Does Wiring Harness for 2018 VW Tiguan Require Power Wire to Battery

Published 07/12/2019

Question:

Does this wiring kit require the connection to the battery or is that only for trailers that have power braking? I wont be towing anything like that.

asked by: Andrew R

Expert Reply:

The Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring harness # C56403 that you referenced, which is confirmed to fit your 2018 VW Tiguan, does indeed require that a hot lead be run to the vehicle's battery. This is the case for the other harness that is available for your Tiguan as well.

The reason for this is that the wiring system on your particular vehicle requires a powered converter to safeguard the factory wiring, decipher the signals of its multiplexed circuits, and better support the trailer lights to ensure they receive enough power for operation. The hot lead is not related to a need for trailer brakes but is simply required on your vehicle to properly activate trailer lights during travel.

I have attached an installation video for this harness on the 2018 Tiguan that you can follow along with. I have also included a helpful article on running the hot lead to the battery that you can check out.

expert reply by: Chris R