Some parts of your car not working? I learned a lesson...
Discussion
A little story.
Honda with broken air conditioning. The A/C light on the controls, which normally lights to show it is on, is flashing instead.
Manual clearly states that a visit to the dealer is required.
Dealer takes a look. Suggests the A/C is taken apart, query: condenser unit gone, OR the car needs a replacement set of A/C switchgear and controls because the ECU thing is fried.
Car is out of warranty. Potential cost: LOTS ££££.
Owner turns to the inter web. Discovers that this is a common problem. An ex-Honda tech in the US posts on a forum explaining that many, many dealers have replaced A/C components and control panels to fix this problem, when the REALITY is that there is nothing wrong with them.
The fix? The ECU that controls the A/C needs rebooting. By holding down the A/C and air recirculation button simultaneously while pushing the heated window switch on and off 5 times, you can reboot the system and it should get it going.
I try it. The A/C suddenly explodes into a self test, the fan speed going up and down all by itself as if controlled by a ghost, before settling down after 20 seconds or so. Chilled air starts gushing through the vents. It is fixed. Properly fixed.
The lesson learned:
1. Electronic components are not always broken.
2. Dealers can lie. Sometimes they don't mislead deliberately. Even they don't know about these things.
3. The internet is awesome.
4. Learning you don't have to spend nearly a grand to fix your car because you beat the system and fixed it yourself, is intensely satisfying.
The end.
Honda with broken air conditioning. The A/C light on the controls, which normally lights to show it is on, is flashing instead.
Manual clearly states that a visit to the dealer is required.
Dealer takes a look. Suggests the A/C is taken apart, query: condenser unit gone, OR the car needs a replacement set of A/C switchgear and controls because the ECU thing is fried.
Car is out of warranty. Potential cost: LOTS ££££.
Owner turns to the inter web. Discovers that this is a common problem. An ex-Honda tech in the US posts on a forum explaining that many, many dealers have replaced A/C components and control panels to fix this problem, when the REALITY is that there is nothing wrong with them.
The fix? The ECU that controls the A/C needs rebooting. By holding down the A/C and air recirculation button simultaneously while pushing the heated window switch on and off 5 times, you can reboot the system and it should get it going.
I try it. The A/C suddenly explodes into a self test, the fan speed going up and down all by itself as if controlled by a ghost, before settling down after 20 seconds or so. Chilled air starts gushing through the vents. It is fixed. Properly fixed.
The lesson learned:
1. Electronic components are not always broken.
2. Dealers can lie. Sometimes they don't mislead deliberately. Even they don't know about these things.
3. The internet is awesome.
4. Learning you don't have to spend nearly a grand to fix your car because you beat the system and fixed it yourself, is intensely satisfying.
The end.
toppstuff said:
2. Dealers can lie. Sometimes they don't mislead deliberately. Even they don't know about these things.
3. The internet is awesome.
4. Learning you don't have to spend nearly a grand to fix your car because you beat the system and fixed it yourself, is intensely satisfying.
The end.
I had a JDM CRX that fail it's MOT because the beam pattern was wrong. The dealer said it'd need a pair of new headlights and the UKDM slam panel, plus fitting. So over a grand.3. The internet is awesome.
4. Learning you don't have to spend nearly a grand to fix your car because you beat the system and fixed it yourself, is intensely satisfying.
The end.
I polished the plastic JDM headlight covers with metal polish and passed the MOT retest for free. Win.
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