OBD Error and dash lights all gone

[Blobcat]

Smart R451 had a yellow engine warning light on when I started it today. I plugged my Foxwell NT 414 scanner in to see if it is the exhaust gas temp sensor that is playing up again.

Splash screen came up on the scanner and the dash lights all went out on the car and the passenger airbag off light started to slowly and randomly switch on and off.

Powered down the scanner with the engine still running, scanner restarted but wouldn’t go past the splash screen and still no dash lights on the car.

Switched the car off, disconnected the scanner, still no dash lights and can’t restart the car…

Plugged the scanner in with ignition on and it went to the home screen, tried an OBD read and it advised it couldn’t connect. I tried to get to the smart specific screen to read the car but it kept freezing before I could get there.

I’ve disconnected the scanner, locked and left the car but still no dash lights

I then disconnected the car battery and left it for awhile but still nothing.

Car battery is fully charged (and I’ve put it back on charge and locked the car).

Any bright ideas?

 

[LostKiwi]

Sounds like s bad SAM to me.

 

[Blobcat]

Sounds like s bad SAM to me.

Interesting, it’s up behind the dash in the passenger side. I’ll take a look at it and see if there’s anything untoward.

The lock and unlock flash of the indicators has been strange for awhile - multiple fast flashes and my boy had the problem of all the electrics failing a few years ago When he pressed the brakes.

 

[LostKiwi]

Interesting, it’s up behind the dash in the passenger side. I’ll take a look at it and see if there’s anything untoward.

The lock and unlock flash of the indicators has been strange for awhile - multiple fast flashes and my boy had the problem of all the electrics failing a few years ago When he pressed the brakes.

Aren't fast flashes a sign of the batteries in the remote going south?

 

[Blobcat]

Aren't fast flashes a sign of the batteries in the remote going south?

I’ll get some CR2016 batteries tomorrow

 

[Blobcat]

CR2016 batteries replaced and after awhile the multiple flashing of the indicators stopped (for both keys)

So if your smart flashes 9 times change your key fob batteries

 

[Blobcat]

In other news the dash is still dead

So out with the SAM, it’s up under the pax dash on my R451, with plenty of connectors to undo




Opened it up and it’s as clean and dry as the dry it was made. No water damage or sign of any water in the footwell or battery box.

So I’ll put it back in tomorrow and see if there’s anything else I can find that is causing the issue

 

[Blobcat]

Had the all the fuses tested by a professional

 

[LostKiwi]

Did you check for dry joints on the connectors where they solder to the board?

 

[Blobcat]

Did you check for dry joints on the connectors where they solder to the board?

I haven’t, I’ll give it a better look tomorrow

 

[LostKiwi]

I haven’t, I’ll give it a better look tomorrow

Also check the instrument panel when you pull it out. On the roadster they can get condensation on the PCB which causes the tracks to corrode and the through plating to break.

 

[mioba]

CR2016 batteries replaced and after awhile the multiple flashing of the indicators stopped (for both keys)

So if your smart flashes 9 times change your key fob batteries

May be a bit OCD, but I change my fob batteries every year when the car is serviced.

 

[Blobcat]

 

[Blobcat]

I can get the mileage up with the dash buttons. Nothing from the key, no warning lights or glow plug indicator.
I can hear relays clicking with the key.

 

[LostKiwi]

How does the circuit board look?

 

[Blobcat]

How does the circuit board look?

Clean and not a mark on it, joints all good as well

I stripped it down and gave it a good check

 

[LostKiwi]

Thats me out of ideas.

Did diags show anything?

 

[Blobcat]

Thats me out of ideas.

Did diags show anything?

It was plugging my Scanner in that was the start of the issue… It might have been a coincidence but it started perfectly, I drove it out of the garage and plugged the scanner in to check the yellow warning light (exhaust gas temp sensor previously)

The scanner wouldn’t go past the splash screen, so I switched the car off, reconnected the scanner it gave me the option of an OBD scan, although it couldn’t connect to anything. The dash lights then went off, they came back on once then haven’t been back and I can’t start it.

 

[V6Matty]

My only guess is get your multi meter out and start testing the ODB pins to see if your getting anything there, possibly you’ve fried the SAM. Not a clue how you might have done it mind but would at least explain why it’s all rather dead

 

[M80]

I thought with the key in it was then operating on IR, unless Smarts are different wouldn't that eliminate fob batteries as an issue?

I assume you've checked the start battery voltage.