Symptoms are as follows:
- I plugged the DICE box into the OBD-II port on the car and it powers up, reaches a steady state with the Firmware Status light flashing green. I assume this is normal, but it’s been a few years since I have used it, so please let me know if this is a problem.
- I plugged the USB connector into a Mac laptop and it gives an error warning that too much power is being drawn on the USB ports and must unplug USB devices to restore communications.
- I tried a Windows laptop and it gave no notifications at all, other than the device doesn’t show up as connected (not visible in Device Manager).
- I tried plugging in a 12v 3 amp power supply to the DC jack on the Dice box, and still no change to the above results.
- Leaving the 12v 3A power supply connected, I then added a Powered USB hub to serve as a power boost on the USB line between the Mac and the Dice USB cable. This adds 5 volts at 3 amps of available power on the USB interface. The result was that the USB powered hub browns out (lights flickering between dim and off) and thus the USB interface within the box is attempting to draw more than 3 amps of power.
– I have not put power to the USB connector with the box open yet to see which component is getting warm. Pictures were taken before I got the powered hub.
– There is no SD card interface on this unit, despite the slot in the housing for one to be present.
– I have not ever set up Bluetooth on this device and don’t know if it is present or not. I only used it via USB in the past and am unfamiliar with the process to set up Bluetooth on it. (I saw the Motorola chip in there and it made me think there is hope to do Bluetooth but I haven’t searched the chip number to confirm it is an RF interface)
– I have not had a chance to do any real troubleshooting of the electronics inside the Dice interface as of yet. If you know of a particular capacitor that often goes bad in these, or some component that shorts instead of opens, please give me a heads up.
I am pretty confident it has not been exposed to water as it has lived inside a zip lock bag it’s entire life in the trunk floor next to our emergency spare parts and tools.
Thanks for any information or suggestions you can offer, especially if you have run into DICE hardware issues like this before. God bless and have a great day. Fitz Fitzgerald
P.S. It just occurred to me to change the USB cord and see if that helps. I will try to do that and see if this will establish communications.