What is Towbar Coding?
Vehicle Specific Kits
On most vehicles, towing electrics will be fitted using a vehicle-specific wiring kit.
Alongside standard road lights and power feeds, a vehicle specific kit can provide a variety of features such as:
- Stability programmes
- Adaptive cruise control
- Reverse parking aids
- Lane change assists
- Engine & gearbox settings
- Suspension systems
- Cooling systems
- Changes to dashboard displays
Self-Coding
Some vehicles don’t require any software adjustments. They will automatically reconfigure anything on the vehicle related to towing as needed. This is referred to as “self-coding.”
Coding
Often though, use of a specialist tool to communicate with the towing related software through the vehicles OBD ports will be required. This is referred to as “coding”.
Requires Coding to Function
Vehicles we refer to as “requiring coding to function,” need the towing software switching on to work. Otherwise, either nothing on the tow pack, or often just the brake lights, will function. This is usually found on Peugeots, Citroens or new Vauxhalls.
Coding for Additional Features
In other cases, most or all the light & power feeds will work, but additional features don’t, and require activation. This may create warning lights on the dashboard until the vehicle is “coded”.
When we “code” a vehicle, we are simply activating software features and have no control over which features we are activating. We also have no control over any vehicle fault codes which may be hidden away in the vehicle’s memory, or if there is existing damage to the OBD port.
Read Only Kits
Unfortunately, some manufacturers will not share the data required to access software on their vehicles. Additionally, European legislation from January 2024 requires a vehicle’s OBD port to be locked. This means certain makes of cars, or those manufactured from 2024 onwards cannot be “coded.”
Instead, we can fit a “read only kit,” which will provide lights and power feeds only. These kits do not affect the additional features on vehicles.
Foot operated boot sensor
Please note, if your vehicle has a foot operated boot sensor this may need to be relocated or disabled to accommodate the towbar. If relocated, we cannot guarantee that full function will be maintained.