Came to hook up the caravan before heading to Portsmouth for a ferry to France and did the usual electrical checks.
ATC worked when electrics plugged in. Started engine and reversing alarm went off - first sign of an issue. Reversing light and fog light worked - nothing else.
We recently moved from TT to caravan and had the electrics upgraded from 7 pin to 13 pin by an auto electrician.
Fusses checked - all OK.
Rang Ford garage as it had been in recently for the bluetooth fixing. They said they had not touched anything and to call the auto electrician that did the upgrade or breakdown company.
Auto electrician said it was likely a Ford induced issue, especially as it had been working prior to the recent visit and the fact that the part the he did was still working.
After a lot of going back and forward to the garage they relented and said to bring it down, to prove it was not their problem.
Well after two visits to the garage Ford found the problem. The software upgrade had switched off everything non-standard on the car and towing electrics had to be re-enabled. Thanks to the mechanic who admitted he did not have a clue when they plugged the car in to their diagnostics, but looked through every bit of code he could find.
The original 7-pin socket was done using the Ford parts so that the reversing sensors turned off and warranty was kept intact, not just a splicing of wires.
Everytime the car goes to the garage now we'll check the electrics with our 13 pin lighting board.
We made the ferry with 30 minutes to spare rather stressed and hungry as we had not had chance to eat all day. I don't think that my wife will ever complain about leaving plenty of time to catch the ferry, given we set off 3hrs later than planned and still made it - just.
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
I had a similar problem recently whereby the 7 pin electrics were changed to a dedicated 13 pin socket at a Volvo dealer two years ago. Everything worked apart from the fridge but to cut a long story I went to an alternative Volvo dealer and the problem turned out to be that the Volvo garage that installed the dedicated wiring loom didn't delete the initial software before installing the new. Everything works fine now but the installation of car electronics is no different to your PC at home because if you add any new hardware such as a printer, you have remove the previous software before installing the new otherwise the operating system will be corrupt and won't function correctly.
This is also good advice from the OP and myself for anyone thinking of upgrading from 7 pin to 13 pin towing electrics.
Glad you made it in time.
Glad you got it sorted Nick, software problems cause so many issues nowadays when not done correctly. Perhaps a word in the ear of the Service Manager, he could perhaps give you a goodwill token of some kind for your unneccessary hassle they caused.
Once had car serviced the day before we went on hols, (no ferry to catch tho thank god) and all the oil had run out of the sump overnight because the mechanic failed to replace the crushable copper washer. Another reason not to get work done last thing before the off.
Dave
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
I understand that Audi approved service centres remove all unofficial remaps on 'their' software when they do a service. Any upgrades have to be carried out by them as they retain ownership of the software - so I'm told.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Car Software Upgrade & Towing electrics..
