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Technical Govergence Unit failure and miles flashing

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Technical Govergence Unit failure and miles flashing

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TheoV21

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Hello guys,
I had a problem with my battery over the winter that lead me to change my battery twice. All started after my miles on the dashboard start flashing and my blue and me completly stoped working. So I went to FIAT and had the car checked but they couldn't find anything wrong with the battery and the only thing that they believe it can be is the convergence unit failure that was resulting to my battery drain. However, they couldn't check if the convergence unit had a failure (or causing the drain) because their equipment for that check did not work. So I tried to find online, and asked some other FIAT delearship and they all told me that I have a failure with my convergence unit but they said that this may not be the problem for the battery issue. Anyway, I still talked with one of the dealearships and managed to get a good deal to remove my convergence unit and add a new stereo to the car which at least my radio will work and if the convergence unit was the problem for the barrety issue then it will be fixed. However, I still have one problem, the miles are still flashing. Do you know why is that and how it can be fixed? I think when I gave the car to FIAT they did a proxy alligment update, because I asked them to do that as well, and probably didnt fix the problem. If you have any idea of how to stop the miles flashing please let me know, also if you had a similar problem let me know how you dealt with it and if everything is ok with your car.

As I am a new member please let me know if this topic has been discusses before.
 
TheoV21 said:
Hello guys,
I had a problem with my battery over the winter that lead me to change my battery twice. All started after my miles on the dashboard start flashing and my blue and me completly stoped working. So I went to FIAT and had the car checked but they couldn't find anything wrong with the battery and the only thing that they believe it can be is the convergence unit failure that was resulting to my battery drain. However, they couldn't check if the convergence unit had a failure (or causing the drain) because their equipment for that check did not work. So I tried to find online, and asked some other FIAT delearship and they all told me that I have a failure with my convergence unit but they said that this may not be the problem for the battery issue. Anyway, I still talked with one of the dealearships and managed to get a good deal to remove my convergence unit and add a new stereo to the car which at least my radio will work and if the convergence unit was the problem for the barrety issue then it will be fixed. However, I still have one problem, the miles are still flashing. Do you know why is that and how it can be fixed? I think when I gave the car to FIAT they did a proxy alligment update, because I asked them to do that as well, and probably didnt fix the problem. If you have any idea of how to stop the miles flashing please let me know, also if you had a similar problem let me know how you dealt with it and if everything is ok with your car.

As I am a new member please let me know if this topic has been discusses before.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome to Fiat Forum.
As you say a flashing odometer normally indicates a proxi alignment is needed, but the root cause could be a CAN bus fault. The garage should not have returned the car to you with a flashing Odometer after a radio change. Did they say anything about it at the time? is so what? if not take the car back to them and ask them to sort it out.


Robert G8RPI.
 
No they didnt mention anything about the odometer flashing. So by changing the radio it should have fixed that problem?
 
I can understand that if you bring your car for repair and get it back with failure related to the repair you'd be pissed-off ! BUT, I wouldn't expect a tyre puncture being repared when replacing a windshield wipper... i.e why would you complain the odometer flashing after radio replacment if it was already ??

Have your car inspected by a well renowned dealer (maybe hard to find ;-), ask for a diagnosis (have to pay for), a quote for repairs and if you agree with the costs get it repaired and their work should be warrenty covered...

OR, bring your car to a back-street garage, ask them to fix it, which they will most probably do very well for lot cheaper, no official warrenty but "kind of" ...

Not allways easy to live in that jungle... Regards, Bernie
 
Hi Bernievarian,
The issue is that the flashing odometer is (probably) related to the Convergence / radio issue. It's an indication that a node on the CAN bus is not communicating. Presumably (I've not seen the car obviously) the Convergence module in this case. If the garage took out the convergence unit and fitted a new radio they should have carried out a proxi alignment to tell the system of the changes to the CAN configuration. If the odometer was still flashing how do they know if it was done correctly? That is why I asked if the garage mentioned it. I would at least expect them to say why it was still flashing. It sounds like the garage my not fully understand the issues. The original problem "All started after my miles on the dashboard start flashing and my blue and me completly stoped working"


Robert G8RPI.
 
Last edited:
Did the dealer fit a brand new original type radio? So is it identical to the radio that came out?
 
burrowsdeano new radio, different brand than the original.
g8rpi So the problem can be that they did not do a proxy alligment after they install the new radio? If so, I will go to FIAT and ask them to do it and hopefully it will be fixed.
 
The radio is the cause of the mileage flashing but a proxi alignment will not fix the fault. The body computer is set up to see a radio on the can network. If you've put an after market unit in, it can't be proxi aligned because it's not connected to can. A proxi alignment is to just get all of the control units communicating at the same speed/time. You can try whatever you like but the only way to stop it flashing is by having an original type radio fitted. When mileage is flasing it's for one of 2 reasons 1st is a new control ecu has been fitted and needs proxi alignment, the second is if one has stopped working or been removed. You will have to live with the flashing mileage or fit a new original type radio.
 
g8rpi: Thanks for the clarification Robert ! As the deal was from the garage to replace the original radio AND have the Convergence issue fixed, I agree the odometer should stop flashing ...

Have a nice day, regards, Bernie
 
burrowsdeano said:
The radio is the cause of the mileage flashing but a proxi alignment will not fix the fault. The body computer is set up to see a radio on the can network. If you've put an after market unit in, it can't be proxi aligned because it's not connected to can. A proxi alignment is to just get all of the control units communicating at the same speed/time. You can try whatever you like but the only way to stop it flashing is by having an original type radio fitted. When mileage is flasing it's for one of 2 reasons 1st is a new control ecu has been fitted and needs proxi alignment, the second is if one has stopped working or been removed. You will have to live with the flashing mileage or fit a new original type radio.
Click to expand...


Hi,
What happens if you install one of the third party CAN converter / interface modules. Is that enough to fool the system into thinking there is a radio fitted?
It may vary from model to model, but I thought a proxy alignment also determined what CAN nodes were present and set that as a baseline. Hence if you fit or remove an option you have to do an alignment. Not all cars have all options fitted.


Robert G8RPI.
 
I have a aftermarket head unit with CAN friendly interface adapter and on changing the head unit 3 years ago for a headunit that is 5 years old no alignment was needed.
 
On all fiat/Alfa models removing a control unit will make the mileage flash and proxi alignment will do nothing. It would be much better if it did work how you would think it should. As for the can converter, I've no idea if that would work as I've never seen/heard of one. Might be another way to sort this one though.
 
The facts that my mileagues are flashing is it a potential issue or it doesnt effect the car?
 
burrowsdeano said:
On all fiat/Alfa models removing a control unit will make the mileage flash and proxi alignment will do nothing. It would be much better if it did work how you would think it should. As for the can converter, I've no idea if that would work as I've never seen/heard of one. Might be another way to sort this one though.
Click to expand...

Hi,
Do you have a reference for this information? It's certainly not how I understood the system works.


Robert G8RPI.
 
It's just through years of dealer training and I've come across these issues before which confirmed what we had been told on the training courses.
 
I thought that one could disable CAN module(s) using FES/MES , may try when (if) I got some time to play with ...

Regards, Bernie
 
g8rpi said:
Hi,
Do you have a reference for this information? It's certainly not how I understood the system works.


Robert G8RPI.
Click to expand...

Robert - that information is wrong ^^

I removed my factory radio unit as it was stuck in phone and fitted a Sony unit, the mileage didnt flash, the only time it flashed was when I put a different factory unit back in it.

I did proxy alignment and re-enabled the See Radio function for the instrument cluster (as previously disabled it about a month after fitting the sony) and all is good - no flashing mileage and proxy alignment all good again.

So... You can remove a module, it wont cause the mileage to flash, you can put the same module back in, it wont cause the mileage to flash... BUT as soon as you put a module in with a different serial number, it will flash - thats my thoughts on this because...

On a few occasions - i attempted repairs to the faulty visteon unit that was in the car when i got it and took my sony unit out and popped in the original visteon - it made no difference to the mileage on the dash, but when i got the replacement visteon unit from another stilo and put it in, the mileage flashed.
 
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