towbar question

[jimbomort]

How? You can't turn off the ESP entirely on any VAG car?

The manual is not entirely clear, but am I missing something by pressing the ESP button marked ESP OFF and noting that the sliding car symbol then stays on in the dash? Tried this on dirt in Golf 6 recently and seemed to me the ESP was OFF.

TRAILER ASSIST - hOW DOES IT KNOW YOU HAVE A TRAILER?
According to the manual, when the trailer electrical connection is used.

Mind you it is not apparent from the manual that there is any real way of telling whether the trailer program component of the ESP is in effect, but unless all factory fitted it appears unlikely.

Having now read about the trailer stabilisation program in the manual - yeh I should have read more of the thread before chipping in with "isn't the simple solution to turn the ESP off" Mind you still an option for those who dont think it will help.

[Maverick]

The manual is not entirely clear, but am I missing something by pressing the ESP button marked ESP OFF and noting that the sliding car symbol then stays on in the dash? Tried this on dirt in Golf 6 recently and seemed to me the ESP was OFF.

The ESP off turns off only a few of the (over 10) features that are in the braking system and ESP as we know it stays on but in a more limited capacity. You haven't been able to fully turn it off since the MY07 model on the golfs IIRC.

TRAILER ASSIST - hOW DOES IT KNOW YOU HAVE A TRAILER?
According to the manual, when the trailer electrical connection is used.

Mind you it is not apparent from the manual that there is any real way of telling whether the trailer program component of the ESP is in effect, but unless all factory fitted it appears unlikely.

As long as it's the VW control box fitted and CAN bus is connected along with the controller being programmed in to the gateway the system will work as per the factory one (read my post below for the exceptions).

[Transporter]

Thanks Maverick for detailed description of the complexity of connecting the tow bar and its wiring to the car's electrics and electronic components.

It should be more than enough warning to everyone thinking of retrofitting trailer controller with something else.

DON’T DO IT and use correct part from VW or the warranty is void, if you muck something up in the electrics on the car, it could cost much more later.

Edit: Please, don't post a new question about tow bar without reading this thread, because you will find the answer you looking for faster by reading it and using the search function of the forum.