Faulty Gap-Tech RCH+ OTH

[Ducklakeview]

Ok...

Bought an RCH+ OTH about June last year. Fitted it (properly, soldered connections) and it's been great. Just lately though, I've had some strange issues, flat battery and a randomly appearing airbag light, which I've been clearing. Today, my roof stopped working completely, after I had stood there and said to the car "how very dare you" I had a think, well, AFTER spending the afternoon on [ref]bz4kev[/ref]'s car

I knew it wasn't the pump motor, obviously!

There was no response at all from the buttons, no LEDs etc. Connected my Launch and it was telling me there was a short when open and close buttons pressed. Swapped the roof module for a spare known good one, cleared the faults and they returned. Monitored the output from the buttons and it was telling me the open button was continuously pressed, disconnected the two multiplugs from the switch panel, and still the same.

I then decided to remove power from the Gap-Tech, by snipping both the black and red wires (mine is soldered in) Again, the same, UNTIL I cut the green wire, at that point, the launch told me the open button was no longer pressed, BUT the close button now was. I then snipped the yellow and blue wires, and normal service was resumed! I cleared the airbag light, and it also has not returned, whereas it normally does after a few mins driving.

I therefore think the Gap-Tech is faulty, and possibly interfering with other items on the bus?

Anyone else had this?

Have messaged Gary, and hopefully his reputation for good service will see me right.. I won't be too happy if a £95 module has failed in a little over 12 months..

Mike

Edit - Just seen this, remarkably similar....

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38297&p=527770&hilit=faulty+gap+tech#p527770

 

[billz]

Ok...

Bought an RCH+ OTH about June last year. Fitted it (properly, soldered connections) and it's been great. Just lately though, I've had some strange issues, flat battery and a randomly appearing airbag light, which I've been clearing. Today, my roof stopped working completely, after I had stood there and said to the car "how very dare you" I had a think, well, AFTER spending the afternoon on [ref]bz4kev[/ref]'s car

I knew it wasn't the pump motor, obviously!

There was no response at all from the buttons, no LEDs etc. Connected my Launch and it was telling me there was a short when open and close buttons pressed. Swapped the roof module for a spare known good one, cleared the faults and they returned. Monitored the output from the buttons and it was telling me the open button was continuously pressed, disconnected the two multiplugs from the switch panel, and still the same.

I then decided to remove power from the Gap-Tech, by snipping both the black and red wires (mine is soldered in) Again, the same, UNTIL I cut the green wire, at that point, the launch told me the open button was no longer pressed, BUT the close button now was. I then snipped the yellow and blue wires, and normal service was resumed! I cleared the airbag light, and it also has not returned, whereas it normally does after a few mins driving.

I therefore think the Gap-Tech is faulty, and possibly interfering with other items on the bus?

Anyone else had this?

Have messaged Gary, and hopefully his reputation for good service will see me right.. I won't be too happy if a £95 module has failed in a little over 12 months..

Mike

Edit - Just seen this, remarkably similar....

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38297&p=527770&hilit=faulty+gap+tech#p527770

I know alienzed (Mozza) had an issue with his and he contacted them and even though it was over a year old they replaced it free of charge

 

[andyfanshawe]

I think Mike is good at electrics!!

This is a good project for you if the module is replaced. And you can keep the old one. Assuming you have a scope at last.

I can scope my gaptech module 1 wire at a time and save the waveforms. You can scope yours apparently faulty one and compare!

Just a thought
Hope you get full satisfaction.

Andy.

PS mines not been been in for 12 months yet.
PPs Be very interesting to see the current it uses when operating the roof. Then compare to a cold morning with equally cold fluid and stiffer fabric in the roof

 

[andyfanshawe]

sending you a pm mike.

 

[Ducklakeview]

sending you a pm mike.

Mike

 

[bz4kev]

Mike certainly knows his stuff but if it happened to a novice i.e. Me and probably other it would be a nightmare to sort glad mikes on the case and sharing his experiences with us all hopefully gap tech will not let him down and replace this will give others more confidence to deal with the same issues.Top man mike

 

[MACK]

Sounds very similar to what was happening to mine. intermittent issues with no roof buttons responding and codes in inpa. In the end I completely removed mine which was also soldered in. 5 months down the line no reoccurance and I've used Carly to activate remote operation of my roof. Not as easy or convenient as gaptech but better than nothing. Unfortunately for me I can't send mine back as it was on the car when I got it and by the time it started playing up it must have been a good couple of years old at least.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Sounds very similar to what was happening to mine. intermittent issues with no roof buttons responding and codes in inpa. In the end I completely removed mine which was also soldered in. 5 months down the line no reoccurance and I've used Carly to activate remote operation of my roof. Not as easy or convenient as gaptech but better than nothing. Unfortunately for me I can't send mine back as it was on the car when I got it and by the time it started playing up it must have been a good couple of years old at least.

Seems to have been a couple of instances. Not sure how many he's sold, so it could possibly be a very small failure rate.

As it's a microprocessor, I presume it just sends the appropriate signal along the CAN-BUS to instruct the roof module to do it'd job, ie merely imitates the signal given when the roof buttons are pressed, but for long enough to complete the open/close cycle. So, it's probably just not sending the correct signals. Ifit was relays etc, I'd open it and have a look see, but judging by the black substance around the wires, I think it's "potted" so no point opening it.

Hopefully he'll stand by his product, as although like you I've coded it to the key, I prefer the three clicks and walk away method, rather than standing there next to the car all "look at me" whilst holding the key lol.

Mike

 

[MACK]

I do miss the convenience of it especially coming back to it and the roofs down before you actually get to the car.

 

[Ducklakeview]

All good..

Had an email from Gary this morning asking me to send it back and he'll replace it. More than happy with that!

Mike

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Can't say fairer than that

 

[Ducklakeview]

Yay!



Just need the rain to stop now!

Mike

 

[Scott S]

All good..

Had an email from Gary this morning asking me to send it back and he'll replace it. More than happy with that!

Mike

Hello Mike

Thanks for moving my motor for the roof. Top job my friend.

I will keep In touch

Regards
Scott :driving: