Circuit/System Description

The serial data circuit is the means by which the control modules connected to it communicate with each other. Once the scan tool is connected to the class 2 serial data circuit through the DLC, the scan tool can be used to monitor each control module for diagnostic purposes and to check for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Class 2 serial data is transmitted on a single wire at an average of 10.4 Kbps. The bus is active at 7.0 volts nominal and inactive at ground potential. When the ignition switch is in RUN, each control module communicating on the class 2 serial data circuit sends a state of health (SOH) message to ensure that the control module is operating properly. When a control module stops communicating on the class 2 serial data circuit, for example if the control module loses power or ground, the SOH message it normally sends on the data circuit disappears. Other control modules on the class 2 serial data circuit, which expect to receive that SOH message, detect its absence; those control modules in turn set an internal DTC associated with the loss of SOH of the non-communicating control module. The DTC is unique to the control module which is not communicating, for example, when the body control module (BCM) SOH message disappears, several control modules set DTC U1064. Note that a loss of serial data DTC does not normally represent a failure of the control module that set it.