With my
RR 5.0 cycle troubling me a lot during gear changes, I decided to take the cycle for a service visit to Decathlon. So after I loaded the cycle successfully in the car, drove down there and then came the time to remove it. All the struggle begins here thanks to cramped interiors of my Swift it was literally a circus. Finally I managed to get the cycle out and in that process I broke the cabin lamp plastic cover and the festoon bulb too.
I had a spare one so replaced it but while doing so, one end of the festoon bulb touched the roof (metal part) and that made a spark. Replaced the bulb and tried switching it ON but nothing happened. Puzzled I walk away to the store to hand them over my cycle. After I give them my cycle, I walk back to the car and unlock it. No response from the remote. Frantically I retired but no use. Went crazy thinking what could have gone wrong.
Put the key in and turn to ignition and I find the car responding normally as though nothing happened. I pull out the key and try locking the car. No response. Later I notice, the meters are stuck too. They weren't coming back to '0'. As it was dark, I go home wondering what could be the issue. Upon reaching, I check the fuse box (Engine compartment) and the BCM (Underneath the dashboard - beside accelerator). All fuses are OK but the central locking seems to have gone kaput.
Instantly messaged Parag bhai and briefed him on the chain of events. He started troubleshooting and all we could narrow down to was a blown BCM.
Problem noticed when ignition is OFF: 1) Instrumented console:
-- Meters not returning to '0' position;
-- Door opening indicator not displaying;
-- No instrumentation lights working when headlights are turned ON.
2) OBD II Port not working. 3) Remote/Central locking not working.
I read through this thread here (Thanks to GTO):
Swift - BCM Issue.
Reading through, I ascertain myself for the a hefty repair bill for the BCM replacement.
Next Day...
Post work, I head to my MASS to get this solved. But as I reach there they say that mechanics aren't there today as the workshop is closed for maintenance. I called up SA again and asked what to do. He told me to visit any other MASS and they'll get it solved.
The nearest MASS from my workplace - Gem Motors. I hand over the car and look at them diagnosing the issue and all SA's/mechanics standing around are scratching their heads. After 45 minutes one more mechanic (Expert and the oldest of the lot) arrives at the spot wanting to see what the problem is.
Within 5 minutes of bending and stretching he finalises that the BCM is short and needs replacement and will cost me 13K + 1K labour. Dejected, I ask him if the part is readily available or needs to be ordered. He went to the stores and checked - It was ready.
I asked them the working time - they quoted 3 - 3.5 hours. Informed them that I'll leave the car there when I head to work at 9am and pick it up 5pm. They agreed and dispersed.
On the way back, neither my heart nor my mind are ready to accept it. How can the whole BCM blow off and if it has then how does everything work perfectly. Half way home, I stop the car by side and close my eyes thinking what could be it?! My heart and mind still pointing out towards some blown fuse in either the engine compartment or the BCM.
With a cool mind, I pull out the manual and the engine compartment fuse box to check all of them again!
Main fuse box: All OK!
Now I sit on the road with the BCM cover and the manual reading every single fuse name and title. At one point during the reading, I notice
DOME - 7.5A. With my fingers crossed, I head to the engine compartment, pull out the spare 7.5A fuse and replace it. Voila! Things are back to normal.
That 7.5A fuse was blown!
All electricals, central/remote locking and instrumentation console are back working normally.
I was wondering why this
DOME - 7.5A didn't appear yesterday evening?! I feel like a FOOL!
I thank my stars and gut feeling and for the saving myself those B.I.G 15K had I got the BCM replaced then and there at the MASS.
To be doubly sure, I ran a diagnostic scan but no errors were recorded.
Some Pictures: Cabin light (See the blue area that caused the spark):
Meters not at '0' position:
No meter illumination even when headlights are ON:
Another one - meters not at '0' position:
With ignition ON:
BCM Cover:
BCM Unit:
Dome 7.5A Fuse - The culprit:
Fuse - Blown:
Spare fuse and the puller:
DTC Scan - No errors:
The car is back to normal now.
Last but not the least, sincere thanks to
Parag for helping me in the diagnosis.
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Burning question:
If one of the fuse i.e. Dome light (in my case) that was blown, how has it caused the remote/central locking to malfunction?
What and where is the connection?
Am I missing something here?
I thought connections etc are isolated and shouldn't effect the rest operations but that isn't the case here.