SureTrack Users General Discussion

[DoctorD907]

TIP: things aren't always what they seem

The vehicle was an 03 F250 7.3 diesel with code P1280 Injection Pressure Control sensor circuit low. The odd thing was that the scanner was still showing the PSI pid as having pressure while the sensor voltage pid was stuck at zero. A little research and I found the ECM will substitute a value in the event of a sensor failure to maintain vehicle operation (failure management mode). I didn't know though that the scanner would show this value as data. I back probed the sensor to confirm failure then replaced it. The voltage value is showing again on the data list. The other EPC PSI listed in the engine data stream is transmission line pressure as near as can figure. Hood shut, Case closed.

Thanks for the great tip Greasy! Ill keep my eyes out for that one.

[Witsend]

Hey Bob ,you're the best. Maybe Snappy could highlight substituted fail safe values like that and label it,so those not worthy to enter into the kingdom of Diagnostic Gods won't be led astrray

[greasybob]

I did it, I traded up to the Versus Edge. After 7 trouble free years of my first gen Verus it's gonna be hard to ley it go. I should have it framed or something. 7 years, numerous batteries and chargers and 4 to 5 vehicles scanned per day on average. I figure if Harrison Ford can make another Indy movie at his age I should be able to do this for another 30 years or so ( I'm 52). I think every car company got two main objectives right now, get rid of the gas tank and get rid of the driver. Just a matter of who gets there first. Vehicles could become the ultimate in robotics and I want to be around to fix them.

[Thomas Greene]

I think you'll like it G-Bob. I upgraded in Dec. and have been amazed at the differences! Especially in the speed of the Edge. Also enjoy the fact that I can carry it around without a bunch of cords attached.

[DoctorD907]

IM Hoping I can squeeze another ten years out of my first gen Verus...probably not likely. By the way, I have never had to change a battery, just a few smart keys that got worn out. I probably have done an average of 2 cars a week since I have gotten it. hahaha

[Witsend]

Geez, 10 grand spent to do an average of 2 cars a week? Probably just starting to see a return on your investment. If St. Patty sold insurance from Murphy's Law I guess it was cheap insurance that you wouldn't have to deal with a pot of turds at the end of every rainbow.

[jables2006]

Picked up my verus edge in November. Much nicer than my dead solus 8.2 it replaced & the Ease Diagnostics laptop scanner program.

[greasybob]

YES !!!! Great news. I got the 2014 Buick Lacrosse lightning strike running again. It's been sitting in the shop on the back burner since November. Even better news, I found my flash light that's been missing for the last 5 months...... Under the Buick, just where I left it. the Buick was I kicker. I couldn't get it to power up because all the modules weren't programmed and I couldn't program them because they wouldn't power up. If you got multiple modules out you have to program them in the correct order or bad things happen. The push button start complicated things further. I had the rare slow day today and a chance to think about it and got it !!!!.

[Witsend]

Bob , Are you going to charge the customer for winter storage as if it were a classic muscle car .
I tried to do a forum search of "2014 Lacrosse" to recall how you got the Turd to begin with but got some goofy message.reading ...

"Your submission could not be processed because a security token was missing.

If this occurred unexpectedly, please inform the administrator and describe the action you performed before you received this error."

Ok Admin, you been informed.

[Crusty]

Geez Bob, I didn't know a flashlight wouldn't "power up" if it wasn't programmed-!!

What did you find for a programming sequence-?? Did you have to leave some modules disconnected to start-??

[greasybob]

It was throwing me for a loop. I would install a new keyless entry module and BCM. Both of the old ones were non communicative. They would function before programming. Hit the start button and everything would power up normal. How after flashing the new modules nothing would power up. The way this thing works is you push the start button and this signals the keyless entry module to power up the BCM which in turn powers up the accessary and engine control relays. After programming, nothing. I thought I messed up the flashing somehow. Communication with other modules after this was sporadic. they would power up only for a short time so I didn't want to try programming anything else if the power was going to shut down half way through. Today I tried something different. I replaced the theft deterrent module and tried programming a new key fob. I instantly realized this was it. As soon as the 12 minute timer started on programming everything powered up normal. So the trick is to program the keys (TDM) right after the BCM then move onto the other modules. I was hesitant to program the TDM before because of warnings that the ignition would have to be cycled or programming would fail ( how was I going to cycle it if it wouldn't power up). So I was going to leave the TDM until last or until I had the power up problem figured out.

[Crusty]

Thanks for that info Bob.
Keyless Entry
Body Control
Theft deterrent
xxxwhat was next-?

It might be informative if there was a "series" list of which module has priority so that when a vehicle needs one or more modules, the "sequence" can be followed so that the priority of one module over another doesn't gum up the works.

Module A
Module B
Module C
Module D
Module E
Module F
Module G.

If module C and module E both need service or repair or replacement, module C gets programmed before module E.
I'm sure the engineering departments of the manufacturers have this information, otherwise they wouldn't be able to program a new vehicle on the assembly line.

Thanks for sharing your hands on experiences. It helps the entire trade AFAIC.

[greasybob]

With most vehicles if the key or anti theft module is not programmed, the rest of the vehicle will still power up just starting is disabled. With this one nothing powers up until the key and anti theft are programmed. from there you can go on to program any module required as long as it communicates. I have my own technique for test modules on these lightning strikes where multiple modules fail. Since GM modules tend to run in series if one is down the line will be down so you have to use a process of elimination. I use jumper leads and have a terminating resistor that I can back probe into the back side CAN lines of any module.

[greasybob]

If you work on newer GMs you'll notice too that a lot of the vehicle devices have battery power at all times and will power up and power down only when commanded to by the BCM.

[Witsend]

Body Control modules will monitor your body functions soon

In the future car steering wheels likely will have a sensor pad that monitor your pulse and if it senses you drifting off to sleep, the steering wheel will vibrate to wake you up and the car emits an audible warning.
If you don't respond and say OK within 10 seconds , the sunvisor will extend and B@tch slap you. If the sunvisor makes a 180 and misses your head, the ignition system secondary spark from coil #8 comes into play and if that don't wake you , the hazards come on and the brakes automatically apply stopping the car and alerts 911 to send an ambulance.