Something not quite right

[Borgoking]

Started my car up yesterday after being away for a few weeks (V8VR SS 4.3). Took it to the garage to fill up with petrol. Came home to change as I was going to a family gathering, however, there was a little bit of juddering from the clutch, so I went through the normal clutch learning process (3 times) as I have done many times before.

I then went and got changed, came out and switched on the ignition and nothing was working on the dash board, however, the car started OK. Decided to take the car for a short run to see if it would clear with no speedo or indicators working, in effect nothing was working on the dash board at all apart the the mileage reading.

At this stage I had to revert to plan B, put the car away back in the garage and went in my wife's car. Came back that evening tried the car again, no problem, everything lit up as normal, so the problem seemed to have sorted itself out.

Anyway this morning, I took the car for another short run just to check everything was OK, which it was, apart from there was still some slight judder from the clutch. Anyway, when I got back home,before I put it away, I decided to do the clutch learning process again (3 times), put the car back in the garage, switch the ignition off and then switched back on again to find the same thing had happened, total blank on the dash board.

Clearly this problem seems to be related to the clutch learning process, by the way I have recently replaced the battery and my car is always on trickle charge when I am not using it.

Any thoughts please.

[KarlFranz]

Being that it's a roadster, my first guess would be a failing convertible roof module. I'm not sure the clutch learns have anything to do with it necessarily. Remember, correlation does not equal causality.

[Borgoking]

KarlFranz said:

Being that it's a roadster, my first guess would be a failing convertible roof module. I'm not sure the clutch learns have anything to do with it necessarily. Remember, correlation does not equal causality.

Yes Karl,that did cross my mind. Will get in touch with my local AM dealer/Indy to-morrow and see what they have to say. Going on another jaunt around Europe in a few weeks time so I need to get it sorted. By the way, I have just checked it after about an hour, everything is back to normal again.

[Borgoking]

Just thought on, when it corrected itself the first time, an "urgent air-bag service required" came up.

[krisdelta]

I note you've mentioned replacing the battery, however is it possible something isn't earthed as well as it once was and is draining it? Battery or roof module is likely to be the answer - hope it gets sorted quickly / cheaply.

[Borgoking]

krisdelta said:

I note you've mentioned replacing the battery, however is it possible something isn't earthed as well as it once was and is draining it? Battery or roof module is likely to be the answer - hope it gets sorted quickly / cheaply.

Thanks for your thoughts Kris, the battery is always topped up with the battery condition and seems to be fine. I am afraid it's looking more and more likely the roof module, just need to get it sorted asap before I head off around Europe.

[roughrider]

Borgoking said:

Started my car up yesterday after being away for a few weeks (V8VR SS 4.3). Took it to the garage to fill up with petrol. Came home to change as I was going to a family gathering, however, there was a little bit of juddering from the clutch, so I went through the normal clutch learning process (3 times) as I have done many times before.

I then went and got changed, came out and switched on the ignition and nothing was working on the dash board, however, the car started OK. Decided to take the car for a short run to see if it would clear with no speedo or indicators working, in effect nothing was working on the dash board at all apart the the mileage reading.

At this stage I had to revert to plan B, put the car away back in the garage and went in my wife's car. Came back that evening tried the car again, no problem, everything lit up as normal, so the problem seemed to have sorted itself out.

Anyway this morning, I took the car for another short run just to check everything was OK, which it was, apart from there was still some slight judder from the clutch. Anyway, when I got back home,before I put it away, I decided to do the clutch learning process again (3 times), put the car back in the garage, switch the ignition off and then switched back on again to find the same thing had happened, total blank on the dash board.

Clearly this problem seems to be related to the clutch learning process, by the way I have recently replaced the battery and my car is always on trickle charge when I am not using it.

Any thoughts please.

FYI, the clutch learn doesn't operate on a warm engine, try it from stone cold in the morning. Let it idle in neutral for 20 seconds before you drive away. Don't know what the electrical problem could be, but check battery connections, then the condition of the battery.

[Borgoking]

roughrider said:

FYI, the clutch learn doesn't operate on a warm engine, try it from stone cold in the morning. Let it idle in neutral for 20 seconds before you drive away. Don't know what the electrical problem could be, but check battery connections, then the condition of the battery.

Thanks for that Paul, wasn't aware the clutch learn doesn't operate on a warm engine, however, I do tend to do it from cold each time the way you explained.

Just interesting, so far the problem has occurred when I have done the clutch learn 3 times on the bounce, I have then put it back into the garage with trickle charge on and it resets itself within an hour. Now I am just wondering whether there could be a bad earth connection on the battery.So far the fault has only happened when I have taken a reasonable amount power out of the battery with the 3 starts one after each other, or it just could be a coincidence.