HELP needed Lost communication with engine control module/powertrain control mo

[Redback173]

Hi All

well not sure if i need shooting or just a good smack in the ear but i purchased an insurance write off RRS L320 4.2 supercharged to replace what has been a super reliable P38 (yep one of the lucky ones), supposedly a malicious damaged. I believe stolen and recovered would be more accurate.

So picked it up both front tyres flat quick attempt at inflating proved futile, reason discovered on off loading. both front rims damaged and tie rods bent. Not so bad i thought reasonably simple fix. that done moved to the next issue no drive, starts fine purrs like a kitten but place it in drive nothing a few weird noises from transmission but no drive.

Finally got my hands on a scan tool through a friend, a RSW bluetooth unit. only fault code it shows is as follows

0xC100 U0100 Lost communication with engine control module/powertrain control module

A read through the manual tells me ECU or wiring, to that end does anyone know of a simple means of determining if the ECU is dead. Sadly not an electrical wizard know enough to let the smoke out of any electrical component.

any help greatly appreciated.

regards
Ray

[Graeme]

Have the faults been cleared then checked for what faults are now current?

For your lack of drive, check for any drive-shafts or tail-shafts spinning whilst idling in gear with someone holding their foot hard on the brakes, although I'd expect to hear grinding noises so the cause might be a stripped spline on the gearbox o/p shaft or better still, the transfer case is stuck in neutral.

[theelms66]

Is there any oil in the tranny?

[Redback173]

Hi Gents

thanks for the responses, a bit of further info.

only fault shown is lost communication and returns after clearing. On start it comes up as transmission fault limited gears available no special programs avaliable. Suspension is on the bump stops and does not move in any shape or form.

As i got the car from another gent whom had the same idea as i simple fix put it back on the road, he thought the transmission was shot so installed a replacement from a wreaker. Car still has the same issue when placed into drive, nothing other than a few noises, hence he gave up on it. Not being the sharpest tool in the shed decided what the heck give it a shot as for oil level not so easy to check when it is on bump stops but fairly certain that is not the current issue and can not see how that would give a lost communication error.

I noticed that the battery cover is missing and the connectors underneath the battery were not in the holders. makes me believe someone has been looking at the wiring harness there or the control modules, though not positive.

cheers
Ray

[Graeme]

Is the diagnostic tool reading all ecus?

If the transfer case module, most likely located behind the battery on the pre-MY10 as indicated by the 4.2 engine, got wet or its connectors got wet then that could be causing the comms fault and could easily have put the transfer case into neutral. However there should be more comms faults from other modules if the transfer case module is not working correctly as that module is a HS canbus gateway between the engine+ABS+gbox ecus and the rest of the vehicle.

Anyone nearby with an IIDtool for a D3 or early RRS or possibly a D4 can probably read your vehicle's faults, looking for more faults than what you're currently seeing.

The suspension on the bump-stops doesn't necessarily indicate a fault with the suspension system - eg it may simply not be able to communicate with the ABS ecu on the HS canbus.

[ian4002000]

It might seem silly, but i have heard a hard reset can do wonders, as will a fully charged battery.

remove battery terminals from all batteries( if two Fitted ) join battery terminals together for one hour.

Add fully charged battery and reconect battery terminals and see what happens .

You might be lucky.

Ian
Bittern

[justinc]

If he didn't swap over the mechatronics unit from the original transmission, there will be no comms from the transmission to the vehicle ... the lack of drive to me sounds like a purely mechanical fault...

[Redback173]

Is the diagnostic tool reading all ecus?

If the transfer case module, most likely located behind the battery on the pre-MY10 as indicated by the 4.2 engine, got wet or its connectors got wet then that could be causing the comms fault and could easily have put the transfer case into neutral. However there should be more comms faults from other modules if the transfer case module is not working correctly as that module is a HS canbus gateway between the engine+ABS+gbox ecus and the rest of the vehicle.

Anyone nearby with an IIDtool for a D3 or early RRS or possibly a D4 can probably read your vehicle's faults, looking for more faults than what you're currently seeing.

The suspension on the bump-stops doesn't necessarily indicate a fault with the suspension system - eg it may simply not be able to communicate with the ABS ecu on the HS canbus.

Thanks Graeme you twigged on a thought, Using the RSW 4Dscan and not overly familiar with it nor RRS L320's to be honest. Found more faults than i could poke a stick at went through and cleared all and now left with the following that keeps returning. P0915 Gearshift position - circuit range/performance so advancement at least in a way,

many thanks

[Graeme]

That's a transfer case module error. If that's the only fault after having run the engine then hopefully only a calibration is required. However you might want to check the wiring going into the transfer case although a problem with the wiring should cause more than just a position error. The transfer case motor is used to both change between high and low range and to operate the clutch in the centre diff and sometimes will get stuck between ranges especially if low range isn't regularly used.

Calibration requires the use of a diagnostic tool that has the ability to command the control unit to re-calibrate.

[DunnToImpress]

Have a look at this video, YouTube

Powerful UK had an L320 with a new Gearbox in it, you need the ECU from the old Tranny to talk to the Vehicles ECU. Hope you have access to the old Tranny???

Hope this helps...