Diagnostic Aids
- Sometimes, while diagnosing a specific customer concern or after a repair, you may notice a history U-code present. However, there is no associated "current" or "active" status. Loss-of- communication U-codes such as these can set for a variety of reasons. Many times, they're transparent to the vehicle operator and technician, and/or have no associated symptoms. Eventually, they will erase themselves automatically after a number of fault-free ignition cycles. This condition would most likely be attributed to one of these scenarios:
- A control module on the data communication circuit was disconnected while the communication circuit is awake.
- Power to one or more modules was interrupted during diagnosis
- A low battery condition was present, so some control modules stop communicating when battery voltage drops below a certain threshold.
- Battery power was restored to the vehicle and control modules on the communication circuit did not all re-initialize at the same time.
- If a loss-of-communication U-code appears in history for no apparent reason, it is most likely associated with one of the scenarios above. These are all temporary conditions and should never be interpreted as an intermittent fault, causing you to replace a part.
- Do not replace a control module reporting a U-code. The U-code identifies which control module needs to be diagnosed for a communication issue
- An open in the DLC ground circuit terminal 5 will allow the scan tool to operate but not communicate with the vehicle.
- An open in the class 2 serial data circuit between the DLC and the BCM will only effect the scan tool communication and will not affect module to module communication.