Taught a dealer something today.CAN-bus related.
Discussion
I bought a Passat this week from an independent dealers.I was drawn to the car because of the high spec it had,one thing being a multi function steering wheel (factory extra).
The garage fits sat-nav head units to the better VW's they sell,not genuine ones but copies that look just the same.I was a bit dissapointed to find out the buttons on the steering wheel for the volume control did not work.
I rang the dealer and he said he has been asked this before and his man that installs them told him that the buttons wont operate the unit,nothing they can do.
I was having none of it,more digging required.
These sat navs are for sale online and the write up says they are fully compatible with the original equipment,much emailing later and I got to the bottom of the buttons not working,they had not plugged in one of the wiring looms that comes with the kit.A call to the dealer revealed that they had 'my' missing bits there and I could collect them if they were any use (including a remote control)!
I collected the missing wiring, four screws and two plugs later I had functioning steering wheel controls.
The dealer was gobsmaked when I rang him with the news and said he would be having a serious word with his installation bloke on Monday.
The garage fits sat-nav head units to the better VW's they sell,not genuine ones but copies that look just the same.I was a bit dissapointed to find out the buttons on the steering wheel for the volume control did not work.
I rang the dealer and he said he has been asked this before and his man that installs them told him that the buttons wont operate the unit,nothing they can do.
I was having none of it,more digging required.
These sat navs are for sale online and the write up says they are fully compatible with the original equipment,much emailing later and I got to the bottom of the buttons not working,they had not plugged in one of the wiring looms that comes with the kit.A call to the dealer revealed that they had 'my' missing bits there and I could collect them if they were any use (including a remote control)!
I collected the missing wiring, four screws and two plugs later I had functioning steering wheel controls.
The dealer was gobsmaked when I rang him with the news and said he would be having a serious word with his installation bloke on Monday.
That`s all well and good,but have you stopped to think that there is a possibility that the installers leave that bit out for a reason.
I seem to remember that there was a service bulletin a few years back from one of our diagnostics suppliers (maybe Launch) about VAG cars and aftermarket audio harnesses,
Some were sending 12v to one of the pins on the obd socket and frying expensive equipment.
There is also the chance that (with the high probability that the thing is Chines)that lead could be known to cause interferes with or causes something that you are completely unaware of,a slow battery drain,possible degradation of connected and other components,interference with a critical signal for abs,airbags,electronic steering lock etc.
Admittedly it`s probably fine but there is no such thing as assumption with modern systems,you might go out one morning and find smouldering pile.
One of our customers had a tow bar fitted to a 56 plate Touran,the module supplied was wrong.
It worked for around 2 weeks but it also killed the instrument cluster,engine ecu,body module,rear electronics unit and IIRC p/steering module.
There`s a good chance that there will be faults showing in the gateway module and comfort module,they are linked to the original audio equipment.
I seem to remember that there was a service bulletin a few years back from one of our diagnostics suppliers (maybe Launch) about VAG cars and aftermarket audio harnesses,
Some were sending 12v to one of the pins on the obd socket and frying expensive equipment.
There is also the chance that (with the high probability that the thing is Chines)that lead could be known to cause interferes with or causes something that you are completely unaware of,a slow battery drain,possible degradation of connected and other components,interference with a critical signal for abs,airbags,electronic steering lock etc.
Admittedly it`s probably fine but there is no such thing as assumption with modern systems,you might go out one morning and find smouldering pile.
One of our customers had a tow bar fitted to a 56 plate Touran,the module supplied was wrong.
It worked for around 2 weeks but it also killed the instrument cluster,engine ecu,body module,rear electronics unit and IIRC p/steering module.
There`s a good chance that there will be faults showing in the gateway module and comfort module,they are linked to the original audio equipment.
Edited by shoehorn on Sunday 17th August 11:08
Regarding the 12v, it's the remote wire for the electric aerial/aftermarket amplifier, it puts it back out via the k-line diagnostic back into the various systems, one of them being the convenience module that controls things like central locking, electric Windows etc. I knew someone who had this issue, head unit etc was fitted by an audio "specialist" who had never heard about this. I made a note never to use said company if I ever needed any audio work. It made me laugh, this company tried to blame the company that remapped his car weeks before the new head unit etc was carried out. Once this person was shown the voltage reading back at the orb port where there should be no voltage, I believe this issue was sorted out.
Eta, the issues were Windows not working properly and central locking not working properly in this instance.
Eta, the issues were Windows not working properly and central locking not working properly in this instance.
eddy02 said:
I bought a Passat this week from an independent dealers.I was drawn to the car because of the high spec it had,one thing being a multi function steering wheel (factory extra).
The garage fits sat-nav head units to the better VW's they sell,not genuine ones but copies that look just the same.I was a bit dissapointed to find out the buttons on the steering wheel for the volume control did not work.
I rang the dealer and he said he has been asked this before and his man that installs them told him that the buttons wont operate the unit,nothing they can do.
I was having none of it,more digging required.
These sat navs are for sale online and the write up says they are fully compatible with the original equipment,much emailing later and I got to the bottom of the buttons not working,they had not plugged in one of the wiring looms that comes with the kit.A call to the dealer revealed that they had 'my' missing bits there and I could collect them if they were any use (including a remote control)!
I collected the missing wiring, four screws and two plugs later I had functioning steering wheel controls.
The dealer was gobsmaked when I rang him with the news and said he would be having a serious word with his installation bloke on Monday.
No way?The garage fits sat-nav head units to the better VW's they sell,not genuine ones but copies that look just the same.I was a bit dissapointed to find out the buttons on the steering wheel for the volume control did not work.
I rang the dealer and he said he has been asked this before and his man that installs them told him that the buttons wont operate the unit,nothing they can do.
I was having none of it,more digging required.
These sat navs are for sale online and the write up says they are fully compatible with the original equipment,much emailing later and I got to the bottom of the buttons not working,they had not plugged in one of the wiring looms that comes with the kit.A call to the dealer revealed that they had 'my' missing bits there and I could collect them if they were any use (including a remote control)!
I collected the missing wiring, four screws and two plugs later I had functioning steering wheel controls.
The dealer was gobsmaked when I rang him with the news and said he would be having a serious word with his installation bloke on Monday.
The Moose said:
I imagine the thread is taking a slightly unexpected turn for the OP 
O.P.'s Steering wheel buttons work.O.P.Happy.
If we all listened to something that happened once to somebodys mates uncles brother down the pub we would not step out of the house.
Come to think of it,a house blew up a couple of years back near here caused by a gas leak,staying in sounds dangerous,going out sounds dangerous,buying a car sounds dangerous.Oh God what should I do.
Edited by eddy02 on Sunday 17th August 11:22
redtwin said:
Used car fault sorted by the buyer after they paid for it.
Used car dealer happy.
Fault? More of an improvement I would say.Used car dealer happy.
Nothing compared to the timing belt,WP,service,new wishbones,and a shock absorber he fitted before delivery.Bills for about £400 worth of parts.Ah but did he fit them? Are they copied bits of paper he gives to every punter to make them feel better.Oh god where is the tin foil for inside my hat.
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