"Proxy Alignment"?

[Brian]

More of a general interest query than a problem.


I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs
resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.

My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
aligned to the vehicle.

When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it.

Sure enough, it worked.

However, I'd like to understand more about this process.

Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

[Theo]

Post by Brian
More of a general interest query than a problem.
I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs
resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.
My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
aligned to the vehicle.
When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it.
Sure enough, it worked.
However, I'd like to understand more about this process.
Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

Don't know anything about the specifics, but at a high level I'd guess the
difference is between programming the rest of the system to accept the new
box, or programming the new box to pretend to be the old one.

There are pros and cons of both approaches, but it is possible eg that the
factory module can't be reprogrammed to pretend to be another and so the
dealer workflow is to reprogram the whole system, but somebody has made an
aftermarket modification (or a compatible box) which does allow 'pretending'.
If there is any calibration required, perhaps it transfers the calibration
from the old box to the new box, rather than doing a full recalibration as
the dealer flow would do.

But maybe this aftermarket route doesn't help you if your module is so badly
damaged that it isn't responding at all which would prevent it being cloned
or the calibration read out.

But as I say I have no experience of this, this is just guesswork.

Theo

[Brian]

Post by Theo

Post by Brian
More of a general interest query than a problem.
I recently had a problem with our Ducato based motorhome, the Airbag
Control box failed. It seems this isn't unusual, sometimes it just needs
resetting. Sometimes it needs replacing.
My needed replacing. When you replace it, it needs to be matched /
aligned to the vehicle.
When I bought the new unit, I was offered 'proxy alignment' which would
allow it to work when I fitted it, without needing to have someone match it.
Sure enough, it worked.
However, I'd like to understand more about this process.
Is there anyone on the group who understands it, please?

Don't know anything about the specifics, but at a high level I'd guess the
difference is between programming the rest of the system to accept the new
box, or programming the new box to pretend to be the old one.
There are pros and cons of both approaches, but it is possible eg that the
factory module can't be reprogrammed to pretend to be another and so the
dealer workflow is to reprogram the whole system, but somebody has made an
aftermarket modification (or a compatible box) which does allow 'pretending'.
If there is any calibration required, perhaps it transfers the calibration
from the old box to the new box, rather than doing a full recalibration as
the dealer flow would do.
But maybe this aftermarket route doesn't help you if your module is so badly
damaged that it isn't responding at all which would prevent it being cloned
or the calibration read out.
But as I say I have no experience of this, this is just guesswork.

You suggestion is similar to my thoughts. I understand they could 'read'
the old unit but it responded slowly- out of spec.

That suggests, perhaps, it would be possible read data from it and maybe
use it to set up the new one.