Headlight failure, Windscreen cracked, Fourth gear went AWOL and now the BCM arghhh!

[Neil n Pat]

Been an awful past eighteen months. In brief the dipped headlights failed just as we were heading for the tunnel a year last February from Calais to Dover. Once we got across to the garage for the MOT and light failure repair the bottom line was the Branch Control Unit ( relay fuse plate) was defective which would take three days to get. This was jury rigged with a gorilla taped switch with indicator (how posh) to get us on the road to Dunoon. This was left for a further MOT which it passed as an observation. This year the gearbox failed plus the windscreen cracked requiring replacement then to compound matters the headlights which had passed three previous MOT´s failed as the continental headlights could not be aligned correctly and had to be replaced. So taking a step back to the dipped headlight failure which is the outstanding issue. The duct tape was looking rather tired by now so thought it a good time to sort before we hit the tunnel 1st Sept. for a three month tour of France. The local garage removed the jury rigged dipped headlight wiring with switch then connected the analyser. Everything worked, or so they thought. Back home running with the engine turning the dipped headlights failed (again) Back to the garage. Today the jury rigged switch is now fitted into the facia ( no duct tape) so we have a posh jury rigged dipped headlight switching mechanism. Now here is the curveball. It is now looking like the BCM Body Control Module is defective which sits behind the relay fuse panel aka the branch control unit.
Here is my question...... is there anywhere on our route heading towards Folkstone from Dunoon that can do a changeout of out or our BCM ? Holy Loch is beautiful but so challenging when it comes to BCM´s.
FYI in terms of cost, the headlights change out cost 500, the gearbox and clutch 1750, the windscreen under insurance free, first lighting jury rig 165, second Dunoon garage visit with NFF ( no fault found but was) 40 and now today to reinstate the jury rig whilst also determining the fault is the BCM 120.
And finally a salient lesson was picked up on our last rally to Cumbrae, DO NOT start your engine whilst you are on EHU. Now this is an interesting statement which should be under another post. Any help appreciated. atb

 

[GeoffnDee]

Neil n Pat It could be worth looking at www.coastalmotorhomes.co.uk who may be able to supply a BCM to you for your garage to fit.

 

[marrod23]

Been an awful past eighteen months. In brief the dipped headlights failed just as we were heading for the tunnel a year last February from Calais to Dover. Once we got across to the garage for the MOT and light failure repair the bottom line was the Branch Control Unit ( relay fuse plate) was defective which would take three days to get. This was jury rigged with a gorilla taped switch with indicator (how posh) to get us on the road to Dunoon. This was left for a further MOT which it passed as an observation. This year the gearbox failed plus the windscreen cracked requiring replacement then to compound matters the headlights which had passed three previous MOT´s failed as the continental headlights could not be aligned correctly and had to be replaced. So taking a step back to the dipped headlight failure which is the outstanding issue. The duct tape was looking rather tired by now so thought it a good time to sort before we hit the tunnel 1st Sept. for a three month tour of France. The local garage removed the jury rigged dipped headlight wiring with switch then connected the analyser. Everything worked, or so they thought. Back home running with the engine turning the dipped headlights failed (again) Back to the garage. Today the jury rigged switch is now fitted into the facia ( no duct tape) so we have a posh jury rigged dipped headlight switching mechanism. Now here is the curveball. It is now looking like the BCM Body Control Module is defective which sits behind the relay fuse panel aka the branch control unit.
Here is my question...... is there anywhere on our route heading towards Folkstone from Dunoon that can do a changeout of out or our BCM ? Holy Loch is beautiful but so challenging when it comes to BCM´s.
FYI in terms of cost, the headlights change out cost 500, the gearbox and clutch 1750, the windscreen under insurance free, first lighting jury rig 165, second Dunoon garage visit with NFF ( no fault found but was) 40 and now today to reinstate the jury rig whilst also determining the fault is the BCM 120.
And finally a salient lesson was picked up on our last rally to Cumbrae, DO NOT start your engine whilst you are on EHU. Now this is an interesting statement which should be under another post. Any help appreciated. atb

Keep your chin up you are not alone we have just had to pay £1,000 for welding that was supposed to have been done on last year's not & £250 for a new headlight module the joys of motorhoming

 

[Conal]

I have just spent £145 on a service for our 4 year old AL-KO levellers. Apparently there is no service requirement for these. I contacted AL-KO and was told no service was required. I then contacted A&E Leisure in Northwich who carry out the service for other brands and who were happy to check mine. I mention this here as it could be wasted money, but these things can go wrong as experienced by FUN members. To stay on thread I also paid a very good bodyworker at Brownhills to repair a damaged cab caused by my careless driving.

 

[Neil n Pat]

thankyou GeoffnDee for the constructive link. I will call them today. Hopefully with the Fiat genuine part BCM and Relay control unit it will put this one to bed ridding me of this monkey on my back.
I was surprised at the lack of suggestions from the amount of viewings on this post having spoken to others at MHfun events who have had ECU and or BCM problems. Nowt as queer as folk eh ? atb

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Landy Andy]

I’ve never heard or read about anybody having BCM of ECU problems with their motorhomes, apart from the airbag ECU on Ducatos. Which is then either replaced or repaired by CrashData.

 

[Neil n Pat]

speaking to some fellow funsters ECU´s have been blown starting your engine whilst connected to the EHU. It is advised not to do this. Before doing anything regarding BCM´s and ECU´s if you are having issues is to disconnect the battery then short the positive and negative with the headlights switched on for fifteen minutes minimum. This will drain any residual voltage charges in all of the modules allowing a full reset to the factory defaults when the motor came off the production line. Turn on the ignition and leave running for a while whilst all the modules self educate themselves to the correct settings. One to remember if you are having false indications, running roughly, high RPM´s etc etc.