Communication Error
Communication Error
Issue 5 en-GB
Communication error
Help when troubleshooting
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135 489
P, G, R, and S series
Introduction
To be able to troubleshoot in the CAN network it is important to be aware of some basic factors. The
CAN technology has been developed to provide a reliable transfer of data between different compo-
nents in the vehicle. It is based on serial communication in 2 cables, called CAN-high (CAN H) and
CAN-low (CAN L). In certain cases there is also a shield cable which counteracts interference.
To reduce the risk of the CAN bus becoming overloaded with messages, Scania has chosen to mainly
divide the ECU systems into 4 CAN buses. These are called yellow, green, red and orange CAN bus.
In addition to these, there is also a network for external CAN communication designated with the
colour blue.
Besides these CAN buses, there may be additional CAN buses, designated with the colour grey. For
example, some of the units in the CCS system communicate by using an internal CAN network. The
ECU systems that are most important for driving the vehicle (BMS, COO, EMS and GMS) are con-
nected together on a CAN bus (red bus). Scania Diagnos (SDP3) is connected to the green bus.
Junction blocks distribute the CAN bus signals to the control units on the same CAN bus. They are
available in different versions depending on whether they connect networks in the cab or on the
chassis.
General troubleshooting
Before you start troubleshooting, you should find out whether the fault occurred in connection with
some other activity, for example connecting bodywork or installing accessories, or whether it just
occurred for no apparent reason.
• SDP3 + VCI
• Multimeter
• A chart of how the control units are connected on the CAN buses.
• Fault code descriptions
It is not the fault codes that are the most important in this case, since it is the communication you
want to test. If the instrument cluster responds no errors it means that the communication is working.
The illustration on the next page shows the junction blocks that are connected to the coordinator and
the size of each termination resistor.
The measuring should be performed on the coordinator’s pin for each CAN bus with the connector
connected. For example, the measuring of the green CAN bus can be performed at the coordinator’s
E30.B connector between the measuring points B-3 and B-12.
Note:
To be able to measure the resistance in a CAN bus, all systems must be connected and with no power
to the vehicle when measuring.
The resistance for each CAN bus must be 54-60 ohm. If the resistance is 120 ohm, this means that 1
termination resistor is missing. If the resistance is 40 or 30 ohm, then there is/are 1 or 2 termination
resistors too many on the particular CAN bus. In case of too high or low resistance in the CAN bus,
the next step is to measure the termination resistors for the coordinator, junction blocks and con-
nected control units separately.
The coordinator’s and connected control units’ termination resistors are measured at the control
units’ pin for each CAN bus without connectors being connected. The measured value for the coordi-
nator should be 120 ohm. The measured values for the connected control units should be as shown in
the illustration above.
The junction blocks’ termination resistors are measured on each separate junction block without con-
nector. Check measuring of a junction block’s termination resistor is performed by measuring the
upper and lower rows of pins. The middle row is used for shielding. The resistance for a separate
junction block should be 120 ohm or 2.6 kohm depending on the version.
If the green CAN bus is overloaded, this can also mean that SDP3 cannot be used. In case of over-
load on a CAN bus, one control unit at a time should be disconnected to see if the problem disap-
pears and thereby identify the defective control unit.
For more information, see the Workshop Manual > 16 – 00 > Electrical system complete > CAN net-
work.
P, G, R and T series
Introduction
An electrical system with CAN communication means that troubleshooting is partly carried out dif-
ferently compared to conventional electrical systems.
In most cases it is possible to carry out troubleshooting within the vehicle electrical system using
SDP3. This assumes that communication between the control units via CAN buses is working and
that SDP3 can communicate with the vehicle control units.
In some cases faults may occur which can be difficult to diagnose using SDP3.
In this section you find examples which may assist you when searching for the causes of faults in the
vehicle electrical system.
More detailed information about the electrical system can be found in the booklet Electrical system
in P, R and T series, Introduction and general troubleshooting. The measurement methods for the
green CAN bus described there can also be used to troubleshoot the yellow CAN bus and red CAN
bus.
Troubleshooting
Preparation
Before you start, you should know whether the fault occurred in connection with some other activity,
for example connecting bodywork, installing accessories etc., or whether it just occurred for no
apparent reason.
• SDP3
• Multimeter
• A chart of how the control units are connected to the CAN buses. For more information, see the
last page.
• Measurement adapter 99 508 (included in measurement adapter kit 99 511)
• Fault code descriptions
If SDP3 cannot communicate with one or more control units so that you cannot obtain assembly
part numbers or fault codes within the program, you can obtain a list of fault codes for each
assembly part number from SDP3 as follows:
Go to the View menu and select the All fault codes option.
You can obtain the assembly part number via the IVD function on the instrument cluster, pro-
vided that the instrument cluster can establish contact with the control units and that fault codes
have been registered.
The instrument cluster always shows which systems it expects to receive a response from, i.e.
which systems are fitted on the vehicle.
If there are no fault codes registered in the control unit, the instrument cluster displays:
no errors
If the instrument cluster cannot establish contact with the control unit, it displays:
no contact
It is not the fault codes that are the most important in this case, since it is the communication you
want to test. If the instrument cluster responds no errors this means that communication is work-
ing. Systems such as CTS (clock and timer), AHS (auxiliary heater system) and AUS (infotain-
ment system) must be switched on in order for contact to be established between them.
CAN
INFO
ER R OR
WLAN
P O WER
328 725
Function of
the lamps
PWR (green) The lamp is constantly on when VCI3 is supplied with power.
VCI2: The lamp flashes when the VCI is connected to the PC.
CAN (yellow) The light lights up (flashes rapidly) when data is transmitted between the VCI and
the vehicle via the CAN bus.
Error (red) The lamp lights up when there is a communication error on the CAN bus.
VCI2: USB The lamp lights up (flashes rapidly) when data is transmitted between the PC and
(yellow) VCI via the USB key.
VCI3: Info The lamp flashes rapidly when general information is sent between the computer
(orange) and VCI3.
VCI3: WLAN The lamp is on or flashes when VCI3 is connected to a local network via wireless
(blue) connection in one of the following ways: The lamp is constantly on when it is
connected to a computer via a wireless network with a good signal strength. The
lamp flashes slowly and steadily when VCI3 does not have contact with the
computer but is connected to a wireless network with a good signal strength. The
lamp flashes once per second if there is a fault during startup.
Note:
On low-specification vehicles, it is not certain that there will be any systems on the green CAN bus.
Check via the instrument cluster which systems should be available on the vehicle and compare them
with the CAN chart on the last page.
• If the ICL control unit has established contact with the green CAN bus, check whether there is an
open circuit somewhere between the VCI2/VCI3 and the junction block for the green CAN bus
(C479).
• If the ICL control unit has not established contact with the green CAN bus, continue troubleshoot-
ing as follows:
135 385
2 1
1. Junction blocks for CAN
2. Junction block for ground.
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Note:
During the following measurement, all systems
must be connected but not supplied with volt-
age.
4. If the
resistance is too low, take the switch
apart and measure on the junction block for
the green CAN bus for all cables in order to
find out which control unit is faulty.
5. Disconnect the control unit concerned in
order to determine whether there is a fault
on the control unit or in the cable harness.
6. Ifthere is a fault in the cable harness, trou-
bleshoot according to the instructions set
out in the document Electrical system in P,
R and T series, Introduction and general
troubleshooting.
Note:
To avoid damaging the pins, you should use
the measurement adapter. No measurement
should be carried out directly on the coordina-
tor pins because they are very sensitive.
SDP3 cannot establish contact with control units on the red CAN bus
If SDP3 cannot establish contact with the control unit this may be due to the control unit speed not
corresponding to the CAN bus speed.
Check the CAN speed in SDP3 under the Product information tab, Product properties controlling
parameters.
• If you can use SDP3, check the fault codes. Also check whether there are inactive fault codes
which cause problems at low voltage.
If you cannot use SDP3, try to read the fault codes from the instrument cluster.
• If a control unit has a fault code for a low supply voltage, measure the input voltage and check the
control unit ground connection by, for example, measuring the voltage drop on the ground con-
nection.
• If there are fault codes implicating a specific CAN bus, test by measuring the voltage in the CAN
bus by connecting a multimeter between one of the CAN cables and chassis ground.
The voltage should be approximately 2.5 V.
• If the multimeter shows an absurdly high value, more than 5 V, this may indicate grounding prob-
lems on one or more control units on the CAN bus which is being measured.
• Dismantle the junction block and check what is giving the incorrect voltage.
• Check any grounding problems by measuring the voltage drop on the control unit. Measure from
the ground connection in the control unit connector to a safe electrical ground point, for example
one of the cab’s electrical ground points. Correct grounding results in no or very little voltage
drop.
CAN chart
CAN bus speed 250/250/250
Diagnostic bus
K1
COO Red bus
AUS Coordinator system
Audio system
ACC
Automatic climate
control LAS
Locking and alarm
system
WTA
Auxiliary heater
system water to air AWD
All wheel drive
system
ATA
Auxiliary heater ICL
system air to air Instrument cluster
system
CTS TCO
Clock and timer Tachograph system
system
RTG VIS
Road transport Visibility system
informatics gateway
APS
Air prosessing
RTI system
Road transport
informatics system
Green bus BWS
135 389
Body Builder
Body work system Truck
Yellow bus
Diagnostic bus
K1
COO Red bus
CSS Coordinator system
Crash safety system
WTA
Auxiliary heater LAS
system water to air Locking and alarm
system
ATA AWD
Auxiliary heater
system air to air All wheel drive
system
CTS ICL
Clock and timer Instrument cluster
system system
RTG TCO
Tachograph system
Road transport
informatics gateway
VIS
RTI Visibility system
Road transport
informatics system
APS
Air prosessing
system
LDW
Lane departure
warning
BWS Body Builder
Body work system Truck
DIS
Distance sensor
Green bus BCS 2
Bus chassi system
TPM
Tyre pressure
monitoring
SMS/SMA
Suspension
management system
from jan.2012
RTC
334 212
Road traffic
Yellow bus communicator