Foosh

I don't know . . . it's rare, but large electrical connectors with many pins can be problematic sometimes after being disconnected and reconnected. It could be on the wiring harness side, with a pin just slightly moved, when the coupler was initially disconnected, or it could be on the DSC controller side.

Mine's been in the car for 9 months, and never disconnected after installation. I've never seen that message.

spinkick

now that i think about it dielectric grease is probably also a bad idea, since its an insulator too. Need someting to promote the electric connection on the pins not insulate.

Foosh

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing, as well as WD-40 possibly causing a sporadic pin contact issue.

SFCTeach

I pulled mine out and slowly plugged it back it pushing while pulling down on the lever piece just like the DSC video. I put wd40 on the outside plastic, nowhere near the pins (I do not think that is aiding in being more conductive). I went out for an hour with no message and I was constantly changing in and out of Touring, Sport, Track, Sport1, Sport2.

On a seperate note I had a small pool of windershield washer fluid in the bottom plastic fender area. I played around with the connection at the bottom I must have knocked it loose. It seems fine now.

I also removed my USB cable and reinstalled the rubber protection boot. The usb cable I snaked up into the engine compartment was very hot and I am wondering if that might have been the cause of my problems. Who knows. I hope this solves the issue.

Foosh

I hadn't thought of the possibility of moisture getting into the mini USB port causing this issue. When I was at DSC getting my car aligned and having them install the controller, they recommended leaving the rubber boot on to avoid water intrusion in that port. Leaving a mini-USB cable connected is almost certainly not water-tight, and the fender air vent is open right next to the controller.

Dif

This ^
Aside from the possibility of not having the pins seating properly, the improper installation of new Firmware will set off the Service Suspension warning.
It happened to a friend of mine when he installed the newest Firmware.
It was operator error.
But when I helped him through the process and Verified it was in correctly he had no further problem.

At the same time it is possible to put too much WD-40 on the pins and can cause a cross connection with the pins.
A long time ago I used WD-40 on / in the distributor of one of my Muscle Cars.
After that, it would not run right until I cleaned and removed the WD-40 in the Distributor with brake cleaner.

It also seems the lubrication has been said it should be put on the outside of the sliding parts/case etc of the Controller.

But, when I installed mine, I put only enough WD-40 on a Q-Tip to make it wet, not dripping wet.
And then lightly touched the Q-Tip to the top of each pin on the Controller.

A while back there was a Confirmed report of a Service Suspension warning because the pins were bent and not seating properly.

But with all these Service Suspension warnings reported recently, it seems to be since the new Firmware came out.
If I was having this problem I would re-install the New Firmware and Confirm it is in there before doing anything.

Bottom line: it's hard to tell if it's a Firmware install gone wrong, or bent/ bad contact with the pins, or, too much WD-40, without knowing Each instance firsthand with these Service Suspension warnings.
But it does seem to be a lot, ... all of a sudden ...

So, just my thoughts, and Info for what it's worth

Foosh

Agreed, this was pretty much a non-issue until the August firmware updates.

ReedZ

Thanks for this thread again. I've only had my controller for a couple of weeks, and it was working perfectly, UNTIL, I connected a USB cable permanently and routed it into my engine bay for easier tuning. I disconnected the cable yesterday and went for a pretty long drive today and have had no recurrence of the Service Suspension warning.

Is there someplace in the DSC documentation which warns of possible issues when keeping a USB cable permanently attached? My Wifi works and it doesn't take any time to open the compartment, so this is a non issue.

Thanks for the discussion! I hope this helps someone else.

CSM

BEZ06

I've got a USB cable permanently attached and haven't had any problems. I've only done 6 track days and maybe 1500 miles since installing the DSC controller and permanent USB, but no "Service Suspension" alerts.

I've installed new pdts calibrations several times and have the latest firmware upgrade in it - all done through the permanent USB cable.

Good luck finding the problem!

.

rb185afm

I had two controllers go bad. One with cable attached and one with no cable attached. Both times the unit mated up fine and I took my time. And both units lasted approximately 4 hours of driving before they would start to lose connection. Both times it started with a very random seldom flash of the trans warning. It would get progressively worse the longer driven. I checked the pin on the second unit and three were bent and or push in slightly. It seems my car vibrates them out of position. i suspect it's an issue with my stock wiring harrrness. DSC was awesome through the entire process trying to get my car to work. They shipped replacement on there dime as well as my shipping costs. They also refunded me in full! Great company. They are aware of my issue, and if a solid fix is found, I will be back in! Until then it's back to the stock unit. I'm glad to report the stock unit slides in like butter, even after the repeat installs of the DSC. It works perfectly with no issues.

Foosh

9K miles on my DSC installed in January and driven in winter, summer, and heavy rain w/ never a warning message.

dfettero

Are the WD-40 users are referring to WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray? You might try this too.

ReedZ

Another 40 minute drive (highway speed) after my post yesterday, and 20 minutes a low speed on-post this morning with no further issues. I'm convinced that my issue was the connection of the usb cable. My question: Is this a capability I should expect from my controller?

Thanks
CSM

Foosh

I'm not sure I understand your question, but as I said earlier, when I was at DSC they recommended I not leave a USB cable connected, and leave the water-tight cap on the connection port.

Up until recently, there were no reports of warning messages by the 100s who have posted here on their DSC experiences. Of the few who have reported them, only poster #30 has reported not being able to solve the problem on his car, but I'm suspecting that may be an issue on the wiring harness side of his car, which could be the result of pin misalignment caused by his initial installation. I don't think it was 2 different controllers that "went bad."

He says after removing the 2 different DSCs, his OEM controller works fine. However, as we also know, the DSC uses a lot more sensor data from the car than the OEM controller.

We're talking rare anomalies here, which likely have more to do w/ installation mistakes, firm- and software mistakes, and/or the use of lubricants, which aren't necessary. No lubricants were used on my installation, and I'd bet the factory doesn't use any either. Mine was simply plugged in and left alone.

ReedZ

Thanks for this conversation. If you look at my first comment, I stated that I was wondering if the issue of leaving the usb cable on the controller was codified in any of DSC's documentation as I haven't found it. Just mentioning this at the company's HQ to those lucky enough to be in the area is not appropriate or adequate. And my last question was SHOULD my controller be able to function correctly with the usb cable permanently installed? Apparently not as you've gotten inside information from the company recommending that end users should not do this. If the only way to have the controller function as well as yours is to have a professional installation by DSC or their representatives, then we should have that information. Reading that you have information that was not available to me because you had yours installed by DSC makes me wonder what else I don't know.

I beg that you not take my comments argumentatively, I'm just looking for solid information to use a company's products appropriately.

PS. I didn't receive a water tight cap on my controller from DSC.

Thanks

spinkick

I sent this email to Jordan this weekend and got a response

"Hi Guys,

Do you recommend leaving the usb cable plugged into the DSC module, or should we keep a plug over the mini-usb port. I have heard that you send one with the kit, for some reason I dont have one. I have a usb cable though that i can leave in if its okay. Should I be putting dielectric greese around where the usb cable plugs in to keep the weather out?

Also, on the install, it recommends wd40 before plugging it back in. Do you mean wd40 on the plastic parts that touch the plug, or should the pins also have some wd40 on them?"

Response

"Leaving a USB cable plugged in and running through the cabin can be a good idea, as it makes it more accessible. We do not include one with the controller, however. It is already weathered, but if you'd like to add dielectric grease, that is up to you.


I would recommend applying WD-40 to both the pins and the plastic."


I also thought the factory did not lubricate the controller connector and that it would be unnecessary. I did not get the rubber cap with mine, and he said that the port is weather proof already, maybe he means with the USB cable still plugged in. Anyone have a good link on a dust cap?

Foosh

Sorry, I thought they all had the water-tight cap on the port. Mine had the cap on it at installation, and the DSC tech who did the alignment on my car, and installed the DSC felt it was important to have it place.

Apparently, others have gotten a different answer from DSC. I agree more clarity on lubrication, the cable, etc. would be a good thing.

rikhek

Clay,

Mike/DSC has had a USB installed and routed into his drivers footwell through an existing grommet in the firewall since installed. He nor anyone else I'm aware of has ever had an issue.

He and I both put our laptops on the passenger seat to test different settings real time and observe data logging while driving.

Rick

Foosh

Thanks Rick, and yes I know a lot of folks do it. I was just reporting what the DSC alignment tech told me, while pointing specifically to the open side vent next to where the controller is installed.

I think we're all just grasping at straws to explain the sudden rash of "service suspension" warning messages a handful of people are very recently reporting, when for the first 8 months, no one reported that issue.

rb185afm

DSC also told me I was good leaving the cable in. For clarity, my first install used no lube, second install of first unit, lubed up outside only, Third install of new second unit, lubed inside and outside outrageously. Same affect with all tree methods. I never forced any connection. Both DSC controllers had a lot of resistance sliding in. I could feel the friction lubed or not. The stock controller slides in with no friction at all. It's possible the fit was to tight and the original install effected my stock harness. But in no way was anything forced. Just carefully mated the controller and used the lever to connect. The lever slides the stock unit in with no resistance. The lever took lots off effort with both DSC controllers, regardless of amount of lube.