Freeze Frame and Failure Records

The Scan tool displays vehicle malfunction history information located in the Diagnostic Trouble Code menu under the subheading Freeze Frame/Failure Records. Freeze Frame/Failure Records contain a maximum of 7 records; 1 FREEZE FRAME plus 6 FAILURE RECORDS.

Government regulations mandate that all emission related faults store freeze frame data, designated as Failure Record "0" on Scan tool, at time of the first failed test. The first emission related fault that sets after a code clear or battery disconnect is stored in freeze frame and can only be overwritten by Fuel Trim and Misfire faults. All other emission related faults that set will not be stored in freeze frame unless the initial fault is cleared.

Failure records 1 through 6 on Scan tool store information at time of first fault and are updated every time the PCM runs a test and fails the diagnostic. If another fault were to occur, the DTC in record 1 would be moved to record 2 and the new DTC would be placed in record 1 (first in, first out). If a new failure is detected while all failure records are full, the number 6 record will be erased (oldest) and the newest fault will be updated to Failure Record 1.

The following is an overview of DTC types and how information is stored in memory.

EMISSION RELATED
TYPE A - First fault during first ignition cycle - Freeze Frame "0" stores DTC plus information, Failure Record 1 stores (same record as freeze frame "0") and updates with every failed test, DTC becomes active, MIL illuminates

TYPE B - First fault during first ignition cycle - Freeze Frame "0" stores DTC plus information, Failure Record 1 stores (same record as freeze frame "0") and updates with every failed test, DTC becomes active.

Second ignition cycle with same fault - Failure Record 1 updates, MIL illuminates.

NON-EMISSION RELATED
TYPE C - First fault during first ignition cycle - Failure Record 1 stores DTC plus information and updates with every failed test, DTC becomes active, SERVICE telltale illuminates.

TYPE D - First fault during first ignition cycle - Failure Record 1 stores DTC plus information and updates with every failed test, DTC becomes active.

It is important to remember that the DTC as well as any stored failure record information will be erased if the vehicle battery has been disconnected or a clear DTC command is issued to the PCM. DTCs and failure record information will also be erased if 40 passes (only one pass per ignition cycle is counted) have been recorded without any faults. All emission (DTC type A or B) and non-emission (DTC type C and D) codes require this 40 pass criteria.

FREEZE FRAME 0 will store the following:
^ Distance Since First Fall
^ Distance Since Last Fall
^ Engine Run Time
^ Engine Speed
^ Vehicle Speed
^ Engine Load
^ ECT
^ MAP
^ TP Angle
^ Start-up ECT
^ BARO
^ Loop Status
^ Short Term FT
^ Long Term FT
^ Injector Pulse Width
^ Air Fuel Ratio
^ Air Flow
^ TFP Switch A/B/C (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ TR Switch - P/A/B/C (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ 1-2 Sol. (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ 2-3 Sol. (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ TCC Status (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ TCC Release Pressure (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ Trans. Fluid Temp. (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ Transmission ISS (Automatic Transaxle Only)
^ Gear Ratio (Automatic Transaxle Only)

Each DTC will store all of the above parameters in the Failure Record as well as additional information based on the specific DTC. There are 10 different combinations of additional information ranging from 3 to 14 parameters for all of the powertrain DTCs.

The failure records for PCM will record all of this information plus additional information specific to the particular DTC. The failure record will be erased from the PCM memory during a code clear, battery disconnect or after 40 passes (only one pass per ignition cycle is counted) without any faults detected in that circuit.