Principles of Operation (How Does It Work?)

The vehicle has four module communication networks: the controller area network (CAN) communications network, the standard corporate protocol (SCP), which is an unshielded twisted pair cable data bus plus and data bus minus, the universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART)-based protocol (UBP) communications network, a single wire network and the international standards organization (ISO) 9141 communications network, which is a single wire network. All four networks are connected to the data link connector (DLC). This makes diagnosis and testing of these systems easier by allowing one smart tester to be able to diagnose and control any module on the two networks from one connector. The DLC can be found under the instrument panel between the steering column and the radio.

The CAN communications network is a high speed communication network used for powertrain communication. The CAN communication network will remain operational even with the severing of one of the bus wires. Communications will also continue if one of the bus wires is shorted to ground or voltage, or if some but not all termination resistors are lost.

The SCP communications network will remain operational even with the severing of one of the bus wires. Communications will also continue if one of the bus wires is shorted to ground or voltage, or if some but not all termination resistors are lost.

The ISO 9141 communications network does not permit intermodule communication. When the diagnostic tool communicates to modules on the ISO 9141 communication network, the diagnostic tool must ask for all information; the modules cannot initiate communications. The ISO 9141 communications network will not function if the wire is shorted to ground or battery voltage. Also, if one of the modules on the ISO 9141 communications network loses power or shorts internally, communications to that module will fail.

The UBP communications network will not function if the wire is shorted to ground or voltage. The UBP is different from the ISO communication network in that it allows intermodule communication.