Member Since: 09 Jan 2008
Location: Middx
Posts: 7
Ipod Causes 'Transmission Fault' Claims Dealer!
My 2006 TDV6 HSE was running perfectly, but suddenly started displaying a 'Transmission Fault' warning whenever Drive is engaged. (No problem whilst in reverse).
I took it to the local dealer yesterday and after six hours, the young lady in Service Reception called me to say that the car 'has lost communication', whatever that's supposed to mean.
They claim that as I have various electronic accessories connected, (Ipod interface, camera detector, DVD player, laser parking aid), one of the connections must have come loose and caused the 'lost communication' which is resulting in the transmission fault warning.
I pointed out that nothing electronic has been fitted to the car for 18 months and it has run faultlessly until now, but apparently the only way forward is for their auto electrician to sort things out, (presumably by disconnecting everything), and they will then continue investigations.
I don't know whether it's linked to the 'lost communication' issue, but I've also noticed since the transmission fault warning that no matter what way I adjust the door mirror controls, the mirrors only move down. However, they can be reset to the normal position using the seat memory buttons.
I was just wondering whether any of you electronics wizards have a view on the information that the dealer has given me, as I'm far from convinced that my gadgets are the cause of the problem?
Thanks,
Rob
6th May 2010 12:08 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72799
Find another dealer or try TFC.
6th May 2010 12:23 pm
WhatPotHole
Member Since: 09 Jan 2008
Location: Middx
Posts: 7
Believe me, if he was more local I would have already asked TFC, as he's done another couple of jobs on the Disco for me which turned out great!
6th May 2010 12:28 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72799
Might be worth emailing him as he does get about a bit so may be able to sort something out. My D3 has iPod, iPhone, carpoorerthingamiebob, aux battery, Engel wiring and all sorts of other stuff with no problems. To blame it on the iPod suggests they either don't know what they are talking about or can't be arsed. Could suggest my local stealer but they are 530 miles north of you!
6th May 2010 12:37 pm
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
Any remote advice is going to packed with assumptions I'm afraid; no substitute for hands on!
When they say it's lost communication I assume they mean that the CANBus has picked up a fault. The gearbox and other components all need to talk to each other to keep the car running sweetly.
In theory a malfunctioning add-on that is broadcasting an awful lot of electrical noise into the cars electrics could cause such an issue, but It'd be fairly unlikely. I can however see the auto-electrician wanting to exclude all those items first; if they're hard-wired into the car then if he's worth his salt he'll check for issues at and around the hard connect points too as those are areas that have been 'messed' with in the past. It's easy to knock/stretch a connection and not see it 'cos you're working on an adjacent bit of wiring.
Much more likely that there's a corrosion issue at one of the many plugs in the car or a stone chipped wire that water got into; the 'nice' thing about the CANBus is that as it goes all over the car it can be made to fail from any of the connectors...so your gearbox issue could be caused for instance by the EPB or the traction control module or anything anywhere on the car really It's about time someone figured out a way of testing/measuring where a break in the CANBus wiring actually was.
Good luck; and hope it's a quick fix Definitely see if TFC has any insights; it's gotta be worth the cost of slab of beer Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
6th May 2010 12:51 pm
WhatPotHole
Member Since: 09 Jan 2008
Location: Middx
Posts: 7
Thanks for the information.
I half wondered if the problem with the mirrors may be sending a signal back in to the system that was somehow interpreted as the transmission fault.
I'm hoping that the auto electrician doesn't take too long ruling out the various add-ons, as his time isn't covered by my extended warranty!
The sooner they confirm that the fault is somewhere within the car, the sooner the bill will be picked up by someone else, (fingers crossed)!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
TFC, as he's done another couple of jobs on the Disco for me which turned out great!
It's about time someone figured out a way of testing/measuring where a break in the CANBus wiring actually was.
