Yellow Wrench

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Wolfgang
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Yellow Wrench

During the past few days the yellow wrench symbol began to light up. It tends to extinguish on its own after a few seconds but I get it more and more frequently. All the while, nothing seems to be wrong with the electronics as I am able to just continue riding.

Is this some sign of an impending malfunction? Is there anything wrong with the CANbus? Did anyone experience the same thing?

Advice is much appreciated,

Rgds
Wolfgang

Now at approx 18.000 km since 2007.

AndY1
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Re: Yellow Wrench

I'm experiencing it aprox. once a month. A yellow wrench with the CANBUS error. CANBUS writing disappears in aprox. 30 seconds, yellow wrench after aprox. 1 minute.

I think X Vectrix wrote somewhere, that that is a chip sync problem, when some chips get out of sync for a short while and at that time it resets them.

Magendanz
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Yeah, X Vectrix has assured us that the occasional stutters from CANbus faults are harmless.

Mik
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Re: Yellow Wrench

This is not the occasional stutter - it is getting worse rapidly!

To me this sounds very much like a dirty encoder.

Have a look at the left display when it happens next to see if it says "ENCODR". It is easily missed and is not neccessarily showing the entire time that the wrench is lit.

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

oobflyer
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Re: Yellow Wrench

I called Vectrix when this first happened to me and they said don't worry about it, but call them back if it happened again. Well, when it happened again they were out of business.

It still occurs occasionally, but it has never left me stranded.

kingcharles
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Re: Yellow Wrench

I had this increasing frequency also on my bike. After a force 30 amp command it stopped occurring. The importer claimed the wrench could also be set off by too low ah in the pack which seems to have been my problem.

Once you go EV, Gas is history!

rewski
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Is there anyway to force the 30Ah charge without the diagnostic software?

Adam - Denver, CO
2007 Vectrix VX-1 charged with the power of the sun = zero carbon footprint

Wolfgang
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Hi Mik,

your suggestion was right on the spot. Indeed I got the Encodr message every couple of km or so.

Today I followed the excellent advice of Doug Townley http://visforvoltage.org/forum/8663-lost-2-3-phases#comment-48737 and cleaned the interior of my encoder housing:
Vectrix laying on its side
After removing the outer cover, a lot of dirt became visible.
Graffiti on beige plastic cover
Inside the encoder pocket, a fair amount of fine grit.
Fine grit inside encoder pocket
I pulled the connector, then washed gaskets and both covers in a bucket.
Washing
I then used a cloth and a small amount of window cleaner to carefully wipe the dust from the pocket. I didn't dare to fumble with the "mirror" (pole shoe, magnet?). I vacumed as best as I could. Unfortunately I didn't have any contact spray on hand.
Result of my housekeeping actions
Also I didn't have any silicone glue for the outer cover (this being a Sunday, here in Austria all shops not in tourism are firmly closed of course!).
Then I took my bike for a shake down tip around the Wörthersee lake (40 km). The yellow wrench never lit up!

I remain a little bit worried about the source of the grit. For it to disturb the Hall sensors wouldn't it have to be some ferromagnetic material (cast iron)? Would it have infiltrated the encoder housing from the planetary gear side? I hope this is not some abrasion product from ball bearings or gears. On the other hand then there would have been oil or grease with it?

Anyway, thanks for all your support,
happy riding,
Rgds
Wolfgang

Mik
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Hi Mik,

your suggestion was right on the spot. Indeed I got the Encodr message every couple of km or so.

I'm glad it worked for you!

Today I followed the excellent advice of Doug Townley http://visforvoltage.org/forum/8663-lost-2-3-phases#comment-48737 and cleaned the interior of my encoder housing:

You may also want to look at this post: http://visforvoltage.org/forum/6461-encodr-and-yellow-wrench-error-message#comment-43212

I would not re-install that seal, it is the source of the black dust!

The dust does not disturb any Hall sensors, it simply blocks the path for a light shining through the tiny gaps in the encoder disk. The light gets reflected by a mirror back towards the little circuit board. The blinking pattern created when the wheel spins tells the electronics what is happening at the rear wheel!

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

Wotnopetrol
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Hi Guys,

Not been online much these days. New job, too many hours at work these days, tired all the time, bah!

Anyway, my V has been marvellous, taking me to and from work for pennies a day and getting loads of interest and admiration in the work car park from my work mates. But it has now stopped working. :-(

5,000 miles on the clock now and from the sound of this thread, it sounds like I have a dirty sensor, but before I start the strip down I'd like to describe the symptoms to see if anyone may agree.

Yellow wrench started to come on more often prior to failure
Slight loss of top speed/power (voltage still very good however)
then the regen brake came on, all on its own while in motion, until the bike stopped.
after a reboot it pulls away briefly, seems ok then clunks, hesitates and sometimes goes into reverse, goes forwards, clunks, brakes, reverses, clunks, etc.

Now back on my ICE BMW-C1, still loads of fun and hilarious to ride, but so missing my V.

Simon

Wotnopetrol
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Well I have just cleaned all the dust out (hardly any there)and for a moment I thought I may have cured it, but it is just the same. I start up and it pulls away as normal, then the "R" light comes on and the bike comes to a rapid halt as reverse is engaged. Then it jolts forwards, backwards, forwards and clunks horribly. Encodr came on as did the yellow wrench again. I think I need some professional help with this now, unless anyone has had the same symptoms and found a cure?

Simon

Mik
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Re: Yellow Wrench

I never heard of such a problem before.

How about trying out the encoder reprogramming magic sequence?

See: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260616759724&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

While looking for the link I saw that you have already tried that....

Does the throttle feel normal? Is it easier than usual to push it forward into reverse?

It sounds a bit like it may be getting conflicting signals from somewhere. I think the reverse/regen part of the throttle is actually completely separate from the forward part; maybe the throttle can request forward and regen/reverse at the same time.

Is the throttle calibration normal? I have not tried this in a while, IIRC it goes like this: Kill switch to off, then pull left brake lever, then right brake lever. Speedo needle should show 42km/h with both. With both brake levers pulled it shown the ideal number, with left brake only it shows the actual number.

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

Wotnopetrol
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Hi Mik thanks,

Yeah, I tried the throttle calibration thing to see if was set ok, and it was spot on. The throttle feels normal too.

So, I presume we have no one in the UK able to effect a service or repair anymore then?

I just contacted the place from which I bought my V and they are unable to help except for brakes and tyres.

Were the original UK importers still trying to support us? I remember them saying here that they would try to keep us going as long as possible. I mean, someone in the UK did once have the technical ability and hopefully may have access to the tech docs and maybe even service equipment. It would be a nice little earner for them you'd think.

What a blinking shame, I have a fantastic battery pack still, and but for this seemingly silly problem, still a great bike.....that won't go properly. Damn, I'd even forego my reverse gear forever if I could have it going forwards again.

Simon

kevin smith
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Re: Yellow Wrench

hi i once hade this probblem on
My old scooter lepton e scooter over 5 years ago . still never found out to this day .
what the probblem was .
But reading the forums now it all popes into place i have it .......

well when you break really hard on lets say a scooter the pads get really hot and

also this generates heat and thus with the make up of the break-pads this also generates .

small particles/ dust....

so what i recon is my old scooter had regen and i really didn.t have to use the breaks .

so the vectrix has regen and thus the rearward breaking inthe motor / regen + some kind of dust.????

i am not an electro enginear but you have to get some thing from breaking.!!!!
heat + the rest that associates its self with this ...?

so i suggest small particles as a result .

thanks kev

Wotnopetrol
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Excellent! My V is back on the road. A very nice man came round today and fixed it. The encoder was fine after all and the main culprit was a trapped encoder wire which had parted. So now I have the 68mph software, recalibrated encoder and throttle. All fine and one very happy Vectrix owner.

Simon

R
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Re: Yellow Wrench

Nice costumer care in USA.
congratulations!

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