Smart Wheel controller module problems

[footdoc]

I have had intermittent failure of the cruise AND wipers for the past yr or so...usually they work fine, but occasionally I cannot get the cruise to come on..and if no cruise, no wipers....sometimes...and if I turn off the engine and restart, it usually will start working again....
3 months ago as my warranty was expiring, I had Spartan replace my steering wheel and clockwheel. The tech had the controller ready to replace but was told that now that it's working and to not install it...anyway...it worked fine for 3 months in totally dry conditions...then after spending a very rainy weekend while parked, I found the cruise and wipers AWOL again...went back to my local repair shop and the tech found that one of the SMDs on the controller board (R7) was very corroded...Smartwheel said they will replace the controller but I had to pay labor...no biggie...it will take less than 5 minutes and I'll do it myself...but they also said I need to fix the water intrusion in the bay....BUT there is NO water ever in there...everything including my extra serpentine belt wrapped in cardboard has no sign of ever being wet....
Has anyone else every had this problem? I think the factory might put on an invisible clear coating on the board and just missed this one tiny spot, as the rest of the board was perfect....

[Doc Mark]

Sure have Footdoc, I had the whole steering wheel replaced under warranty, but now that the warranty has expired, and I can't get the hi/low wiper function to work, I need to troubleshoot further. Where is the controller board & what is an SMD?

Mark

[OldHiker]

I've had this problem and had the module replaced several times. The last time it was replaced, the tech told me that I need to reboot this module when this happens.

In the upper left corner of the module are 2 heavy black connectors. Pull them both. Now reinstall the right one first then plug in the heavier left one.

To test this, start the engine, press the cruise control "on/off" button. Then press the "set" button. The engine rpm's should increase. If not, do it again.

This is now part of my start up procedure.

Doesn't permanently fix, because it reoccurs, but at least I can have my horn, cruise and wipers again.

[footdoc]

Where is the controller board & what is an SMD?

Mark....mine is located in the front left bay where the 12V fuse panel is....it's a black box about 4x6 inches with about 7 plug in connectors going into the front of it....
SMD = surface mounted device...very small rectangular transistor like chips on the circuit board...
My issue involves complete loss of wipers and cruise...the only functions that work when it goes kaput is the IC and headlight flasher buttons....

[OldHiker]

Those are the exact same problems I had. And still have after the replacement of 3 modules. Now I just reboot it and continue on my way. Might last a day or a month. Never know.

[Doc Mark]

Thanks Footdoc & OldHiker - I'll check/reboot the module today!

Mark

[OldHiker]

For clarification, here is the picture of the module.



The module is the black one in the lower right.

Here is a closeup of the module itself.



The connectors to remove are the top left. Black connectors with thick red wires. Unplug both. Does not matter which one is first. Then plug them back in. Right one first then left one. This works for me.

Hope it helps.

[Doc Mark]

Nice pics OldHiker.

Does it matter whether ignition is on or off when you do the reboot?

Mark

[OldHiker]

Engine & ignition off. To test, start the engine. Press the on/off button on the wheel. Then press the "SET" button. Engine should increase by 3-2-400 rpm.

[footdoc]

I replaced the module and tested it....with the old one, after starting the engine, it would take a minute or two before the fast idle would work...with the new module, it was working right away....a good sign Time will tell.....

[Ann n Gene]

I have EXACTLY the same problem with the wipers and cruise. However, we had it worked on in Idaho this summer and they found a loose connection at the base of the steering colum under the dash. We have had it happen several times since then and sometimes it corrects itself, at other times I have to crawl under the dash and wiggle the connection, does not seem to be loose but always corrects the problem. Now I am wondering if it is actually breaking and reconnecting the connection thus resetting the controller? Hmmmm, may have to check this out further, if only I knew how to test the theory for sure. Gene

[OldHiker]

I had it happen as recently as yesterday. Rebooted and corrected. I did open the steering column and check but all I found were connectors. Where is this ground located?

[Doc Mark]

The gremlins stayed with us all the way home - and of course all but 1 day was in the rain.

After we got settled in, I began some investigations, and here is what I learned.

Just because you have a Smartwheel from VIP industries does NOT necessarily mean you have a VIP industries controller box. It seems that for some period of time (& I don't know what that time period is - I only know it affected my Mountain Aire) Spartan chose to use the VIP wheel & a controller box of a different manufacturer.

The pictures provided by Old Hiker are of the Spartan-supplied controller, not one from VIP.

So, if you are having problems with your controller board, check which you have before calling for help.

[footdoc]

Mark...I found that out when I called VIP about mine...I gave them the numbers off the box and they didnt have a match, so I knew it was another mfg for my controller...
I had a bunch of rain this weekend and mine seems to be fixed....at least for now...the fast idle works immediately, unlike ever before too..