[samsmart7790]

I ordered some new keys earlier this month, and went in to the dealership today to get them programmed.

After waiting for almost an hour, someone came out and told me that one of the keys was programmed successfully, but when they tried to program the second key, the SAM control unit locked up. The car is completely unusable right now. They told me it's going to cost $1,300+ in parts and labor to replace the SAM control unit. They also mentioned this is a "fairly common" problem that occurs when programming new keys, and that ours is the "second or third time it's happened".

The car was fully functional before I brought it in to have the new key programmed, and now it's dead until I pay for the replacement parts and labor.

I'm prepared to eat the repair bill, but I was wondering if anyone else had any experience or advice regarding this issue before I do.

 

[Goofybutsane]

I went to a locksmith to cut and program a key last year I bought from eBay it took 20 mins with no issue. I’ve never heard of this problem, I would think if the software in the SAM froze then a battery disconnect for 5 minutes would reboot it to try again

 

[Miss Mercedes]

It would seem to me that if a part a dealership is directly working on breaks, they should be the ones to fix it.

If in the event that my working on a customer database results in data corruption (even if it's not my fault) we aren't going to charge them to restore their data.

 

[mcowher]

I'm sorry, but them charging you for the repair due to THEIR mistake is total BS. They need to cover this repair and the cost to you should be $0.

 

[MB DNA]

The car is completely unusable right now. They told me it's going to cost $1,300+ in parts and labor to replace the SAM control unit. They also mentioned this is a "fairly common" problem that occurs when programming new keys, and that ours is the "second or third time it's happened".

The car was fully functional before I brought it in to have the new key programmed, and now it's dead until I pay for the replacement parts and labor.

So sorry and welcome to SCoA.

:bullsht::bullsht::bullsht:
Not sure where you are located but it appears that you have a 450? Was the service Center a smart or M-B DEALERSHIP?

Sure seems to me that something as simple as programming new keys should not brick the SAM unless THEY did something wrong??? I'd ask for some "dealer love" and/or proof of the other times it has happened but more important what did they learn so as to not do it again?

Did they offer up a warning that based on prior experiences, this could be the rather expensive result???

 

[jimvw57]

Admitting that it has happened before 2 or 3 times sounds like they are doing something wrong, they should be buying the new SAM in my opinion...

I would give S.O.S. Diagnostics a call and ask them as a second opinion. They might be able to restore the part, or get another rebuilt one cheaper then $1,300+ ...

 

[smark]

 

[Miss Mercedes]

And is the SAM actually ruined or do they just not know what they're doing?

 

[Yinzer]

And is the SAM actually ruined or do they just not know what they're doing?

I know that you are probably much younger than me, and apparently work in the IT field (I'm a civil engineer) but I find that there is something absolutely utterly insane with the way we have allowed businesses to sell us mechanical devices whereby they can be rendered utterly inoperable due to a software error.

Yes, I understand the need for digital electronic IC engine controls so an engine can operate at the perfect state of tune (ignition timing, exact stoichiometric A/F ratio) in order to meet stringent emission requirements. but what kind or economic insanity has allowed to to accept manufacturers giving us cars where the mere act of unlocking a door or turning on a headlight is tied to a device that can render the car inoperable if it fails?

 

[Yinzer]

I would give S.O.S. Diagnostics a call and ask them as a second opinion. They might be able to restore the part, or get another rebuilt one cheaper then $1,300+ ...

Here:

S.O.S. Diagnostics

 

[MB DNA]

Ace says - "We can cover 92% of the vehicles on the road today."

Guess whose they can't "cut and program keys or remotes" - smart & M-B.

 

[jimvw57]

I meant to include a link, Thanks Yinzer!!

 

[Pete000]

Dealer broke it, Dealer should fix it. I hear so many horror stories about MB dealers.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

I know that you are probably much younger than me, and apparently work in the IT field (I'm a civil engineer) but I find that there is something absolutely utterly insane with the way we have allowed businesses to sell us mechanical devices whereby they can be rendered utterly inoperable due to a software error.

Yes, I understand the need for digital electronic IC engine controls so an engine can operate at the perfect state of tune (ignition timing, exact stoichiometric A/F ratio) in order to meet stringent emission requirements. but what kind or economic insanity has allowed to to accept manufacturers giving us cars where the mere act of unlocking a door or turning on a headlight is tied to a device that can render the car inoperable if it fails?

I mean, all they have to do is design the device well and properly train their techs on that device and there shouldn't be many nasty surprises like this.

MB/smart isn't the only one being ridiculous like this. My girlfriend's Honda Civic has a built-in navigation system. A sharp eye will take note that the system is literally just an Android tablet with a Honda skin on it. Well, while troubleshooting why Android Auto wasn't working by resetting the unit, it managed to freeze. Buttons weren't working, the screen was flickering. It was essentially bricked.

Honda suggests replacing the whole unit to the tune of $1+k.

Then I remembered that the thing is just an Android tablet, and it probably just needs to be restarted. Since the buttons don't work and there isn't a battery to run dead, I checked the fuses up front, pulled the one for the system, then put it back in. Headunit rebooted and had no further issues.

Our original problem turned out to be bad USB ports on our phones, but it could have gotten far more expensive if Honda got involved.

 

[mcowher]

I mean, all they have to do is design the device well and properly train their techs on that device and there shouldn't be many nasty surprises like this.

MB/smart isn't the only one being ridiculous like this. My girlfriend's Honda Civic has a built-in navigation system. A sharp eye will take note that the system is literally just an Android tablet with a Honda skin on it. Well, while troubleshooting why Android Auto wasn't working by resetting the unit, it managed to freeze. Buttons weren't working, the screen was flickering. It was essentially bricked.

Honda suggests replacing the whole unit to the tune of $1+k.

Then I remembered that the thing is just an Android tablet, and it probably just needs to be restarted. Since the buttons don't work and there isn't a battery to run dead, I checked the fuses up front, pulled the one for the system, then put it back in. Headunit rebooted and had no further issues.

Our original problem turned out to be bad USB ports on our phones, but it could have gotten far more expensive if Honda got involved.

That just makes me angry to hear that.

 

[halfcack]

I ordered some new keys earlier this month, and went in to the dealership today to get them programmed.

After waiting for almost an hour, someone came out and told me that one of the keys was programmed successfully, but when they tried to program the second key, the SAM control unit locked up. The car is completely unusable right now. They told me it's going to cost $1,300+ in parts and labor to replace the SAM control unit. They also mentioned this is a "fairly common" problem that occurs when programming new keys, and that ours is the "second or third time it's happened".

The car was fully functional before I brought it in to have the new key programmed, and now it's dead until I pay for the replacement parts and labor.

I'm prepared to eat the repair bill, but I was wondering if anyone else had any experience or advice regarding this issue before I do.

My Smart has not been starting properly why is located in another place. I have been getting messages like, engine malfunction, remove key, take to service shop, four wheels need to be off ground ?, etc. it has shut down in traffic, refused to start then a little later it starts as normal. Any problems like this ?

 

[strelnik]

I ordered some new keys earlier this month, and went in to the dealership today to get them programmed.

After waiting for almost an hour, someone came out and told me that one of the keys was programmed successfully, but when they tried to program the second key, the SAM control unit locked up. The car is completely unusable right now. They told me it's going to cost $1,300+ in parts and labor to replace the SAM control unit. They also mentioned this is a "fairly common" problem that occurs when programming new keys, and that ours is the "second or third time it's happened".

The car was fully functional before I brought it in to have the new key programmed, and now it's dead until I pay for the replacement parts and labor.

I'm prepared to eat the repair bill, but I was wondering if anyone else had any experience or advice regarding this issue before I do.

I read this thread and was interested to find out how samsmart resolved this issue.

 

[sokoloff]

I'm interested too. If the dealership caused this to happen, then I don't understand why it isn't going to be fixed on their nickel?

Len

 

[1983JZR3W]

We may never know. He posted once and has not been back in seven months.

 

[strelnik]

We may never know. He posted once and has not been back in seven months.

I attended a telematics conference this week and discovered that the cause of this " bricking," as it is called in the industry, is the disassociation of the engine units circuits with the immobilizer unit. This happens through programming. Some can be resolved, some not. In either case, the people who did the programming are the ones who caused the problem.

You are fortunate. Your SAM appears to be available.
Just to see what happens, I have found the person in Germany on the MB Board of Directors who is responsible for situations like this and I plan to write her a letter. We'll see what happens.