PatGAPInnov wrote:

Try the following, turn the key to the ON position and proceed with measuring the voltage between pin 5 and 8 of the OBD port using a volt meter. Repeat the same process between pin 5 and 7.

Cheers

I would verify the connection between Pin 8 of the OBD connector and the instrument pack C0233-1. White and purple wire. We've seen a few cases of damaged wires that would prevent the DS2 from working.

Thanks Pat, I'll check that tomorrow.

Finally got round to checking the continuity of the White/Purple wire from the diagnostic socket to the CO233-1 connection on the instrument panel. All ok, back to the drawing board.

i'm embarrassed to suggest this to a man who is pretty clever with stuff but, did you have the engine running? ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Didn't need the engine running stan, just checking the wire wasn't broken anywhere and is connected at both ends.
Too hot now to carry on putting the car back together.

sorry , i meant when you had the obd reader inserted and got the dead socket..... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Yes, the engine was running each time I was plugged in.
Bit of a problem this, could take a long time to resolve, unfortunately.

i thought you would have,

did you disconnect both headlights and try? ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Certainly did.

The suspect problems are the two headlight ecu's the headlight self levelling ecu and breaks to one of the wires at the socket.
Checked them all bar the self levelling ecu which my car appears not to have even though the wires are at the headlights. If my car has this ecu it appears to be mounted away from the position in which it 's connector normally corrodes due to water so with a bit of luck it's not the problem even if I can't find it.
At the end of the day I think this is probably corrosion at a connector, the problem is where.

if you cant find that ecu , how about pulling the fuse for it? ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

I've pulled every fuse on the car to date but I must admit I haven't tried pulling ECU fuses and switching on the ignition.
Not sure what might happen if I did. Have to have a think about that.

That would be the next logical step, trying to isolate the defective ECU.

nicedayforit wrote:

Not sure what might happen if I did. Have to have a think about that.

As Patrick says, this is the next step in isolating the problem. What could happen is that you get an additional fault code - possibly with a warning light (such as the airbag). These will need to be cleared - once the diagnostic socket is brought back online
I had dead diagnostics due to water in my bluetooth module. Do you have any systems on the car that are not functioning to 100%? 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s
(wife thinks I'm nuts - prob right, too)

I have no reason to believe anything on the car is not operating correctly which is why I am a bit reluctant to start pulling fuses on ECU's only to cause a fault which at least for now I can't clear.
From your experience of such matters are there any ECU's I definitely shouldn't disable as a fault will definitely log. I'm think particularly of the LCM which seems to dabble in everything.
Initially I will list all the ECU's on the car and respective fuses and take it from there, obviously a lot of them will have no operating consequences even if a fault is logged.
One interesting thing I noticed yesterday, when I un-plugged the main lighting switch as part of my dashboard dismantling all the side lights lit up even though they were off when the switch was un-plugged. Plugging the switch back in switched them off.
Tried this a few times and each time I un-plugged the switch the sidelights came on. The switch was in the off position all the time. Can't for the love of me figure this out.
Given that everything is working correctly I still have a suspicion that corrosion in a connector affecting one of the bus systems could well be the cause of the problem. Obviously most of the ECU's are inboard on the car and simply not liable to damp damage. Initially I intend to look in the rear back compartment although again I have no reason to suspect water damage.