Complete system schism caused by a single Broken Wheel Speed Sensor Wire

[Catpaw4x4]

I have notified Sewell. They come and collect the car and leave a loaner so their service is good. Whether their deeper understanding of the underlying issues are matured is TBC. They did ultimately solve the leaking floor leaks, with glue

Great to hear you are pleased with Sewell and their service is good. Awesome they gave you a loaner!!!

 

[IslandFalconer]

Yes, I have had the speed assist and the emergency braking come up randomly non working but they usually go away after a few miles. I am at the point of either trading the car for a Lexus; selling ti back to the dealer, or worse, looking into rejecting it for constant problems. It is just too annoying with all its idiosyncrasies and the time to release new software (no updates since I picked the car up in Feb/24 - Sewell say non available). And fuel economy is starting to aggravate me.

On top of that the windshield is crap. It is so badly chipped all over I now need an insurance claim to replace it.

Other Problems

• Some of the settings such as speed clicking toggle stay set after keys out and sometimes they don’t. Software issue.
• TPMS reads erroneously. Front left is the worse. Alerts low pressure when the same as other tires.
• Door knobs on right side stick intermittently. Passenger rear is worse but both do it.
• Multi-select knob works when it feels like it.
• Fav button often stops at first screen. Has to be pressed again to return to home and then again to go back to fav option.
• CarPlay crashes all the time, often when the ambient temp is high. This also happens when hitting fav button while CarPlay is starting up.
• Heated seats get red hot when turned on and then go Luke warm at best regardless of settings. Turning off and on again resets them but same issue repeats.
• When slowing down there are a lot of transmission clunks as if it is changing down late. This occurs often when slowing down from highway speeds to a stop light.
• When we hit bumps the rear door alarm sounds.
• Auto headlight setting is poor. Headlights stay on even in bright light. Seems like sensor is poorly calibrated.
• Altitude is reading about 30-50 feet lower than true. Needs calibrating.
• AC drips into both front footwells in humid conditions.
• The check engine light is randomly triggered when refueling if the pump does not shut off quickly enough. Level sensor issue?

Sounds exactly like my 2024 Purchased in May, mines been at the dealership since September. Still isn’t repaired.

 

[Rok_Dr]

Is that just the infotainment or the entire CANBUS/ECU etc?

Just the Infotainment unit, but its worth a try.

 

[DaveB]

Is that just the infotainment or the entire CANBUS/ECU etc?

Not the whole system as you can do it while driving.
Not sure what it does but it cleared strange faults and errors early on in the gRenadiers life.

 

[homeyclaus]

If everything fails at once, as others have said, it's either a voltage (low or high) or ground error. Ground connections shared between multiple electronics affected would be prime suspects.

Remote possibility: Bosch alternators are notorious for their voltage regulators getting weird - you'll need an oscilloscope to see it - but they generally cover that in VW and BMW mechanics school, and hopefully the Grenny mechanics would also know. The problem is that these "ticks" will cause other issues with electronics, and possibly permanent damage.

There are a lot of ground connections, but start from engine/transmission ground wires (there should be more than one) the main ECU, if it has a TCM, as well as the display head unit. Battery ground should be clean and tight, but since it's not in the engine bay it's unlikely unless it's loose at the body connection.

 

[bikesandguitars]

My Sprinter van experienced a similar massive failure last year. It ended up being the battery. Lots of parasitic drain on a Mercedes.

 

[nodric]

Sewell collected the car today. They will report their findings on Monday. I will update the thread then. A new Lexus is beckoning. Anyone looking for a fully loaded Grenadier with 10K miles on it, let me know.

 

[singlefin]

My Sprinter van experienced a similar massive failure last year. It ended up being the battery. Lots of parasitic drain on a Mercedes.

My battery tender circles between the van and the Grenadier.

 

[IslandFalconer]

The loaner I’m driving will simply stop charging the battery if it drops below 12.7 Volts. I have to keep it in the charger if I’m not using it over the weekend or it just stops charging. Such a strange issue. There’s still a lot of bugs to sort out of this vehicle.

 

[nodric]

My battery tender circles between the van and the Grenadier.

I've seen no evidence of parasitic drain. I have had it standing for 2 weeks and it was at 85% charge and started and ran fine. One clue I just mentioned to Sewell was the fact I had connected by hitch carrier box to the car for a trip. It had a 7 pin to 4 pin convertor attached as the Grenadier does not have a 4 pin (my 4Runner has both). The fault occurred while this was connected. Remember, correlation is not causation. The box is on my 4Runner currently with zero issues.

 

[IslandFalconer]

I've seen no evidence of parasitic drain. I have had it standing for 2 weeks and it was at 85% charge and started and ran fine. One clue I just mentioned to Sewell was the fact I had connected by hitch carrier box to the car for a trip. It had a 7 pin to 4 pin convertor attached as the Grenadier does not have a 4 pin (my 4Runner has both). The fault occurred while this was connected. Remember, correlation is not causation. The box is on my 4Runner currently with zero issues.

Hard to say, but not having access to diagrams or a full understanding of the software you just never know. Ineos has several electrical gremlins that are hard to pin down

 

[Tinerfeño]

Bosch alternators are notorious for their voltage regulators getting weird

I don't believe the voltage regulator is in the alternator. Most probably the voltage (and charging) control is in the engine ECU.

 

[IslandFalconer]

I don't believe the voltage regulator is in the alternator. Most probably the voltage (and charging) control is in the engine ECU.

The alternator is all in one, regulator on board, but it is pulse width controlled by ecu/bcm

 

[nodric]

UPDATE January 31st 2024

Sewell reached out. There was a speed sensor wire severed/snapped on the front right hand side. No evidence of this being caused by me, and not clear evidence of rodent damage (a big issue in Texas). They replaced the sensor under warranty. Apparently this caused all the faults! WTF emoji!

Responses to the issues I raised. Red is dealer verbatim reply.

Problems

• Some of the settings such as speed clicking toggle stay set after keys out and sometimes they don’t. Software issue. No official update yet
• TPMS reads erroneously. Front left is the worse. Alerts low pressure when the same as other tires. Reset, can show you how to reset yourself if it acts up, no software update for this
• Door knobs on right side stick intermittently. Passenger rear is worse but both do it. Performed an adjust and lubricated
• Multi-select knob works when it feels like it. Never experienced issue, but head unit Module and system reset and coded
• Fav button often stops at first screen. Has to be pressed again to return to home and then again to go back to fav option. Never experienced, always good to let the system come up fully before trying to go to FAV I say a good minute after startup
• CarPlay crashes all the time, often when the ambient temp is high. This also happens when hitting fav button while CarPlay is starting up. Reset head unit, paired our phone and it never dropped. You will need to wipe your phones and re-pair
• Heated seats get red hot when turned on and then go Luke warm at best regardless of settings. Turning off and on again resets them but same issue repeats. Reset head unit and coded, on my last test drive on low setting stayed low
• When slowing down there are a lot of transmission clunks as if it is changing down late. This occurs often when slowing down from highway speeds to a stop light. Nothing that did not feel like every other Grenadier, all driveline systems OK
• When we hit bumps the rear door alarm sounds. Adjusted cargo striker
• Auto headlight setting is poor. Headlights stay on even in bright light. Seems like sensor is poorly calibrated. No software update for this, I have noticed on other trucks the same issue
• Altitude is reading about 30-50 feet lower then true. Needs calibrating. No software update for this it is a GPS antenna and system working as best as it can

Services Needed

• 10K service. Done
• Full detail inside and out. I do not have capacity to perform detail at this time.
• Steam clean chassis and engine bay (or clean how you would recommend - I have been in some dusty climates) I do not have capacity for detail at this time.
• Replace windshield under insurance. Let me know what I need to do. So many stone chips. One bad. Driver’s vision is impeded by this. The amount of chip damage is insane btw! I can put you on our list of windshields to be ordered and will reach out when they are available. We do not work with insurance companies. I will perform repair and you pay once done and then ask for refund from your insurance company.

I then spoke on the phone with Sewell. They do not have any means to clean cars or detail them as they have not yet built out their facilities or hired people to do that. They are a "separate" company to their other franchises so they cannot use the adjoining facilities. I wonder what they would do if they sell used cars?

They also tell me the windshields are on allocation and in restricted supply. I assume this means that are replacing so many! I find the insurance pay and claim to be very bad. I was informed they are a repair garage and not a bodyshop. So they make this the customer problem.

I was told that they are talking to many buyers who are raising the same issues and grumbles as me. Some are just accepting the issues as they lie the cars, but others like me are just fed up.

I am going to sell the car.

 

[nodric]

And a final warning to those looking to sell. My car cost $98K (basically fully loaded with all the toys) plus dealer fees and made up charges and state taxes. That took the cost to about $109K. I have spoken to Sewell for a buyback and they are only willing to go $71K. I get they need to resell it and make money, but that's the haircut for a year of troublesome ownership.

 

[Trialmaster]

Good luck with the Lexus. The loss is about right in the current vehicle market in the UK There are not many cars that hold their values these days.

Oh forgot to add - it wasn't an ECU meltdown now was it?

 

[HereinDaRockies]

And a final warning to those looking to sell. My car cost $98K (basically fully loaded with all the toys) plus dealer fees and made up charges and state taxes. That took the cost to about $109K. I have spoken to Sewell for a buyback and they are only willing to go $71K. I get they need to resell it and make money, but that's the haircut for a year of troublesome ownership.

Doing Lexus LX or GX?

 

[AnD3rew]

Good luck with the Lexus. The loss is about right in the current vehicle market in the UK There are not many cars that hold their values these days.

Oh forgot to add - it wasn't an ECU meltdown now was it?

Yep, Covid tax days are gone, now like before you lose 25-30% of value as soon as you drive almost any vehicle off the showroom floor. Less if you sell privately.
And yes clearly not an ECU meltdown losing a wheel speed sensor in any modern vehicle will give those errors had the same in a Land Rover before. At least in a Grenadier you can usually keep driving with the errors showing, some cars will go unto limp modes and if you are offroad that often means you are stranded

 

[Jackattack13]

And a final warning to those looking to sell. My car cost $98K (basically fully loaded with all the toys) plus dealer fees and made up charges and state taxes. That took the cost to about $109K. I have spoken to Sewell for a buyback and they are only willing to go $71K. I get they need to resell it and make money, but that's the haircut for a year of troublesome ownership.

I refuse to take a bath with my Gren due to their poor software bugs and other issues that have left my truck in the shop for over 3 months which is I why I hired an attorney and am working through the consumer law path. Some folks are willing to put up with bugs, meltdowns, faults, and failures on a brand new truck, which is fine as it is their decision. But I had really high hopes for this truck and I unfortunately have come to no longer trust it for remote travels so she has to go. I truly love everything about this truck, but the gremlins are just too much, and a non-functional HVAC system was another nail in the coffin. I can't have my little ones riding in a car when its below freezing with a non-functional heater. Especially with the price tag of these vehicles.

 

[Commodore]

Correcting this post's title would seem appropriate. Perhaps, "Wheel Speed Sensor Wire Broken" would be more accurate.