Issues with Factory Fitted removable towing bracket

[BrianR]

My 2 year old A3 Sportback came with a factory fitted removable towing bracket. As I don't know anyone else with this Audi supplied towbar I am looking for help to ascertain if others have problems with getting the towbar to mount correctly or whether I appear to have a rogue unit. 

Intermittently the mechanism fails to engage properly. The operating lever appears to engage in the top position with an audible click but the key does not turn to lock the system. This means that the towbar is unsafe to use. Also the green locking pin does not engage with the internal spring mechanism but remains loose. 

The car has been in to the Audi workshop 2 or 3 times so far but always told nothing wrong. It has then worked correctly for a period of time. Over the past few weeks it has gone from working correctly, to having the green locking pin totally firm with no spring resistant when the key has been turned to now not engaging at all. 

Can anyone advise if they have had similar issues. So far I have been unable to find any chats on this subject.

 

 

 

[Magnet]

Hello Brian,

Thanks for joining, and sorry to hear of your issue. 
Not wishing to cause more concern, but I think you are right in needing to get this professionally sorted. 
Audi dealer sufficiently experienced to sort it?? 

If it were mine, I would be searching out a local-ish tow bar fitting specialist and getting them to give this a good couple of coats of inspection, and hopefully rectify any issues. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.

[BrianR]

Hi Gareth, I visited a couple of "tow bar "experts but got no real help - generally comment was they hadn't seen an Audi towbar before. I don't believe the mechanism is significantly different to others but anyway. One did comment that dirt may be in the housing on the car. I spent almost 2.5 to 3 hours lying on my back beneath the rear of the car and discovered that despite the use of a plug to seal the housing when the tow bar isn't in use there was build up of rust around the neck of the housing which took some time to remove with emery paper, WD40 and a sharp screwdriver. the main shaft inside was fine and well greased. Once I had that done the tow bar fits perfectly every time. Lesson learnt! Get the feeling not a great design here.

Kind regards

Brian

[Steve Q]

Glad you got sorted 🙂