1. Forum
  2. Usenet
  3. UK.REC.CARS.MAINTENANCE

  • "Proxy Alignment"?

    From Brian@21:1/5 to All on Thu Feb 1 12:54:53 2024
    More of a general interest query than a problem.


    I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
    Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.

    My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
    aligned to the vehicle.

    When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
    allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it.

    Sure enough, it worked.

    However, I'd like to understand more about this process.

    Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Theo@21:1/5 to Brian on Fri Feb 2 09:46:32 2024
    Brian <invalid@invalid.com> wrote:
    More of a general interest query than a problem.


    I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
    Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.

    My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
    aligned to the vehicle.

    When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
    allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it.

    Sure enough, it worked.

    However, I'd like to understand more about this process.

    Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

    Don't know anything about the specifics, but at a high level I'd guess the difference is between programming the rest of the system to accept the new
    box, or programming the new box to pretend to be the old one.

    There are pros and cons of both approaches, but it is possible eg that the factory module can't be reprogrammed to pretend to be another and so the
    dealer workflow is to reprogram the whole system, but somebody has made an aftermarket modification (or a compatible box) which does allow 'pretending'. If there is any calibration required, perhaps it transfers the calibration
    from the old box to the new box, rather than doing a full recalibration as
    the dealer flow would do.

    But maybe this aftermarket route doesn't help you if your module is so badly damaged that it isn't responding at all which would prevent it being cloned
    or the calibration read out.

    But as I say I have no experience of this, this is just guesswork.

    Theo

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Brian@21:1/5 to Theo on Fri Feb 2 14:11:37 2024
    On 02/02/2024 09:46, Theo wrote:
    Brian <invalid@invalid.com> wrote:
    More of a general interest query than a problem.


    I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
    Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs
    resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.

    My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
    aligned to the vehicle.

    When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
    allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it. >>
    Sure enough, it worked.

    However, I'd like to understand more about this process.

    Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

    Don't know anything about the specifics, but at a high level I'd guess the difference is between programming the rest of the system to accept the new box, or programming the new box to pretend to be the old one.

    There are pros and cons of both approaches, but it is possible eg that the factory module can't be reprogrammed to pretend to be another and so the dealer workflow is to reprogram the whole system, but somebody has made an aftermarket modification (or a compatible box) which does allow 'pretending'. If there is any calibration required, perhaps it transfers the calibration from the old box to the new box, rather than doing a full recalibration as the dealer flow would do.

    But maybe this aftermarket route doesn't help you if your module is so badly damaged that it isn't responding at all which would prevent it being cloned or the calibration read out.

    But as I say I have no experience of this, this is just guesswork.

    You suggestion is similar to my thoughts. I understand they could 'read'
    the old unit but it responded slowly- out of spec.

    That suggests, perhaps, it would be possible read data from it and maybe
    use it to set up the new one.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)