Baben wrote:

..the missus is away, and there's no decent porn on telly, I decided to go take the D3 apart....

I like your reasoning Baben

Baben wrote:

Complex cos it will require some kind of interface to be built, depending on what signals go back to the ecu and whether the gear selector electronics modifies them in any way.

As said watch this space

Baben wrote:

And I checked the RRS ('07) - connections are identical as far as I can tell.

Quote:

so I expect the solution when I return, OK?

Demanding kinda chap ain't he

But don't worry, i am definitely on it with absolutely no small thanks to Pete supplying me with the required guinea pig hardware i need to do so.

I have already sussed how to add the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) controls as well, which will be dead useful for top end RRS implementations of this conversion.

For anyone not so clued up on that, i should perhaps explain that there are two types of Cruise control possible on the T5 platform.

The first is the regular cruise control as we all know it, and this is just a part of the regular engine management functionality so there is no separate ECU to diagnose.

The second is the Adaptive Cruise control which has it's own ECU that is coupled to an expensive radar sensor mounted to the side of the lower bumpers intake. This allows the system to detect vehicles in front and maintain a specified gap between that vehicle and your own. This gap distance can be adjusted by the use of 2 additional buttons on the steering wheel controls labeled <-> for closer and <---> for wider.

Although only known to be fitted on upper spec Range Rover Sports, as they share the same T5 technology, it would be possible to fit this system to a Disco 3 and enable it in the CCF. However no Radar sensor or mounting bracket is shown on Microcat, although most interestingly the wheel switches with ACC are listed.

I have also sussed a couple of ways to also add the heated wheel controls too and am happy to state that one way or another, i will get this to work in my next prototype

As for paddle switches, well i initially though this totally impossible, and was ready to dismiss it, especially as natively, no D3 or pre 2010 sport ECU currently supports this. I know Pete has tried to implement this by a quite rough and ready over ride method and has hit quite a few problems.

However i believe i have, after considerable thought, now come up with quite a cunning plan, albeit quite an extensive and technically detailed one, that will require quite a bit of development input.

If there is enough support and call for it, i will have a go at it, and in a minute i will have a go at posting on the RRS board and seeing what the RRS guys input is hoping the mods there don't shoot me down.

In essence i am thinking to add a micro controller, remotely connected with a wireless link between the steering wheel switches and the CAN bus to control the gearbox changing over CAN in accordance with inputs via the paddle switches.

If i can pull it off, as i believe i can, and those who know me of old know all to well already that i tend to come up with whatever i say i can do, not only will gearbox control for current gear be possible via wheel switch button inputs like the + or - paddles, but also things like EAS heights. This may also lend itself to EAS and FBH control with a remote key fob too.

Technically i am sure it is possible to provide at an attractive enough price, however, as ever, it really is now a numbers game and a unique chance for anyone who might be interested to be counted.

Shame Baben's off to Boston for a week innit

I somehow managed to find 12 or 15 hours this week to dedicate to this project.

And i am happy to report that the results are a massive leap forward.

I have sucessfully added both ACC buttons for those with ACC equipped RRS's and also control of the heated wheel elements.

Very tosty it is too

I am therefore now happy to move this forward to a production stage for the basic conversion.

However as stated,

Quote:

In essence i am thinking to add a micro controller, remotely connected with a wireless link between the steering wheel switches and the CAN bus to control the gearbox changing over CAN in accordance with inputs via the paddle switches.