Principles of Operation

Communications Network

Principles of Operation

Vehicle communication utilizes a High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN), ISO 9141 network and Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) network. Information is sent to and from individual control modules that each control specific functions. All 3 networks are connected to the Data Link Connector (DLC). The DLC can be found under the instrument panel between the steering column and the audio unit.

The 3 module communication networks are:

- ISO 9141
- SCP
- HS-CAN

ISO 9141 Communications Network

The ISO 9141 communications network is a single wire network. The ISO 9141 communications network does not permit intermodule communication. When the scan tool communicates to modules on the ISO 9141 communications network, the scan tool must request all information; the modules cannot initiate communications. The ISO 9141 network operates at a maximum data transfer speed of 10.4 Kbps.

The following fault chart describes the specific ISO 9141 network failures and their resulting symptom:

ISO 9141 Communications Network Fault Chart:

Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) Communication Network

The SCP network uses an unshielded twisted pair cable of data (+) and data (-) circuits. The data (+) circuit is regulated to approximately 0.5 volt and the data (-) circuits to approximately 4.5 volts during neutral or rested network traffic. Voltage on data circuits increases/decreases as bus messages are sent. Multiple bus messages can be sent over the network SCP circuits allowing network modules to communicate with each other. The SCP network operates at a maximum data transfer speed of 41.6 Kbps and remains operational at a degraded level if one of the bus wires becomes open or shorted to ground or voltage.

SCP Communication Network Fault Chart:

High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN)

The HS-CAN uses an unshielded twisted pair cable of data (+) and data (-) circuits. The data (+) and the data (-) circuits are each regulated to approximately 2.5 volts during neutral or rested network traffic. As bus messages are sent on the data (+) circuit, voltage is increased by approximately 1.0 volt. Inversely, the data (-) circuit is reduced by approximately 1.0 volt when a bus message is sent. Multiple bus messages can be sent over the CAN circuits allowing multiple modules to communicate with each other.

The HS-CAN will not communicate while certain faults are present, but will operate with diminished performance with other faults present. The HS-CAN bus may remain operational when 1 of the 2 termination resistors are not present. The HS-CAN operates at a maximum data transfer speed of 500 Kbps and is designed for real time information transfer and control.

In the event that one of the 2 network circuits (HS-CAN + or HS-CAN -) becomes open to a module on the network, unreliable network communication to all modules on the network may result. The module to which the network circuit is open may repeatedly send network messages indicating there has been partial data received. This type of message is referred to as a Negative-Acknowledge (NACK) message. Repeated NACK messages may "load" the network with too much activity causing intermittent no communication to other network modules and/or the scan tool.

The following fault chart describes the specific HS-CAN failures and their resulting symptom:

HS-CAN Communication Fault Chart:

The following chart describes all network messages broadcast on the Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) network and High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN) and the module(s) that receives the message:

Network Module Communication Message Chart (Part 1):

Network Module Communication Message Chart (Part 2):

Network Module Communication Message Chart (Part 3):