Kalkhoff Error Codes

[sduncan82]

I bough a Pro Connect Impulse 9 from the guys at 50 cycles about 2 months ago and have had no issues with the bike but this afternoon when I was getting ready to head back from work the bike all of a sudden just turned itself off, the battery had 3/4 charge left so it wasn't the battery dying.

I just turned it on and then the screen flashed but then would not turn back on so I had a slow trek back home. When I got home I plugged in the charger and the bike came back to life, has this happened to anyone else?

Now when I turn the bike off it says the message 'bye' as it usually does but then I notice very quickly an error code or something that reads a bit like 'C005' I don't think it did this before as I would have noticed it so just wondering if anyone knows what this means?

 

[Nealh]

Phone 50C and ask them.

 

[flecc]

Earlier Kalkhoffs with the Panasonic units did have error codes which were detailed in their manuals, but an online link to those is now dead. Later manuals for the Bosch and Impulse powered bikes don't have anything about error codes in them.

As Neal says, best contact 50cycles about this for more information.
.

 

[Biscitt]

Did anyone find out about this code? I have a similar problem on a Tasman. The display shows Pedal when switched on even though there is plenty of charge left in the battery and when switching off the C005 error code shows.

 

[sduncan82]

the feedback I got from 50 cycles was that C005 was just the software version and was nothing to worry about.

I also got the pedal message in a separate issue. 50c advised that if you are moving when you start up the bike then it may say that message. In my situation I was not moving and they said that it was then something to do with the back pedal sensor which my bike did not have and the only way to resolve was to replace the motor. They sent me a new motor but did have to pay my local bike shop to fit it for me.

 

[Biscitt]

I have had a response from 50Cycles. They say it is a software issue related to the back pedal braking function that does not exist on the bike. I have to take it into a shop for testing and if it cannot be sorted a replacement motor was mentioned as the next option.

Seems rather odd that UK bikes that do not have this back pedal brake function have software/electronics that expect it.

 

[flecc]

Seems rather odd that UK bikes that do not have this back pedal brake function have software/electronics that expect it.

The back-pedal brake was designed into the original model since they are popular on the Continent.

But they are very unpopular in the UK so 50cycles asked for it's removal on our models. Removing it's mechanical function has left the intrinsic software element in place of course, basically its just a tweak. Given how small the UK market is compared to their huge Continental market, I doubt it was thought worthwhile producing a new software set just for us.
.

 

[Biscitt]

Well took both our bikes back to Blazing Saddles in Hebden Bridge to have faults checked out. The Tasman with the Pedal error and my clanking Agattu and both are having new motors. Not what I expected from what I had read was a quality make. Very disappointed.

 

[Biscitt]

Update: New motor in the Tasman seems to have sorted the Pedal error but not the clanking Agattu. The rear wheel from that has gone back to Shimano distributors I believe for testing and hopefully fix.

 

[matt198855]

Hey having the same problem only getting error c400 if anyone can help

Thanks

 

[dlwest]

Hello,
does anyone happen to know what a "question mark" means when shown instead of the charge level on Impulse Smart Display? I presume CAN bus connection to battery has failed, resulting in no assist from the motor. The bike is Kalkhoff Include with Impulse 3.0 Evo system
Thanks!

 

[saneagle]

The other LCDs have a battery in the display unit. It might be an idea to check yours in case it needs replacing.

 

[dlwest]

The clocks are okay, they run well without the main battery. Upon further investigation, I've found there's no communication with the motor. All menu settings that are motor related, return a comms fault. The battery is ok as well, tested with another Impulse unit. Will keep posted on the further findings. Thanks!

 

[dlwest]

So the root cause of the problem of the question mark being displayed instead of the charge level was the display not being able to communicate to the motor over the CAN bus. The culprits are below, the two small filter capacitors in the middle one of which gone short:


The most tricky part was to desolder the connectors, as the caps sitting under them did not seem to be reachable. Replaced with 330 pF 0603 250V rated ones.
The defect can be identified easily by probing the two middle pins of the 4-pin connector which are CANH,CANL bus pins, against the ground which is one of the side pins. Normally, the bus pins must show 136 ohms between them (2x 68R terminating resistors) and infinite to the ground. In my case, one of the lines was short to ground.

 

[dlwest]

Some more details:

 

[saneagle]

Some more details:
View attachment 59199

Is it fixed now?

 

[dlwest]

Is it fixed now?

Yes pretty much, I had a successful few miles test ride yesterday. Since the bike was down for a week anyway, decided to get the motor overhauled, cleaned, re-greased with belray waterproof grease and painted over. This appeared to be done just in time, as the ratchet and the crankshaft roller bearing inside the motor both were found dry and about to seize. The motor is from 2016 and had never been opened before.

 

[saneagle]

Yes pretty much, I had a successful few miles test ride yesterday. Since the bike was down for a week anyway, decided to get the motor overhauled, cleaned, re-greased with belray waterproof grease and painted over. This appeared to be done just in time, as the ratchet and the crankshaft roller bearing inside the motor both were found dry and about to seize. The motor is from 2016 and had never been opened before.

Well done. The reason I asked is because there is a dealer, who has some used parts for Kalkhoff motors. They fix a lot of them, and those that they can't fix, they strip for spares. They probably have the main board.

Repair & Overhaul Service (New) - eBike Motor Centre (Performance Line Bearings)

Within the UK we offer a full repair and overhaul service for Bosch, Brose, Impulse, Mahle, Panasonic and Yamaha ebike motors. Please note: We do not currently support Shimano motors. How to Send us Your Motor If you can, remove your motor or have your local bike shop remove it for you, then...

www.ebikemotorcentre.com

 

[dlwest]

Well done. The reason I asked is because there is a dealer, who has some used parts for Kalkhoff motors. They fix a lot of them, and those that they can't fix, they strip for spares. They probably have the main board.

Repair & Overhaul Service (New) - eBike Motor Centre (Performance Line Bearings)

Within the UK we offer a full repair and overhaul service for Bosch, Brose, Impulse, Mahle, Panasonic and Yamaha ebike motors. Please note: We do not currently support Shimano motors. How to Send us Your Motor If you can, remove your motor or have your local bike shop remove it for you, then...

www.ebikemotorcentre.com

Oh, nice to know. Would they be able to help on the following? I have an Integrale battery which does not engage the main switch, for an unknown reason. All other functions, including the housekeeping 12V output, are present. When I bypass the output MOSFETs, the motor works just fine, just as from a bench supply. To me, it's likely the BQxxxx BMS controller IC went nuts. It's a shame to through away 60 cells which are just fine

 

[saneagle]

Oh, nice to know. Would they be able to help on the following? I have an Integrale battery which does not engage the main switch, for an unknown reason. All other functions, including the housekeeping 12V output, are present. When I bypass the output MOSFETs, the motor works just fine, just as from a bench supply. To me, it's likely the BQxxxx BMS controller IC went nuts. It's a shame to through away 60 cells which are just fine

I think it's only motors that they repair.