I installed the EC FMIC today. I'll post more about that in the appropriate thread later. But at the tail end of the install I managed to break off the circuit board that's connected to the negative battery cable. It's apparently very delicate.
So now I get this message and the battery warning light.
I assume the car is fine, it just doesn't know everything is fine. But after being towed once already I'm not too eager to do it again. Can this be re-soldered or do I need a whole new part. And if so, it is user replaceable or do I need the dealer to do it. It appears to connect into the fuse box somewhere but I was too tired to explore it tonight.
I haven't seen this posted before so I'm hoping someone has some knowledge on this.
Don't feel bad, I too broke the cable (connector next to the temperature sensor) and also found out how delicate and expensive the replacement part is. I got the exact same error as well. This is a smart cable that detects temperature of the battery and other things. I broke mine when I removed the battery to install the GWR lightweight battery. I'm sure others will experience this when they replace or remove the the battery. To fix mine, I used a glue gun to repair the connector.
So I texted the service manager last night and told him I fixed the part with a little glue. He said “let me send you the new one anyway”. And he did. 10 minute install. All he wants is the old part back. Who knew there was a really great Fiat dealer in small town Colorado?
Haha I thought about that the first time I lifted that battery out of the car! How is that working for you? Do you have to keep it on a tender? My car is not a daily driver. I usually get it out once maybe twice a week but when I do I drive it for several hours.
So I have to tell a funny story on myself that involves the battery. When I was doing the FMIC install I took the airbox and battery out first since i was going to lift the car up with a Quickjack. So I get the car all set up to lift and I lift the car maybe 2" and I go to loosen the McGard lug nuts and realize the lug tool is in the kit in the trunk. Well the battery is out of the car so I can't pop the trunk open. So I drop the battery back in, hook it up and pop the trunk. Take the battery back out, hook it back up to the Quickjack and close the trunk. ****. I didn't get the lug tool. So I had to drop the battery back in a second time and do it again. It's stupid things like that that made the install a 10 hour process.
I plug it in every night now with the pigtail installed on the spare terminals. Due to the heat right now and some things still "on" with the car in the off position, I have come out from work and it was down enough to not start and completely dead one day and even the Infotainment had overheated. Changed sides of the covered parking so that the nose is in the shade in the Afternoons! I do keep a DBPower jump start pack in the cubby behind the passenger seat now for this reason. First time it happened, it was in the trunk and like you, I couldn't get in to grab it with the battery dead. Also got a new Leatherman tool to have a Phillips on me at all times in case I have to use the manual release at any time.
You're much more extreme than I am. I draw the line on some performance mods. For instance, I'm not ready to cut plastic to install a true track rollbar. The track i go to doesn't require it anyway and I haven't branched out to other tracks yet. And I'm not ready to sacrifice reliability just to drop 30+ lbs. I drive my car to too many areas where there is no cell phone coverage and no help for a long ways.
It was just some type of project glue my wife had lying around the house. I’d say it is similar to Super Glue. She glued it for me and used only a very small amount. It seemed to have worked very well and I was content with the repair but the service manager thought I should replace it anyway. And since he gave it to me for free I was happy to take it.
It seems my U76 recall misfortune turned into a positive after all. Sometimes we must be patient and wait for the real lessons to reveal themselves.
one thing I have been seeing here is the preemptory changing of parts for no other reason than changing them. I really don't understand why so many are willing to remove perfectly serviceable parts from their cars jeopardizing their warranties, rather than waiting a year or two for the actual failure of said part?
The parts I am changing may be perfectly serviceable for a stock car, but I am building up a track and show car and need the performance increases and weight drop. Not doing anything that would knowingly break anything, but I accept the risk for what I am planning on using the car for.
The ground cable is just that, a ground cable. It does not have the sensor. I'd be curious if a Mazda part would work here since this is one thing on the vehicle that clearly says Mopar on it.
The numbers on that sensor and the one on our cars is different. I don't know if that means it's coded for different vehicles, battery types, PCMs etc. Like I said in your other thread, if you aren't getting a warning that the battery isn't charging I would leave it alone. Looks like you only broke the plastic covering the wires.
That's great info...I wonder if researching through Bosch would determine if it's a generic part or vehicle specific. Well....looks like its time to venture down that rabbit hole...where's my carrot?
seems like @Magoffin is looking for the best price and the equivalent. I tried Bosch for a bit but its website grabbed onto my vehicle selection and won't shake it loose. (darn cookies) so a generic search isn't happening. Also, the two may be the same internals but the FIAT /MOPAR part number comes with the cable harness built in. The Bosch part number has a plug-in type connector.
Thanks, @Mike34 . This is what I've been able to determine so far but without complete confidence:
68340388AA OEM number for sensor+harness
Supercedes 04727798AA
4692269AI sensor only; not clear if the application matches the sensor used in 68340388AA sensor+harness
Supercedes 04692269AD; 04692269AE; 04692269AF; 04692269AG; 04692269AH; 4692269AI
This seems like something that should eventually make it to the aftermarket. Photo of my OEM part:
I'm sure it can be done. I saved a fortune by replacing an ignition coil connector. I think that harness is like $600! I'd love to see someone find a cheap solution and post about it here.
I just stuck this thread. You guys are terrific! I’m sorry to hear about breaking a cheap part that is $500 to replace, but impressed with a community that jumped in to help.
Best regards
Pete
Dude how did you even get to brake it? To be honest 497 bucks ain't that much. I was expecting for something like 600-800 bucks. However 497$ still ain't a small amount of money. To be honest, if I was in your place, I would not even try to install it by myself. I mean, electronic parts ain't something that I am good at, and even more, in case you do not install it properly, you might actually brake all the electronics in the car. I would actually look for someone who is good at circuit card assembly. An electrician, with great experience and knowledge.
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