Anyone having issues clearing SRS with Vida Dice?

[carboncow]

What has been the theory when they simply will not clear and need a flash?

[doublebug]

Actually this state is kind of crash data stored.
I did playing with SRS unit. Stored some code and crearing them after every operation is did reading the unit with external programmer. So i've seen the counter going down. That is very low level information and I doubt that volvo tech (service man) knows how internally SRS unit works in such details.
Clearing that info while reload software depends on what areas are being overwritten.
Mostly only flash (program) data is reloaded. When you replace the unit by a new one ViDA has special scripts that also having eeprom data read for storing this info to the new unit.

[carboncow]

So what is the logic of killing the SRS system then? Are they assuming this was some type of massive failure and/or crash?

[doublebug]

Yes this state is like serious failure.
So I think volvo did that just not to loose information.
F.e. when unit is replaced while car is under warranty. Old unit is sent back to volvo and they can read information why that can happen.

We do restore such units like that by external programmer and clearing some areas manually. After that unit become like new.

[jimmy57]

OK, I can certainly see that as a difference. Cars used for training have codes put in by shorting, disconnecting, or having 12V applied where it doesn't belong but there isn't a large accumulation of other data. CLearing codes and deleting all stored event data are not the same thing is the supposition, or fact if you are in the know on the design of these units.
Reloading the module also must include some cleaning of cached info.

[carboncow]

I can tell you since I was working on the fuel pump and knowing I could (in the past) reset SRS that I wasn't being gentle with the SRS. Before my new pump arrived I had the back seats out and when the car wouldn't start I would "whack" the top of the pump access with a rubber mallet to get it to start one more time. During that on/off/on/off phase trying to hear the pump run the SRS connections were maybe on, maybe off...I wasn't being careful. So I may have pissed it off...or it may have just been it's day to die.

I see a local Volvo bone yard sells the SRS module for $150 and claims you simply need to match up the bosche numbers from the old one...as long as they match they work.

I'm crossing my fingers that a flash and update of the SRS module software from the Dealer solves this issue...a few people online say that didn't even solve their issue and had to replace the module. Yikes!

[bigbrain]

Haven't looked at the SRS unit but I have been looking at BCM (Brake Control Module) for the last week. The earlier comments from DoubleBug are very similar to my experience with the BCM....it is conceivable that Volvo use the same "storage" EPROM chips on the SRS as they do on the BCM....some of the information you see in VIDA is actually being read from these programmable chips. At least some of the local configuration information may be stored on these as it is with the BCM....if these can't be accessed then you could have a problem. As I said I have no knowledge of the SRS but designers tend to be a lazy bunch so they may just have reused the same design.

[carboncow]

Does the whole unit get flashed or just "certain areas"...and would you expect a dealer having issue solving this?

[bigbrain]

On the BCM it looked like certain areas...I would expect the main dealer to have better access. My independent mentioned hooking problem cars up for hours but I can't remember what he was trying to update at the time.

[doublebug]

full SRS software reload at the dealer should solve the issue.