I've been trying to search the web for this, but not having any luck:

Is there an existing option on the market which replaces the TCU with a kind of offline version as a workaround for the various issues the TCU causes? I've never been a fan of cars needing a data uplink to solve issues, the car should be good to go, software especially.

If you think I'm barking up the wrong tree, or have been hanging around the paint thinner too long, by all means tell me, but I'd appreciate a technical explanation if you think it's not a viable option.

 

TCU -? Transmission control unit?

 

I recall someone trying to come up with a solution for this last year, but he got banned for being a nuisance.

 

It is the telematics control unit.

 

I believe telematics are integrated with all the other systems in the car. It would be hard to disconnect it as it may cause other issues with the other components that communicate. I am not saying it cannot be done, but I do not understand the motive in wanting to disconnect it. Perhaps you can shed some light as to why you want to do this?

 

I definitely don't want to be a nuisance about it!

Yes, the telematics control unit.

It appears to be causing various issues that could be avoided without it, like the tcu battery issue, data connection issues, etc - things that other vehicles which don't have the same data connectivity setup experience.

I'm not looking to completely disable it, as it performs other functions, but a third party replacement which essentially dials the system back to something in the older discoveries etc (not that they were great electronically either), or a software patch on the existing system which results in the same outcome, seems like a reasonable workaround. Any need for software updates would just need a plugin update rather than wireless.

but if this has already been explored with no existing fix, I'm happy to drop the subject - especially if it means I don't get kicked haha

 

Oh, there’s nothing to apologize for - that guy was banned for unrelated activity.

And IIRC, he was trying to disable parts of it as well, and since it’s tied into everything, it didn’t seem to be fully possible.

 

Defender is run by QNX which is interfacing with different modules and their own firmware.
It's a software driven platform with bugs and unpredictable interactions. Telematics is only one of modules and interfaces, it doesn't cause issues itself in many cases, it's interaction between QNX (PIVI), modules and their own software that creates these things like blank displays, no sound and all other funky stuff.

 

The telematics module is sort of bipolar. One side of its "brain" is for your entertainment, such as WiFi, internet, other "musical" services, etc, and the other side of the "brain" is the hard core. Such as: software updates, ET call home ( really ), start / stop remote, theft location. All the telematics and comms are run on TATA Communication network(s). It is sort of "modem" roaming in many countries on local operators / carriers, depending on which country the vehicle was sold, and trust me, that side of the brain, you do not want to disable. Even if you somehow find some one to "hack" the module, I would not. Why ? you have a unique IMEI / ICCID / IMSI which is married to your VIN / model - hence getting various updates and other things.
What exactly is your big pain point ? what does it do ? is the actual vehicle impaired ? Just curious - maybe there other ways to solve those gremlins.

 

thankfully the car isn't disabled or immobilised in any way, but the gremlins are annoying - when you pay that much for something, you expect it to work. But when a product is released and aspects are obviously not fully fleshed out, it gets my goat.

but that's my personal gripe with a lot of modern electronic systems.

but you've highlighted the big problem with attempting something like this, and that's causing more issues than you're trying to fix, and as someone mentioned elsewhere that even messing around with the gapiid tool can brick a car. Sandboxing certain functions could work, so they think they're communicating when they're not, could be an option, but that would need someone far smarter and specialised than me haha

so no, no serious problem to fix, just annoyed by gremlins. Maybe I'll have to go back to a Land Cruiser as my big 4wd and be happy with my gremlin free discovery sport...