SAM Replacement Problem

[clsnyc]

Okay, I could use some help. I have a 2006 G&K converted Passion. Following electrical issues, we (my non-Smart mechanic and I concluded the SAM was the problem. I sent it to the UK to be refurbed but they found it to be too far gone and not remanufacturable. This led to buying one from a person on the west coast who had me ship several other parts to program it to my car. But once everything was put in, the car has electrical systems but the ignition is still locked out and won't start. They have has conference calls with the specialist on the west coast, my mechanics in NY and their electrical specialist. After hours of attempts they have not been able to solve the situation and I am left with a car that won't start, So:
- does anyone have any ideas of how to proceed and solve the problem?
- if I cannot get this solved, ideas of what to do with the no working Smart in NYC?
Local Smart dealers refuse to touch it as it is not the American Smart. G&K had no advice to give in the matter.

[ManchVegas]

Have you tried talking to these folks?

http://www.sosdiagnostics.com/Smart.html

[Huronlad]

Have the keys been mated to the new SAM?

[clsnyc]

Yes, they are the ones who have been involved from out west and whom I paid almost $1,000 for the new SAM. They claimed to have synced the new SAM with the keys, another computer element and the dash cluster. When it did not work, they were on the phone trying to help the localeople get everything synced.

There was no ignition problem before the original SAM was removed - the main problem was the lights (not working or flashing in and off).

Looking forward to suggestions.

[Rustedwrench]

Can you define "ignition problem", please? Do you mean the SAM will not actuate the starter to crank the engine? Or does it crank and not start?

If the former, and the Drive Authorization works like the 451 models, it is a simple system. Relatively speaking. The SAM must see a valid key id to match what is programmed in the key memory. To do that the ignition switch powers up the electrical system and the key transponder is interrogated by way of the antenna ring in the ignition switch. If there is a match the SAM will actuate its internal start relay to operate the starter. This assumes the proper keys and proper programming.

Possibilities:

Bad key; self-explanatory. Antenna ring fault; can not communicate with either the SAM or the key. Faulty connection from the antenna ring to the SAM. Fault in the power supply to the SAM start relay; fuse.

You may have checked all these things already. Unless you have a capable scan tool to see what the control units think they see, I can not think of anything else to suggest at this time.

[clsnyc]

The issue is the former and my understanding is that the Drive Authorization works as you describe.

I doubt that it is a bad key - I had two keys resynced and both keys were working before we started working on this. Also, the keys are able to be used to lock/unlock the doors. Does this also go through the same SAM circuits? The issue of a fault in a particular relay and/or fuse issue may or may not have been explored fully. I will raise it with my mechanic.

I know we had a special machine when they were trying to reprogram the whoe thing.

[clsnyc]

The mechanic is reverifying on this list. The harder part is to check that one relay in the SAM - any ideas in how to do this. If this is the problem then I would have to go back to the provider of the SAM. The only other one he is is not totally sure on is the fuse (he may not have checked every one of them). Other ideas?