AR Electric installation for a trailer connection
04-22-2010, 06:25 PM
#11
OK, i checked under my bumper, and i have the electrical euro harness. Question is, in order to get the cover of (WHICH IS HINGED ON) i need to take the bumper off. Is there something i am missing?
I am going to get this all done on monday so i wil weigh in then.
I am going to get this all done on monday so i wil weigh in then.
04-22-2010, 07:03 PM
#12
AudiWorld Member
So the Euro plug is mounted to a bracket that gets removed when the OEM style hitch is installed. The Curt hitch has no place for an electrical plug. You may be able to just bend the bracket towards the front of the car so that you can open the cover to plug in the connector. If not you will have to make a new bracket that positions the plug in some place that you can use it.
04-23-2010, 05:00 AM
#13
AudiWorld Member
What's this business about taking the bumper off? On my car, I turned 4 slotted "screws" and the aluminum/plastic plate came down, esposing the connector. Is yours different?
When I did this, it occured to me that I might not want to mess with converting a 13 pin socket to a 7 pin plug and to a module. This would entail removing the cover each time I wanted to tow and having a plug protruding down, only to have the wiring going back up under the car to the module.
After I get the Curt and see how it all fits together, I will explore the possibility of removing the stock connector box and hard wiring the module directly, with the 4 pin wiring hanging down. If the hitch allows for it, this would enable me to leave the cover on, which looks much better and is, frankly, a key allroad trait.
When I did this, it occured to me that I might not want to mess with converting a 13 pin socket to a 7 pin plug and to a module. This would entail removing the cover each time I wanted to tow and having a plug protruding down, only to have the wiring going back up under the car to the module.
After I get the Curt and see how it all fits together, I will explore the possibility of removing the stock connector box and hard wiring the module directly, with the 4 pin wiring hanging down. If the hitch allows for it, this would enable me to leave the cover on, which looks much better and is, frankly, a key allroad trait.
04-23-2010, 07:54 AM
#14
AudiWorld Member
This is funny.
Audi corporate called me today. Melissa researched the harness, using a dealer in Michigan that she says is good for these troublesome issues.
Gave me two part numbers that we can supposedly order from Germany.
4997169AZ - Harness
8A0971978 - Trailer Harness Connector
She also said that she can tell by looking at the part number that it's a valid Audi part. I say that because when I called the dealer he immediately brushed the numbers off, saying they're not Audi part numbers.
He said he'd look into it and call me back.
UPDATE: He did not, of course, call me back. I called corporate again. I'm told that those are European part numbers. So my local dealer apparently has no idea such a system exists. Corp is going to work with my local dealer and a parts specialist to locate the part and prove that they can order it. I told her I want to find out what it even is before I order it, of course.
Finally, I asked her to research whether the allroad does modify driving behavior when it's towing.
Audi corporate called me today. Melissa researched the harness, using a dealer in Michigan that she says is good for these troublesome issues.
Gave me two part numbers that we can supposedly order from Germany.
4997169AZ - Harness
8A0971978 - Trailer Harness Connector
She also said that she can tell by looking at the part number that it's a valid Audi part. I say that because when I called the dealer he immediately brushed the numbers off, saying they're not Audi part numbers.
He said he'd look into it and call me back.
UPDATE: He did not, of course, call me back. I called corporate again. I'm told that those are European part numbers. So my local dealer apparently has no idea such a system exists. Corp is going to work with my local dealer and a parts specialist to locate the part and prove that they can order it. I told her I want to find out what it even is before I order it, of course.
Finally, I asked her to research whether the allroad does modify driving behavior when it's towing.
Last edited by Todd Beaulieu; 04-23-2010 at 11:58 AM.
04-26-2010, 08:09 AM
#17
This is funny.
Audi corporate called me today. Melissa researched the harness, using a dealer in Michigan that she says is good for these troublesome issues.
Gave me two part numbers that we can supposedly order from Germany.
4997169AZ - Harness
8A0971978 - Trailer Harness Connector
She also said that she can tell by looking at the part number that it's a valid Audi part. I say that because when I called the dealer he immediately brushed the numbers off, saying they're not Audi part numbers.
He said he'd look into it and call me back.
UPDATE: He did not, of course, call me back. I called corporate again. I'm told that those are European part numbers. So my local dealer apparently has no idea such a system exists. Corp is going to work with my local dealer and a parts specialist to locate the part and prove that they can order it. I told her I want to find out what it even is before I order it, of course.
Finally, I asked her to research whether the allroad does modify driving behavior when it's towing.
Audi corporate called me today. Melissa researched the harness, using a dealer in Michigan that she says is good for these troublesome issues.
Gave me two part numbers that we can supposedly order from Germany.
4997169AZ - Harness
8A0971978 - Trailer Harness Connector
She also said that she can tell by looking at the part number that it's a valid Audi part. I say that because when I called the dealer he immediately brushed the numbers off, saying they're not Audi part numbers.
He said he'd look into it and call me back.
UPDATE: He did not, of course, call me back. I called corporate again. I'm told that those are European part numbers. So my local dealer apparently has no idea such a system exists. Corp is going to work with my local dealer and a parts specialist to locate the part and prove that they can order it. I told her I want to find out what it even is before I order it, of course.
Finally, I asked her to research whether the allroad does modify driving behavior when it's towing.
04-26-2010, 04:19 PM
#18
my mechanic called prestige auto in denver and they sent out what they claim is something that goes from the 13 pin harness to a flat 4 pin on the trailer.
Cant wait to see this.
Cant wait to see this.
04-27-2010, 08:54 AM
#19
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So, do all those "other" pins listed in the plug diagram actually work? Because charging the battery in the trailer from the car would be cool. So would auxiliary backup lights for backing up a trailer in the dark.
I'm thinking one Euro plug on the trailer for the ar, and a 4-pin for when other people use it. On the ar, the stock plug plus a 4-pin socket for when I use a different trailer. Any reason this wouldn't work?
I'm thinking one Euro plug on the trailer for the ar, and a 4-pin for when other people use it. On the ar, the stock plug plus a 4-pin socket for when I use a different trailer. Any reason this wouldn't work?
04-27-2010, 09:05 AM
#20
AudiWorld Member
Interesting idea, having two connectors. I haven't audited my 13 pin connector yet, to see which wires are actually hooked up and if they work.
Unless you're planning to install two sets of lights, I believe you'd need to isolate the sides from each other. In other words, since the euro way of running the lights is with separate signal and brake lights (and running? not sure), you could separate them out on your trailer, but for all that to work with a 4-pin connector for other people, tying the lights together would surely play havoc with the built in audi wiring.
If you had a 13-pin trailer and tied the separate lights all together for it to work with a 4-pin, I doubt it would still work with the 13-pin.
Perhaps if you used diodes...
Now, what about US 7-pin connectors? I wouldn't be surprised if we looked into the wiring on those, that they use separate lights and were more compatible with the 13-pin. I suspect the 7 pin layout is getting more popular these days?
Meanwhile ... no word back from Audi since last week. She said she'd call by COB yesterday.
Unless you're planning to install two sets of lights, I believe you'd need to isolate the sides from each other. In other words, since the euro way of running the lights is with separate signal and brake lights (and running? not sure), you could separate them out on your trailer, but for all that to work with a 4-pin connector for other people, tying the lights together would surely play havoc with the built in audi wiring.
If you had a 13-pin trailer and tied the separate lights all together for it to work with a 4-pin, I doubt it would still work with the 13-pin.
Perhaps if you used diodes...
Now, what about US 7-pin connectors? I wouldn't be surprised if we looked into the wiring on those, that they use separate lights and were more compatible with the 13-pin. I suspect the 7 pin layout is getting more popular these days?
Meanwhile ... no word back from Audi since last week. She said she'd call by COB yesterday.