Apologies - copied across from the wrong forum (Mk1)

It should make sense.......

I very specifically asked the cluster PCB "repairers" twice if they needed a key and they said that they did not, or at least didn't take me up on the offer. I assumed that they could interrogate the old one and reprogram accordingly. (I had re-soldered the female connector on the PCB a few months back to get rid of another fault code so I did not suspect that a new PCB was needed when I dropped the cluster in for repair, so never thought to take a key in.)

The auto-electrician said that he used another reasonably local outfit and clusters always went with a key and they do come back, drop in and you were going again.

Can I assume that the LED immobiliser fault code is really 1,5  (key not recognised) - there is definitely a slightly bigger gap between the second and third of the 6 flashes than there is between any of the last 3 (flash, long gap, flash, short gap, flash, very short gap, flash, very short gap etc.)

When the connector solder failed, it actually came up with quite a few faults and went into limp home mode, and it was intermittent. At the time this was all Dutch to me, so I took it into my local garage, they ran a diagnostic and that came back with what seemed to be half a mile of paper listing the faults (all not real of course). It was them that put me wise to all of the dash hassles that all cars made over the past 10 years or so, can suffer from (according to legend, associated with lead-free solder).

From there, YouTube, and hence the re-solder job that I did.

The real hassle now, is knowing what to do as the total bill at the moment is already horrible, plus working extra hours to cover time off to get this sorted, and I have been without the car for about 3 weeks already. I doubt the auto-electrician can help with reprogramming based on what he implied when I spoke to him - very helpful, but he did not imply that that was something that he could do himself.

I have also checked the website of the most likely outfit that he uses - near certainly ECUTesting at Heanor (the right town, which he did mention) - and online they claim only to be able to repair units, and send back any unrepairable units with just an inspection cost incurred.

At the very least there is going to be an "interesting conversation" early tomorrow at the "repairers" in Leicester.

One "tip" - when the car was with the main dealer and had the immobiliser fault, I said that I'd organise a tow to get it off their forecourt, to which the very helpful guy on the desk just said that he might be able to help with that. The car was driven  round to reception and left running with the warning that if I stalled while getting home or when I switched off, that would be curtains and the immobiliser would be locked again. So there is a simple way to frig the immobiliser/circuit-board problem.

ELM327 - I have just had a quick look at what it is and as you say, useful and interesting, but time is money currently, not least the hire car to get to and from work.

I am interested though, not least a kosher unit compatible with a laptop loaded with Windows, although it is also getting late as all of the hassles mean that a very early start is needed. I will pick up any answer very early tomorrow though.

Cheers

50 minutes ago, Davy1000 said:

ELM327 - I have just had a quick look at what it is and as you say, useful and interesting, but time is money currently, not least the hire car to get to and from work.

The Tunnelrat ELM327s have been reported to work well by several people, and are stated to be compatible with Forscan and ELMConfig.

http://www.spanglefish.com/TunnelratElectronics/index.asp?pageid=516992
or
https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/

The USB ones are usually most reliable, then Bluetooth, then WiFi.

I can guide you through setting up Forscan & how to get to the PATs programming, but I have not done it myself, it is not the sort of thing I am inclined to experiment with on a working car! But others on this site have.

However see what the morning discussion brings, getting someone else to do it might (?) be less stressful.

For information -

Wednesday 29^th  the instrument cluster went in for repair at Autotronics in Leicester. They estimated 2-4 days.

Monday 4^th, no holiday left, so back to work, but had to hire a car from the Saturday.

Tuesday 5^th, Autotronics ‘phoned to say that it was unfixable, did I want to buy a new circuit-board. I asked them to buy it and program it, and asked if they needed a key, they did not need a key. Should be delivered before Friday, should be ready for collection Monday-Tuesday 11-12^th.

Monday 11^th, I ‘phoned to ask what was happening and asked if they needed one or both keys – should be ready tomorrow, no keys needed (as stated on their website).

Tuesday 12^th, a phone call late morning – instrument cluster ready for collection. I left work and collected it and asked if it was just fit it and the car would be ready to go. I was assured that that was the case. Fitted it at home – self-diagnosis gives status as keys not recognised and car will do nothing more than give the flashing LED. Autotronics give a different story - the cluster may need to be programmed and/or fault codes cleared from the ECU - it should have had a diagnostic run.

Wednesday 13^th, I phoned around to get the car reprogrammed – Coalville Ford could do it no earlier than Thursday 21^st, Autotronics could probably do it if dropped off that day and it would be ready later the following, 14^th. 3D Autokeys (mobile) in Nottingham could call, first call, 14^th.

Thursday 14^th, 3D Autokeys call and it needs more than simple programming of the keys into the new cluster. Normally they do this using Wi-Fi, but there is no Wi-Fi at home. They need a laptop, which they do not carry as a matter of course. Laptop arranged to arrive sometime next day – 15^th.

Friday 15^th, I take back hire car before 1200 to avoid another day’s rental and, so far (1615), I am still waiting................................................................... (Today could have been worse – there was a large chip to the windscreen of the hire car, which I would have had to pay for as I opted for £1000 excess, but there was already a tiny chip that was being claimed for.)

 

Update - they could not get through on my mobile, did not have my landline and did not think to send a text - the car was fixed before I got home - I sat 4 hours waiting for something that had already been done.

 

I can't recommend 3D highly enough - all of the staff that I have some into contact with.