Tiguan Reverse light/camera curcuit Help

[chrispy0909]

Hi all. I'm trying to power some additional LED trailer lights to come on when I select reverse gear. I've had a good look at the DIY reverse camera and tow pack module forums without luck so far.
My 7pin flat trailer plug doesn't seem to have reverse signals wired in. (All other pins work fine). I presume the logical answer is to steal power from the reverse light circuit or reverse camera circuit upstream?? Is this a case of piggy back fuses in the fuse box, or delicately tapping into electrical control modules?
Thanks in advance, and apologies in advance if this is on another forum somewhere.

Car: 2019 Tiguan Highline 162TSi RLine. Fitted with dealer/factory tow pack.

[tek199]

Relay setup triggered by the reverse lights springs to mind as a likely option to prevent car complaints about load on reverse bulbs. Although LEDs might not draw enough to trigger it. Have you tried connecting the additional lights off the reverse lights?

[Guest001]

Pin 2 on a 7pin plug is used for reverse lights but dont know where you would get it on a tig.

[chrispy0909]

Relay setup triggered by the reverse lights springs to mind as a likely option to prevent car complaints about load on reverse bulbs. Although LEDs might not draw enough to trigger it. Have you tried connecting the additional lights off the reverse lights?

Thanks. Haven’t yet. Do you know what colour cable it is in the harness that runs to the rear, and if there’s an easier spot to access it? Like fuse boxes, or engine bay?

[tek199]

tail lights take 3 minutes to remove.
Left side look for Blue/Black (or black/blue)
Right side White/Grey

[chrispy0909]

tail lights take 3 minutes to remove.
Left side look for Blue/Black (or black/blue)
Right side White/Grey

thanks Tek199 for short cutting me to the right wire.
I’m probably doing some wrong... but Am I expecting different results when I connect a
relay up to the spliced reverse wire, versus directly connecting a small 50W LED Flood light to that same
reverse circuit? I’ve only done the latter so far and I couldn’t get my external LED light to turn on hooking it up directly. Actually couldn’t get my tester or multimeter to register anything either. When texting in reverse gear, should I just be able earth my testing gear to my tow bar, metal body work for example?
I tried the above with and without the Tiguans original lights plugged in.

[chrispy0909]

So I was doing the right tests, but confirmed now with two auto electricians and a good town bar specialist Artarmon Sydney that I had two issues, possibly 3. The third I have to get to the tow module behind the trim to determine perhaps this weekend.

1st issue as You predicted [mention]tek199 [/mention] was that there isn’t enough power to make a relay activate, I had approx 50ma if not less powering the reverse lights. So stealing power direct from that wire is futile, unless I get really creative with electronics.

2nd issue my dealership tow pack, (surprise surprise) hadn’t had “half” the modules installed, so it was probably the lights and parking systems that were installed, and perhaps that was it. For instance, now that these are coded/installed properly, I no longer get rear stability assist unavailable message when driving away with the trailer connected.

3rd issue, which I may have to go back later to my helpful mate at Artarmon (roof rack world), was that without leaving the car with him for a day or two, pulling trim apart and getting to the trailer module, it’s impossible to know if the dealer even wired everything up correctly. There is def a wire Connected to pin 2 (flat 7pin plug type), but whether or not it’s connected upstream to the typical euro 13pin outlet of the trailer module is another question.
At least I know it’s coded correctly now (sigh)


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[tek199]

check out the towbar threads. There is plenty of info how to get to the tow module. and I have pasted a link to my OneDrive with the install PDF showing how its all connected.

[chrispy0909]

Thanks [mention]tek199 [/mention] already have that doco saved in my phone [emoji3577]you’re of great assistance mate!


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