Nanocom screen does not turn on - OB2 nor USB to computer

[ozscott]

Hi all,

Nanocom screen does not turn on attached to OBD2 ports or the PC via the USB cable. I can hear the beep and the screen seems to try to fire up but no can do. I can hold a finger on the screen for 8 seconds and hear the beep also so the touch part is working.

The software update available when opened on the PC does not detect the Nanacom. Tried a few different known good leads too. Any ideas welcome.

It has probably had in total an hour of the screen being on since I purchased it.

Cheers

[Slunnie]

I'm not sure with the screen, however think people were recommending not to update the software as the changes Nanocom have made forces all engine mapping changes to all go through a 3rd party supplier who then charges money for processing to work with the Nanocom software upgrade. Apart from cost, it also gives them access to the IP of your ECU upgrades.

[shack]

Sorry to say this but unfortunately it sounds like your nano has died.

If you leave it plugged in for half an hour you may get it to to show something on the screen. When they are starting to fail the usually run slower and slower for a while, then have trouble booting, then have errors saying the firmware disk is missing (I forget the exact error).

I have had this happen to at least 2.

All new or rebuilt units will come with the latest firmware revision as mentioned above.

[ozscott]

Thanks gents. I doubt it is worth sending back to Black Box. I will give it to my tame Engineering student and see what he finds opening it up. For the lack of use versus cost it's disappointing. The lad might be able to de-solder and solder on a new screen. Or it might be a dry solder joint or similar on the board. Unfortunately there does nor appear to be anything else available that will program keys etc. Cheers

[shack]

Thanks gents. I doubt it is worth sending back to Black Box. I will give it to my tame Engineering student and see what he finds opening it up. For the lack of use versus cost it's disappointing. The lad might be able to de-solder and solder on a new screen. Or it might be a dry solder joint or similar on the board. Unfortunately there does nor appear to be anything else available that will program keys etc. CheersIt's probably not the screen.

Plug it back in to power.

You should hear some beeps.

Leave it plugged in and see if the screen comes on eventually, it can take a long time, but I don't think it'll be the screen.

Less than half hr but you get the idea, and yes, disappointing is one word for it.

[Tins]

Mine failed about a year ago, can’t remember exactly how. But I did the firmware update ( PITA if you have a Mac like me) and it’s been fine. I know that updating it is not ideal but it’s what’s going to happen if you send it back to BBS, and you will save on the cost of shipping it if it works. The update isn’t as straightforward as you would like but it’s still doable and there are instructions in the members area on the Nanocom Solutions website.

on my Mac I was able to use some windows emulation software. Clunky but it works.

[ozscott]

It's probably not the screen.

Plug it back in to power.

You should hear some beeps.

Leave it plugged in and see if the screen comes on eventually, it can take a long time, but I don't think it'll be the screen.

Less than half hr but you get the idea, and yes, disappointing is one word for it.

Thanks mate. Did all that and got what appeared to be it running a screen colour test of solid red, green etc. But didn't turn on. Cheere

[ozscott]

The internals appear glued to the outside alloy case (I have the Evo II). I see with freight they are about or over $700 AUD so definitely worth sending back and getting repaired assuming repair costs are reasonable.

Cheers

[shack]

It's not glued exactly, but it is stuck in there.

I can tell you how to get it out but if you do it might be harder to get it repaired.
This one is waiting for a new touch screen to be installed. It's shown in the pictures.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241117/fd4f4be2cb68055cc47f7e9901f22b44.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241117/e572b88c3c2153cffeca004c980d5e77.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241117/64b16a99912f198d0883c03b85c179b7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241117/8025cb1929979ccc63cd6829d0cda99c.jpg

[DazzaTD5]

I had one of mine repaired years ago, got it back, it failed straight out of the box again, from memory it was sent back to them 3 times for repairs at my cost, freight at my cost.
End result was it cost more in repairs and freight than it was worth.

At the time I purchased another one partly to prove it wasnt a user error thing which is the vibe I got from blackbox.

now years later the other one has failed.
My own personal opinion is my life is too short to waste it on a nanocom.

[V8Ian]

I had one of mine repaired years ago, got it back, it failed straight out of the box again, from memory it was sent back to them 3 times for repairs at my cost, freight at my cost.
End result was it cost more in repairs and freight than it was worth.

At the time I purchased another one partly to prove it wasnt a user error thing which is the vibe I got from blackbox.

now years later the other one has failed.
My own personal opinion is my life is too short to waste it on a nanocom.
What's the alternative?

[Saitch]

What's the alternative?

G'day, maaaaate!
[smilebigeye]

[ozscott]

What's the alternative?

Ian that was my concern also. Now with 2 x D2's in the family, one with auto and SLS I need to be able to deep dive into the beating heart of these vehicles from time to time. I cannot think of any other bit of kit that will do everything (including key programming) that the Nanocom does (when it is working). I am keen to hear of any alternatives (from memory there was Hawkeye but I do not think it did the key programming).

Cheers

[Tins]

Ian that was my concern also. Now with 2 x D2's in the family, one with auto and SLS I need to be able to deep dive into the beating heart of these vehicles from time to time. I cannot think of any other bit of kit that will do everything (including key programming) that the Nanocom does (when it is working). I am keen to hear of any alternatives (from memory there was Hawkeye but I do not think it did the key programming).

Cheers

Hawkeye did little programming. Not sure what implications the demise of Bearmach would have on it as well.

Trouble is the D2 and P38 are kind of orphans, especially the TD5 Discos. Lack of OBD2 compliance. Trouble with the Nanocom is it has no valid competition ( unless you can source, and afford, LR's TestBook ), so BlackBox can pretty much do as they please.

[ozscott]

I have been emailing with BBS - even a modest repair such as screen would amount, with freight both ways, about $350 AUD and if more serious they would let me know (it could be slightly lower if a minor repair). I have asked BBS if the repaired product comes with a warranty - if not it does not make a lot of sense to me to get it repaired (especially given the reports from others on AULRO about further issues). I would have thought keeping the unit and buying a new one would make more sense for the warranty and having at least something spare in the old one that might be of use if the new one fails down the track. These of course are the downsides of having an old vehicle that is still electronically complex. I have had mine since late 2019. It has had little use but I suppose I did get to code some spare keys and that alone is probably worth the cost of the Nanocom. Anyway food for thought. The new one is $675 Australian and presumably freight on that will be about $120 so an expensive little number.

Cheers

[DazzaTD5]

What's the alternative?

for D2 or TD5 Defender as others have quite rightly pointed out, not much.

D3, D4, Defender TDCi nothing is better than the GAP tool and is the only thing I trust on newer Land Rover models

[ozscott]

BBS have just confirmed that no warranty is offered on their repaired items. Mmm. Cheers

[V8Ian]

BBS have just confirmed that no warranty is offered on their repaired items. Mmm. Cheers
You're welcome to borrow mine, it will be of no use to you engine wise, though.

[DazzaTD5]

BBS have just confirmed that no warranty is offered on their repaired items. Mmm. Cheers

so their customer support for their product has not changed then.
I had one repaired 3 times.

[ozscott]

I dont have much to lose by trying to get a local electronics repairer to take a look - if it is hardware should not be too hard to sort.

Cheers

[ozscott]

Found a place that looks good - young fellas - one UQ electronics engineering student and the other QUT mechatronics aeronautics student - both with a long history of fixing electronic equipment (even things like an ECU from an old Bentely). I have booked in the job and keen to see what they say. I will report back.

Cheers

[Tins]

Definitely interested in their diagnosis. Of course, if it’s a chip with proprietary firmware you’re probably screwed but hey, nothing ventured.

[ozscott]

To their credit, BBS last night sent me instructions to do a hardware reset by removing the end of the unit and from there removing a jumper from a set of pins, which apparently puts the unit into a 'kernal' setting and allows new firmware to be written to the unit - this worked and unit successfully connected with the PC and allowed me to update the firmware. Unfortunately after replacing the jumper the unit still would not turn on. The screen flashes and it makes the start-up beep. I see this as a positive because I suspect the screen is the problem but who knows.. I will leave it to the young techs to sort as best they can.

Cheers

[Tins]

To their credit, BBS last night sent me instructions to do a hardware reset by removing the end of the unit and from there removing a jumper from a set of pins, which apparently puts the unit into a 'kernal' setting and allows new firmware to be written to the unit - this worked and unit successfully connected with the PC and allowed me to update the firmware. Unfortunately after replacing the jumper the unit still would not turn on. The screen flashes and it makes the start-up beep. I see this as a positive because I suspect the screen is the problem but who knows.. I will leave it to the young techs to sort as best they can.

Cheers
Yeah, the kernel thing is what I have had to do. It does sound positive. It might just be a hard joint, or it could be the screen driver chip or the screen itself. Both are probably generic and easily available from Aliexpress. Good luck.

[DazzaTD5]

Has the OP had any luck getting their Nanocom fixed in Australia?
my second Nanocom has failed, so looking to get it fixed without sending it back to BBS
(once repaired I can give it to my mate and hopefully he stays my mate)

[HRSDiagnostics]

I find my Nanocom very handy for diagnostics ect, but ive also had to send it back to Blackbox in Cyprus 3times for repair, which has made it very costly, im currently waiting for a call back too for a solution for a customers nanocom, their customer services are not the best at the moment im finding.

[Tins]

Has the OP had any luck getting their Nanocom fixed in Australia?
my second Nanocom has failed, so looking to get it fixed without sending it back to BBS
(once repaired I can give it to my mate and hopefully he stays my mate)

Failed in what way? Trouble is, the processor chip, while it may be available from DigiKey or somesuch, will have proprietary firmware loaded, so you're screwed. No way around BBS there imo. Other stuff might be fixable with the right gear, but then diagnosis is the issue and you'd be paying by the hour. If mine failed I would probably take a look with my oscilloscope but there's no way I'd touch someone else's unless they gave it to me with no strings. Good chance I'd brick it.

What we REALLY need is for some very smart cookie to modify the ECU to make it OBD2 compliant, steal the TestBook data and program a PROPER scan tool with it..... Yeah, good luck with that. And, given the orphan status of the cars, there is no case to make for investing $$ in a better tool, even for BBS.

Meanwhile I'll have to take better care of my Nanocom, because it is still the best tool for the D2/P38. Have to wonder how our NA cousins get on. OBD2 compliance came earlier for them. Course, they didn't get the TD5, except in Deefers.

Another reason to love my 300TDi and my Perky. Bosch VE pumps and no tronics anywhere.

[DazzaTD5]

dont know whats wrong, same as the other one i have, just a blank screen, it failed years ago and has been sitting in the cupboard.
my issue with sending it back to bbs for repairs is the last one went back and forth 3 times. each time they said it was repaired but it wasnt.
due to the cost i'm better off throwing it in the bin and buy another new one

[Tins]

due to the cost i'm better off throwing it in the bin and buy another new one

Of course, that never occurs to them....

[ozscott]

The repair is apparently going well. The lads have been flat out and my job is not urgent. It was a failed capacitor that saw the screen not fire up. They replaced that but said while it was working, the unit runs so hot that it will fail in the short term. The unit did get hot but i had assumed it was normal for that unit.The lads want to replace a number of parts (total about $75) to cure that. They reckon all up costs of diagnosis and repairs will be $424. Given the improvements expected to the unit i would rather pay that than contribute that amount to a new unit. Plus I am supporting a couple of young local techies. I will report back. Cheers

[ozscott]

Hi all,

By way of an update, the delay has largely been that the lads have been flat out and then had to wait for parts from the US etc. They are now confident they have rebuilt the Nanocom to be bullet proof. They tell me the surge protection was previously 16 volts on the 12 volt vehicle side of the equipment, and is now 30 volts - they believe from testing and the damaged components that the vehicle has spiked the unit with a surge. They tell me they have also used considerably more robust components and have wired in multiple surge protection circuits (IC's) that are designed to protect the components and they say it is a far better unit than stock. So, I expect it will cost me close to the same amount as a new one, but given that they have pretty much re worked the whole unit to significantly increase robustness I am quite OK with that, and I have kept the money in Aus and paid 2 young uni students - so wins all over the place IMO. Hopefully, I will collect it today.

Cheers

[ozscott]

Right, unit home and plugged into my D2 and it works as it should. The lads showed me video and still photos of the orignal design and the re-engineered version. They will do a report for me so I can post more details here. Now they have fully sorted mine (for several hundred less than a new one - they blew their dough on mine as they spent a long time sorting it) they are happy to do fixes for others with Nanocom units. These lads are moving onto big things including contracts for Dept of Defence so if you want your units sorted get in quickly.

I like that they re soldered a number of items for better connections but also added a large surge protection IC and wired it so if it were overwhelmed, the spike goes to ground and not through the rest of the electronic components (with a changeable fuse if the thermal one is overwhelmed). Very happy with the result. They used heat to get the screen off and that toasted the sticker on the front. They used a good quality vinal cut to suit to replace it and now Nanocom is not seen on the front cover which I do not mind. Cheers

[johnp38]

Now they have fully sorted mine (for several hundred less than a new one - they blew their dough on mine as they spent a long time sorting it) they are happy to do fixes for others with Nanocom units.

Hi, can you share contact details publicly on here to help others out?

[ozscott]

Hi, can you share contact details publicly on here to help others out?

Yes mate. Electronic Repairs Australia at New Beith, Qld. If you ring them or fill in the repair form on their website mention that you have a Nanacom and that they have repaired on previously.

Cheers