wobbly bob Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Just a not so quick note to highlight a problem on my D2 which may be quite common. Last week the SRS light on my dash suddenly came on (red) indicating a problem with the air bag system. After doing all the usual technical stuff, like switching the ignition off and on and driving through potholes hoping it would bugger off again, I took 'Disco Tony 2' (don't ask, the missus named the d2, but at least she's into landys), to the local independant l/r garage. As usual they went straight for the plug in option and wired the d2 up to the super computer. This came up with the answer straight away, great. A new drivers seatbelt pre-tensioner was required I was informed by the technical wizard looking at his god like machine at £130 plus labour plus VAT, not great. As it was only a problem with the air bags and only the bit what pulls the seatbelt tighter in an accident, all new fangled stuff which landys coped without for decades, I made my excuses (no money) and left. On my drive home I started to think about how quickly the disco had been plugged in and diagnosed and how it was so similar to when I once had a problem with another car (German and ending in W), not long ago. On that occasion the main dealer had plugged it in after I went in on 'limp home mode' and said I needed all maner of bits at a cost of many hundred pounds. Long story, but a retired garage owner mate of mine (proper old school) looked at it, spotted & replaced a cracked hose for 15 quid and job was done. Computers eh! 'Q' are garages too quick at replacing parts rather than looking at simple possible causes and solutions? So on returning home with disco (and armed with where the problem was) I started tracing the wiring harness and checking plugs, and hey ho, 1 x broken wire under drivers seat about 20mm from plug for pre-tensioner. 1 new conector (30p) and problem was fixed (light now off again). Now, the problem I want to warn about is that on inspection, the harness had been getting slowly worn through every time the seat was adjusted backwards/forwards. Landrover had fitted it too tightly and had routed it over the steel wire that releases the seat from its runners. I have now re routed the harness under this and there is plenty of slack. I would recomend having a quick look, especially if like me you have a diddy wife and the seat is adjusted often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I don't know but I would have thought that the fault code would have said open circuit or something which can be either a broken wire or a dud unit. Probably the most common SRS fault is the rotary coupler in the steering wheel, that shows up as an open circuit (the tape inside the cassette breaks I think) and does need a new part. I certainly wouldn't criticise the tech for plugging it in to the computer first because that's what I would do, but sometimes the obvious possibility isn't the only one as you have just found out! Been there done that, replaced most of the ignition system on a V8 Discovery before finding out the problem was simple if very well hidden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally V8 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 The logged code was correct,it would have been an open circuit fault,the problem was the tech not bothering to do any checking after reading the code.probably lazy or thick - maybe both.The diagnostic machine only passes on info,what you choose to do with it is up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotal Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 The logged code was correct,it would have been an open circuit fault,the problem was the tech not bothering to do any checking after reading the code.probably lazy or thick - maybe both.The diagnostic machine only passes on info,what you choose to do with it is up to you. Might not be lazy/thick - probably more likely that he is trained/told to just replace parts as the company makes more money and he doesn't waste time looking for a fault which might not be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashtray Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 correct, he didnt check for a wiring fault. if his computer said that its an open circuit and youve agreed to pay the price for a seatbelt tensioner then when the old unit is being replaced he should have noticed the faulty loom and sent the part back and given you a reduced bill saying that upon further inspection we have noticed that it is just a wiring fault. I take it you went in as a waiting over the top customer, so hes not going to strip out the car, as he might find nothing obvious and just cause you to wait longer. our customers are told that it "appears" that the "flux capacitor" is faulty, so we will need to order this part in in order to carry on with the diagnosis. Of course this sort of plan never always works. We have a Fixed First Visit system where we can order upto 5 parts that could be related to a fault with the vehicle, before the car is even seen. so all you may need is a job card. parts arrive, and you fit whichever part you need. and send back unused units. with no charge. works well, although it is making some techs rather lazy. When you've worked on the other side of the counter, you'll understand, its not easy. however there are some garages out there that really shouldnt be doing business... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally V8 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Might not be lazy/thick - probably more likely that he is trained/told to just replace parts as the company makes more money and he doesn't waste time looking for a fault which might not be there. I stand by what I said,any LR trained tech should know that seatbelt pretens are prone to loom damage - just the same as poor multiplug connections on LP RR seat sidebags.Neither requires a massive input of thought,time or tools. This is what gets the trade a bad name,yesterday I diagnosed very low compression on cyls 1 and 3 on a 4.6 LP - immediately after another garage had tried to cure the misfiring with about £100 worth of plugs/posh leads.One very unhappy punter,and what was the tech playing at ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashtray Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 it is what gives the trade a bad name, and unfortunately i thinks its gonna be like that for a while. its a shame really. im a main dealer tech, and even i know that specialists can have a lot more in depth knowledge of the vehicles they work on. they often have more time to play around with things. i find being in a main dealer everything is too much focused on performance and time, although there are surveys going out that are changing the attitude of techs now. Customers now have a say on our service and it affects our pay and whether or not we are reccommended. we even have a sign outside saying 98% of our customers would reccommend us, and we are trying to get it higher, it is one of the highest scores in the country. but of course this only affects main dealers. specialists arnt affected by csi scores and the like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wobbly bob Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 The 'fix first visit system' seems like a brilliant idea and one that more garages should adopt instead of the messing about I have experienced in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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