you need the harness which interacts with the module hook-up as a requirement to your lower hitch area: OEM # is 7L0971124E - $235.90
All ordered on-line – “ 1stVWParts.com” – type in the part numbers in the part No. search option.

 

The "reprogramming" is simply a coding change telling the TCM that the trailer uses a North American lighting scheme and not a rest-of-world lighting scheme. Anyone with a VagCom can do this in under 5 minutes, it's really not that hard.

Matt

 

Vacation, I'll thank you now! So, does the new part have to be reflashed by the dealer? They want another $60 for that.

--Navid

 

Hey Matt -

That is the way I see the reprogramming effort as well. As you and I would add a update to our PC operating system with a patch, same principle with the VW - MFI CPU.
I do remember coming across a site posting individuals who have joined the site letting people know they are owners of VAG hand-helds. It would post their email contact, city and state. I’ll have to do a search again to see if anyone in the Connecticut area has one. I also know there are torrents and downloadable application updates applied to the VAG such as the Base CD number I referenced in the .pdf file for the TCM updating by way of the TSB.
Thanks Matt, a viable option as you and I can purchase these VAG tools used when they become available but how often will we use them is the question especially when compared to the 1 hour flat labor charge dealers use for the 10 minute effort you mentioned.

 

Gang,

I just finished installing a Tekonsha Envoy brake controller with my OEM hitch which was installed on my 2009 V6 T2 by my local (Santa Fe, NM) dealer ship. Hooked it up to a travel trailer that I borrowed from a friend that normally pulls it with a Ford Expedition.
The brake controller works perfect - adjusted it according to the nice instruction video - and the T2 feels great pulling it...!

However, the brake light does not work...!?
The lights work, and both left and right signal lights work. I hooked it up to another friends Chevy truck, and all worked fine - including brake lights. The brake light is actually the same fillament as the signal light, so it is not a bulp or trailer wirering isue.

I disconnected the brake controller, still no brake light.
I tried using a multimeter on the connector on the T2, but get oscillating readouts between 2 and 5 volts between '-' and all others, except between '-' and '+', which gives a solid 14V with the engine running. Odly enough, there is no pulsing of the trailer lights when I turn on the lights...!?

Is this consistent with a faulty EURO/NA setting? Do I need to get the "computer flashed"?
I dont have VAG COM, but a generic OBD2 reader; can I check the EURO/NA setting for the trailer ligths with the OBD2 reader, or do I have to go to the dealer?

As a final kicker, the "Airbag Error" came on about a week before I installed the brake controller... The post that I found in the various forums with 'Airbag Error" are for 2003 and 2004 models - does anyone have info for newer models (T2)? Is it still due to bad wirering under the driver seat?

Bjorn

 

This is the same problem that I had until the trailer module was set up correctly. The dealer should be able correct this problem.

No idea about the airbag light.

 

Thanks for the update... I called my dealership and discussed it with their senior technician. Got a time on Thursday morning to get it checked out, and hopefully fixed...

I'm debating whether to bring the trailer or not - it is a 50 mile drive without brake lights, and there area always lots of cops on the reservations... probably not a good idea, but it would be nice to test it there...

Bjorn

 

bjorclausen-
Let us know what your outcome was after the techs adjust the NA code to your Trailer module on your Touareg. Success or failure this Thursday.
I for one would be interested on the direct method used, run-around or total labor as mine was $110.00 with tx for what I believe was a 15min process with a 1hr labor rate adjusted.

 

Fixed missing trailer brake light: TT66-09-01

It turns out there is a Tech Tips on the missing trailer brake light, see attached pdf of TT-09-01.

It is slightly cryptic as it does not give a name of the code to change, other than "the trailer control module code"...? Don't know what that means re. VAG-COM?
However, the fix is easy; just increment the number read by one (1)...

The dealership did it for free Our T2 is only 2 months old and the hitch was ordered when we got it, and they installed it a couple of weeks ago.

I just tested it and it works...!

Bjorn