Is a Relay Really Required for Installation of Brake Controller in a 2014 Volkswagen Touareg

Question:

Hi. I am planning a brake controller installation in my 2014 VW Touareg TDI. I previously owned a 2010. Both have the factory trailer package and I am assuming that the wiring scheme and connector are the same. Can you possibly verify this assumption? I think there was a platform update of the Cayanne/Touareg for 2013?, but many of the components are the same. Your site has an amazing wealth of information. It seems like the Tekonsha tech note TB0021is the definitive source of info on the Touareg installation. It is quoted on your site and several internet forums. The one outstanding question is if a relay is still required to mitigate the diagnostic pulsing in the brake light signal. One of your QandA articles says a relay is no longer needed due to changes in the Tekonsha controller. Another says the relay is still required. Can you possibly look into if the same guidelines still apply for the 2014 Touareg and whether or not the rely is recommended? I plan to install a P3 if that makes any difference. Please let me know if there is another controller you now recommend over the P3. Thanks for your help!

asked by: Randy M

Expert Reply:

I spoke to my contact at Tekonsha to get the final word on whether or not you have to use the relays or not when installing a brake controller in a 2014 Volkswagen Touareg TDI and he said that while their new controllers like the P2 # 90885 and the P3 # 90195 do have the ability to work and function on your vehicle without the use of the relay he did not recommend installing the controller without the relay due the fact that the vehicle has delicate electric circuits.

His biggest concern was for what would happen if you were to apply the manual override of the controller. The override lever of the controller is designed to also apply the brake lights of the vehicle it is installed on so without the relay on your vehicle it could cause a problem.

expert reply by: Jameson C