Using The DTC Sorting Tool (AJA1439)

Publication date: 2021-01-18
Reference number: AJA1439

USING THE DTC SORTING TOOL

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Reference Number(s): JA1439, Date of Issue: January 18, 2021

HONDA:

2018 and later Accord, Accord Hybrid; 2016 and later Civic; 2017 and later CR-V; 2020 and later CR-V Hybrid; 2015 and later Fit; 2016 and later HR-V; 2019 and later Passport; 2016 and later Pilot; 2018 and later Odyssey

Superceded Bulletin(s): AJA1439, Date of Issue: December 01, 2020

NOTE: Supersedes Version 3, posted December 2020, to revise the information below.

APPLIES TO

APPLIED VEHICLES

Year	Model	Trim Level
2018 and later	Accord	ALL
2018 and later	Accord Hybrid	ALL
2016 and later	Civic	ALL
2017 and later	CR-V	ALL
2020 and later	CR-V Hybrid	ALL
2015 and later	Fit	ALL
2016 and later	HR-V	ALL
2019 and later	Passport	ALL
2016 and later	Pilot	ALL
2018 and later	Odyssey	ALL

REVISION SUMMARY

Under USING THE DTC SORTING TOOL, the image for step 11 was revised.

OVERVIEW

Honda vehicles are coming with more and more electronic control units and with that, we are seeing an increase in communication between those units and an increase in DTCs that set with a single failure. As a result, finding the root cause of an issue when troubleshooting can sometimes be a real challenge.

To help you with this, we have developed a new tool: the DTC Sorting Tool. It lets you enter all of the DTCs listed in the results of the All DTC Check and helps you sort them to show which DTC(s) you should troubleshoot first.

BACKGROUND

To understand what this tool does, we must first look at why so many DTCs are setting and what their relationship is to each other.

Primary (Level 1) DTCs:
Primary DTCs set when there is a direct and specific failure within a system. A good example of this is DTC P0302 (No. 2 cylinder misfire detected). It sets because the PGM-FI system directly monitors for misfires, then pinpoints a specific failure based on its own parameters and sensor inputs. The PGM-FI system does not rely on data from any other system to spot a misfire. Primary DTCs are the first ones you need to troubleshoot.
Collateral (Level 2 and 3) DTCs:
Collateral DTCs set when there is a failure in another system. They most often have a vague description about a general system failure and set because the data from that system may be compromised.

Example

The VSA system sets DTC U0401-68 (ECM failure). This would be in response to DTC P0302 (No. 2 cylinder misfire detected) setting, and we consider it a level 2 DTC. You can also see the driving support system set DTC U0416-68 (VSA brake actuator malfunction) because the VSA system set a DTC. We consider this one a level 3 DTC.

Although the VSA DTC description is vague, it does not mean the ECM has failed. Instead, it is telling you there is a failure within the PGM-FI system.

When troubleshooting, you can generally ignore collateral DTCs. But to avoid confusion, you should always clear them just in case a different primary DTC should set for a separate failure down the road.
Communication DTCs: These DTCs can be either primary or collateral, depending on the circumstances.

USING THE DTC SORTING TOOL

There are two ways to launch this tool:
- Job Aid Method: Go to the job aid Launching the DTC Sort Tool.
  NOTE: You must launch this tool while you are logged into the iN. The tool is dependent on your iN credentials.
- i-HDS Method: After completing an All DTC Check, select the DTC PRIORITY icon in the upper right-hand corner and go to step 9 of this job aid.
  
  NOTE: If you do not see the DTC PRIORITY icon, the model you are working on is not supported.
Once the tool launches, this message appears, telling you which models are approved for the tool. Simply select the X icon to close the message.

NOTE: This message shows model codes that reflect the models approved for this tool. However, models codes for non-USA markets are also shown. Always refer to the APPLIES TO section of this job aid.
Manually enter all of the DTCs.
NOTE:
- Enter all of the DTCs listed exactly as they appear.
- If a DTC is repeated more than once, enter it only once, even if the description is different.
- Carefully review the listed DTCs. A DTC may be different by one digit.
  Example : U0416-68 vs. U0416-F8.
- Some DTCs may appear the same but are different. You must enter them as they appear.
  Example : U0122 vs. U0122-00.
- The tool accepts only single-byte characters. It does not accept double-byte characters.
  Example :
  
  Single byte: U1100-00
  
  Double byte: U 1 1 0 0 - 0 0
- Do not enter pending DTCs
Once the DTCs are entered, select the Check Mark icon.

NOTE: If you incorrectly entered a DTC, this message appears. Check and correct the DTC.

NOTE: If you need to clear all of the fields and start over, click on the Trash icon.
Select the SYSTEM may appear for certain DTCs after they are entered. Look at the listed DTCs. In this example, the system needs more information on DTCs U0401-68 and U0416-68.
NOTE: If you use the i-HDS method, you will not see this. The information is automatically transferred from the i-HDS to the DTC sorting tool.
Refer back to the i-HDS Data List results. It shows that U0401-68 is stored under Integrated Driver Support and ABS/VSA, whereas U0416-68 is stored under Integrated Driver Support and EPS.
Select the systems the DTC was stored in, then select the Check Mark icon.
Select configuration may appear for certain DTCs. Review the options, choose the appropriate selection, and select the Check Mark icon. If necessary, look at the Construction & Function or Component Location Index sections of the service information.
Check results will appear. Select the Down Arrow icon to expand the results.
NOTE: If you are using this tool through the i-HDS and it does not show Check results but instead shows Select configuration, go to step 8.
The top row will show the indicators that you would typically see on the gauge control module.
NOTE:
- Some indicators shown are not applicable to USA models.
- If the indicator is surrounded by a grey, dotted line, it means the indicator may turn on or not turn on, depending on the situation.
- The indicators are not shown in priority order.
Below the indicators are the DTC results. In this case, P2101 (ETCS malfunction) was set as a level 1, which caused U0401-68 (ECM failure, PCM malfunction) to set as a level 2. U0401-68 then caused U0416-F8 (VSA modulator-control unit malfunction) and U0416-68 (VSA system malfunction) to set as a level 3.

The DTC with the highest priority (the one you should troubleshoot first) appears in level 1. DTCs appearing in level 2 or lower are dependent on the level 1 DTC and do not require troubleshooting. Troubleshooting and correcting P2101 will take care of the levels 2 and 3 DTCs.
If the DTCs entered only appear in level 2 or lower, the DTC that should have been included in the All DTC Check results appears as a blank with a dotted line. This scenario could only be possible by the following:
- The level 1 DTC was intermittent, and the system cleared itself.
- Only the level 1 DTC was cleared during a previous repair, leaving the level 2 or lower DTCs still intact. In the example below, since there is no level 1 DTC, just clear the level 2 DTC U0416-F8.
Depending on the failure, there can be multiple level 1 DTCs that may be relevant or irrelevant to each other.

NOTE: Level 1 DTCs are not prioritized from top to bottom.
A DTC with an asterisk tells you it is a CAN communication failure.

Since systems can share the same CAN communication DTCs, the tool cannot distinguish which control unit set the DTC. Therefore, you need to manually select which system set it by looking at the All DTC check results.
Scroll below Check results to CAN communication error information. While looking at the All DTC Check results, select the systems the DTC triggered in.
NOTE: If you use the i-HDS method, the CAN information is automatically transferred from the i-HDS to the DTC sorting tool and it is not necessary to check off the systems.

Once you have selected the necessary systems, select the Down Arrow icon. The table collapses, and you see only the selected items. This lets you understand where you should focus your troubleshooting. To expand the table again, select the Down Arrow icon again.

NOTE:

If you use the i-HDS method, the table will already be collapsed showing the systems the DTC(s) triggered in.

DTC(s) with complete communication breakdown or bus down will be indicated by a v in the BUS-OFF column. Troubleshoot these DTC(s) first.

In the rare event the system cannot prioritize the DTCs, the system will show a rotating symbol. In this example, since the system could not prioritize the DTCs, it placed C0051-54 in level 1 and U0416-68 in level 2. Since it both has the circular symbol, this does not mean that C0051-54 caused U0416-68. In these cases, review all of the troubleshooting information for those DTC(s) and troubleshoot them as needed.

SUBMITTING A NEW DTC ENTRY

To start a new session, scroll up or select the green Arrow icon and select the Trash icon.

Arrow Button

HELP

If at any time you need a refresher or you do not understand something, select the ? icon.

INACTIVITY TIMER

This tool has a 30-minute inactivity timer similar to the SIS. When it times out, a message appears telling you the session has expired. Simply close the tool, and relaunch it.

Your Session has expired. Please relaunch the tool.

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

It may be necessary for us to do periodic maintenance on this tool. Although it is limited, the tool is not available during that time. A message alerts you when that happens.

END