RRS TDV8 multiple fault messages

[Marty110]

Hi, started car, drove 3km dirt road from farm to main road, put my foot down and got multiple fault messages including (not word for word): special programs not available, engine fault reduced power, trans fault limited gears available, suspension fault suspension lowering plus the car had lost power and multiple warning lights on dash. Car is 2008 RRS TDV8.

From what I have read these cars can have electrical glitches plus it is unlikely to have so many actual faults at once. So I pulled over, switched off, removed keys, waited 2 mins and re-started - no problems, drove like a dream.

Again from what I have read here and on RRS UK anything from a blown rear tail light globe to the brake switch to alternator and battery issues can cause this. BUT, what do you think is the most likely cause? Where should I start? The car had a new alternator in July this year. Thanks in advance, cheers, Marty

[Graeme]

My guess the engine fault was the real fault as all the others can cascade from the reduced power mode. There will be a fault code stored for the engine fault so best to get it checked before it starts to happen more often.

[Marty110]

Just checked both batteries with multi meter at the terminals - the main was 11.1 the secondary 11.0 - and yet the car still starts! The main is the original from 2008 and the secondary is 2011. Sitting in shed on the C-tek to see what happens.

[BobD]

Mine got the same messages and it turned out to be the brake switch. Went from slight delay after an intersection for a few months, to complete failure in one step. After restarting the engine, I just managed to get to the dealer before it wouldn't go at all.

With your low voltages, though, it is probably the alternator or battery or something. Graeme is usually close to correct with what he comes up with so I won't question his judgement!

Bob

[101RRS]

Marty, if it hasn't come back I would not worry about it at the moment. Lots of spurious things can cause this sort of thing. With my TDV6 I do not worry about messages that go away unless they come back in quite succession - if it does, time to get codes read and then take necessary action.

Garry

[Graeme]

With your low voltages, though, it is probably the alternator or battery or something.More info, closer to the mark.

[Marty110]

Hi Graeme and thanks for your input. Off topic - do you have a recommended installer for your LLAMS unit in SA? Cheers.

[Graeme]

I'll send you a PM rather than answer here.

[camel_landy]

The brake light switch is a bugger for causing this.

Detail: There are 2x circuits in the brake switch. A high current circuit for the switching of the lights and a low current circuit for telling the ECUs that the brake pedal is being pressed.

After a while, you get a build-up of 'crud' inside the switch, which ultimately leads to arcing. This arcing causes a spike on the Low Current circuit, which then causes the ECU to have a fit and lights the dash up like a Christmas Tree!!! :o

Pull the switch out, split it open, clean out the crud and stick it all back together. If that fixes it, get a new one and swap it out.

HTH

M

[gghaggis]

If you got the "reduced performance" message first, and the car actually lost power, then I'd suspect that was the issue. If you got the message but there was no actual loss of power, then it's likely the battery voltages or an intermittent electrical spike somewhere (brake-light switch, globes etc).

Cheers,

Gordon

[Marty110]

OK, so if it was an engine fault first then the other fault messages cascaded after, there should be a fault code in the ECU? I have booked it in with PCB in Adelaide so he should be able to read and sort the stored engine fault code hopefully and any other issues. Meanwhile I still need to replace the batts due to not holding their charge so that will happen this week (Peter is not able to see the car until the following week). Checked the alternator output and it's fine and the car is driving fine too (he says with fingers crossed). Its not the main daily drive so will minimise driving in the meantime too. I will get Pete to check out the brake switch and replace if there is any doubt about its condition too. Guess theres always going to be issues with any second hand (and sometimes new) car you buy...... I have all the prior maintenance records and it has been well maintained by TRS by the prior owner.

Thanks for all the input!

[101RRS]

Has the fault come back?

If it was an issue it would be there all the time - at this stage I think you are worrying about nothing.

Repeated faults are a different matter.

Garry

[Marty110]

I haven't driven the car much since the first instance, but there has been no recurrence in the 20km or so driven. It has then sat for 20 hours on the c-tek to get the battery back up. When I took it off the charger it was at 13.35 volts (still surface charge there I think) so I flashed the high beam for a couple of 10 sec bursts and re-checked - the battery was at 12.6, so perhaps not holding charge? I am leaving it overnight just sitting and will check battery in the am. Alternator putting out 14.4. Main issue for me at the moment is just the batteries - the rest is just info gathering on what I may need to get checked if the fault recurs.

[Marty110]

just checked battery 20hrs after been on c-tek with full charge - now 11.9 after sitting in shed, keys out. Looks like not holding charge so off to Battery World today to see what they can do. They reckon they have the same specs in Yuasa or Federal...... Yuasa used to be an excellent battery when made in Japan - got 10yrs out of one in a Yanmar tractor.

[Marty110]

So today ended up fitting a Yuasa main battery - same spec as original Varta - and an Optima yellow top for the auxillary. Now she cranks like a demon - now just have to see whether it holds its charge or if there is a significant drain somewhere, fingers crossed. p.s. also went for a 200km round trip after fitting the batts carting daughter around with plenty of stops and re-starts - no error messages, not even the perrenial EPB one.