What are Truck Fault Codes? How to interpret them? Here's What You Need to Know!
As trucks have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, the trucking industry has gotten better at capturing and using the appropriate information for diagnosis. Doesn't that make sense? You used to open the hood, find the problem and fix it. But as computers played a bigger role in the way trucks operated, we needed new tools to diagnose and solve problems.
In the early 1980s, vehicles were equipped with on-board computers and electronics for many engine control systems, such as fuel and ignition. Over time, manufacturers developed methods to more effectively monitor and diagnose electrical component problems.
Truck fault codes (now called Diagnostic Trouble Codes, or TACs), first appeared in 2009. They were designed to simplify the diagnosis and maintenance of increasingly complex systems.
Today, an effective truck diagnostic system uses TACs to notify drivers and fleet management when problems arise. These codes are not just warning codes - they also tell you what the problem is. They're not as complicated as you might think them to be, and we hope to explain them for you in this article.
Are Trouble Codes Friend or Foe?
TACs annoy many truck drivers, and for good reason. Without an easy-to-use diagnostic tool, you're left in the dark about what the codes mean. What if you had a tool that explained them to you?
If you think of them as your guide, not your enemy ("uh-oh, potential problem, stranded on the side of the road, waste of time")... they have a chance to become your friends. If you think of them as your guides to understanding potential problems, they can become your friends.
Knowing how your computer detects and communicates problems will help you succeed with your truck. It will mean less downtime, less stress of being in the dark, and a more enjoyable trip.
There are only a few variables and codes you need to understand. Although they may seem complex at first, understanding the relationships between them makes them simple.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)
DTCs are used to tell you about possible fault conditions. They are like acronyms - each DTC consists of a four-digit number, and each digit contains a different type of information about the problem. These are SPN, FMI, OC and conversion method.
Suspect Parameter Number (SPN)
SPN is the fault location number. It is assigned to a specific part or electrical subsystem to help identify the problem.
Failure Mode Identifier (FMI)
FMI identifies the type of failure that occurred. For example, the FMI may indicate that there is a problem with the electrics.
The following is a list of FMIs:
0 - Highest
1 - Low
2 - Intermittent
3 - High Voltage
4 - Low Voltage
5 - Open Circuit Fault
6 - Ground Short Circuit
7 - System not responding
8 - Frequency abnormality
9 - Abnormal update
10 - Abnormal Change rate
11 - Other errors
12 - Other errors
12 - Complete failure
13 - Out of calibration
14 - Special instructions
15 - Data valid above normal range
16 - Data valid in medium-serious range
17 - Data valid, but in the non-serious range
18 - Data valid, but below the medium-serious range
19 - Network data error
20 - Highly shifted data
21 - Lowly shifted data
31 - Current status
Occurrence Count (OC)
The OC count indicates the number of times a defect has occurred. When a defect changes from passive to active, the OC increases by one.
SPN Conversion Method
DTC conversion method indicates how to process or translate SPN and FMI.
Understanding DTC Codes
Recently, scan tools have been developed that convert the raw data from the engine control module (ECM) into a more understandable format. As with all things, some scan tools are more useful than others.
Basic scanners often convert codes from raw data into something more familiar, but they provide little information about the problem. This lack of information can increase the time to detect and fix a problem, which can result in higher labor costs. It also increases the likelihood of human errors (for example, skipping a code) and can cause additional system damage. Plus, you won't get much information about what's really going on.
Not All DTC Codes Are Critical
Because there are so many common and factory DTC codes, even some experienced technicians have difficulty understanding them all. But it's good to know that while some codes are not critical, others are.
Critical codes are those that indicate a problem that could lead to serious damage.
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