99' S70, 5-speed, Immobilizer Problem. End of the road for Matilda?

[850 LPT]

Abscate stopped by this morning to take a look at Matilda. He was not able to communicate with the ECU through his Autel scanner, which just confirmed what my indie experienced, and what I saw myself while trying to connect with Vida. Connection to the DIM appeared to be working fine.
That, combined with the fact that the engine was cutting out while driving over bumps and potholes until it finally quit altogether, led us to the conclusion of a wiring issue.
Then he researched which pins in the DIM connector and in the ECU connector carry the Canbus signal, and we checked for continuity. This turned out to be fine, so next is brainstorming what else could be causing the communication issue. Well, that would be more his brain than mine

I just love Abscates methodical approach, and so appreciate the time he so graciously provides having such a busy life himself. In his words we made progress!

[scot850]

Here is a random thought on the OBD2 not communicating. Has the center console been removed at any point or perhaps a coffee or drink spilled on the center console?

The main connectors for the center console are just under the parking brake cover. Perhaps check under there and see if the connectors are, and if they may have been drowned in something compromising the connector.

The fact you are getting issues over bumps and the likes sounds to me like a connector or wire somewhere is getting stretched causing the issue. Now, where that is? I can't recall now if you checked all the engine grounds and none are corroded or compromised?

Also check the B+ cable in the kidney shaped main fuse box. The wire is in the front of it and held in place by a brass nut. Look very carefully under the connector, especially if it has gone matte rather than being shiny. The wiring under there gets hot and in my car's case had melted and was shorting.

You are fortunate that Abscate is there to help with his methodical approach!

Neil.

[abscate]

Just made it back home. 0400-2200, long day!

Mathilda will give up her secrets to the enquiry of logic,..l

[abscate]

Ok, here are the two codes we unload from Mathilda, I want o dig I and understand if these are ECM faults or DIM faults

[abscate]

Link to an immobilized thread on a 1999 2000 with this code

viewtopic.php?p=589971&hilit=Dim+000D#p589971

One thing we didn’t check , a deep dive into the fuse box checking B+ and all the fuse box connections

[850 LPT]

Link to an immobilized thread on a 1999 2000 with this code

viewtopic.php?p=589971&hilit=Dim+000D#p589971

One thing we didn’t check , a deep dive into the fuse box checking B+ and all the fuse box connections

This goes back to what Neil is suggesting as well. As a next step I could put things back together and look at all the connections and fuses. Then connect the battery and see what happens.

That thread has a lot in it to unpack, and my head is hurting already

Awesome cat shot by the way!

[scot850]

Liked the cat picture!

One last thing to check based on the messages are the ECU connectors corroded? Worth checking.

I had a nightmare with the 00 V70R with dash light issues. Was at the point of replacing the DIM pcb at huge expense. However, it turned out the connector to the DIM must of somehow come loose. Refitting it and all of the issues went away. I was having OBD2 connection issues due to this as it reads through the DIM to the ECU.

Neil.

[abscate]

What’s the spray stuff you hit terminal connections with to fight corrosion? Terminal cleaner or electrical contact spray?

[jmartin919]

DeoxIT

[850 LPT]

DeoxIT

Thank you! I will pick that up as soon as I can.