SOLVED: My PDC had gone missing?!

[SMOKEY53]

I was attempting to tap pin 7 on the middle connector for PDC as a trigger wire for a relay to turn on reverse camera. Got 12v out of it. Unplugged middle connector so I could splice wire in. Now my PDC won't work. No longer getting 12v on that wire anymore, and no light on PDC button anymore.

Checked fuse 6 on glove box (marked 'parking assist') , fuse is fine but swapped a new one in just in case. No change.

Scanned with BMW Scanner 1.4.0 - showed PDC greyed out and 'module not found'.

So I'm at a loss. Any help?

Hoping I haven't fried the PDC module somehow - but not sure how I could test?

Thanks in advance.

SOLUTION: the middle connector was not fully seated after I had previously disconnected it from the PDC module. Make sure the connector is fully seated before you push the clip over.


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[SMOKEY53]

90 views, no suggestions?

Would like to avoid just throwing a new module at it....is there way i can test input/output voltages for the module?

[crystalworks]

Out of curiosity (I am doing a relay for my reverse cam install tomorrow, but triggered by tail lights) why trigger it with the PDC?

Did you unplug it while the module was in use? Or was the key out and you were just working on it?

[SMOKEY53]

May have unplugged it while key in position 1 but can't be sure. Was rushing the job.

Was tapping PDC indicator lamp wire as it comes on when car placed in reverse but you can also override it to switch cam off when in reverse, or activate when in park/drive by hitting PDC button. Best of all worlds really.


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[GSXRliterbikz]

I'd be looking at the wire tap. Also, if you unplugged it while it was on, then it might take a few ignition cycles for the car to recognize it again.

[SMOKEY53]

Originally Posted by GSXRliterbikz

I'd be looking at the wire tap. Also, if you unplugged it while it was on, then it might take a few ignition cycles for the car to recognize it again.

I've reversed all my wiring - ie, removed wired tap, tapped up where I spliced. So should be back to normal in that sense.

I reckon I have driven t half a dozen times since it disappeared - how many cycles should it take to relearn the module? Maybe can I do a hard reset by disconnecting battery overnight??


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[crystalworks]

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in, but these cars seem to be very sensitive to plugging/unplugging things with the battery still connected. I guess it has to do with things not being in "sleep" mode yet?

Can't hurt to do a battery reset overnight... definitely worth a shot. Hopefully it's not something you have to re-engage in programming. Were you using a regular bosch 5 pin style relay? Terminator suggested a normal 30A or 40A auto relay would pull too much current and cause a problem...

After seeing your response above I went searching and made up a circuit to do a switched micro-style relay (the one Term suggested) in a project box. Going to hook it up tonight. Will report back as to if I am in the same boat as you or if it works...

[TerminatorX5]

Hey Smokey...

when you spliced up into that pin, where did the splice go to? that pin has a very low amperage, and anything with low enough resistance (high amperage draw) will shunt the internal circuit, and the PDC will not function...

Think of this a capillary blood vessel - you need another thin (low amperage) conduit to draw enough for your application and still, not hinder the original application...

A very sensitive relay with a 12V and 30mA (or even 17.5 mA) triggering amperage should be good for this application...

Once you removed your tap, did the PDC come back? You don't really need any kind of dramatic resets, once the car is asleep and then awaken, it should suffice...

do you have INPA to scan your modules?

[TerminatorX5]

you checked fuse F6 in glove compartment, right?

check for 12V on pin 1 on plug X300, same one that has the pin 7 that you tapped... That is the one that feeds power to the PDC module

[crystalworks]

Not that it helps you any... but my install went off without a hitch. Thanks terminator for your info. My setup was remarkably similar to yours except my relay wiring was a bit different... as I was switching 12v and not ground. I'll post pics and info for the curious in another thread and my Avin install guide.

Smokey, are you sure you got pin 7? It's a brown/white wire on the X300 plug. It was the same color on both Term's and mine. If so, then I am inclined to think it's the relay you are using.