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Fault diagnosis strategy for electronic systems

Fault diagnosis strategy for electronic systems



1. The customer's description of the problem constitutes the basis for the fault diagnosis strategy.

If necessary, the customer must demonstrate the trouble on the car to avoid misunderstandings.

2. In certain cases, the function may be correct.

2.1. Good product knowledge is required to decide this.

2.2. If the function is correct, this must be explained to the customer.

3. If the function is considered faulty, the car should be repaired.

Saab's fault diagnosis strategy assumes that the technician is familiar with the customer's description of the problem. So note the customer's complaint and any other observations on the work order.

4. The technician obtains a readout of the diagnostic trouble codes from all systems.

A malfunction in one system can often be caused by a fault in another system.

5. The car may contain diagnostic trouble codes which are secondary faults or which have been incorrectly generated.

5.1. Compare the customer's complaint with the symptom descriptions for the various diagnostic trouble codes. EPSI has a fast search path for this.

5.2. If the symptom description for a diagnostic trouble code matches the customer's complaint, this code is probably caused by the primary fault.

Repair in accordance with the instructions.

6. If there is no match with the diagnostic trouble codes, fault diagnosis on the basis of symptoms can be carried out.

6.1. In EPSI, search under fault diagnosis on the basis of symptoms in the system where the fault has occurred.

6.2. If the symptom description in the current system matches the complaint, the right fault diagnosis description has probably been found.

Repair in accordance with the instructions.

7. If there is no match with diagnostic trouble codes or symptoms, the technician must diagnose the fault himself.

A final check must be carried out after the repair.

Good technical product knowledge is required to solve this type of problem.

8. The car is ready.


General fault diagnosis in electronic systems

Control module

When the control module is supplied with current, the processor in it is tripped. The processor then reads the instructions stored in the control module's memory.

The control module is programmed to read the inputs and activate the outputs. If the control module program is faulty, the diagnostic trouble code “Internal Control Module Fault”will be generated.

The control module must be supplied with current before the system will function. The control module is supplied with current and the processor tripped when the control module can be contacted by the diagnostic instrument.

Outputs

The purpose of the system is to control a number of functions by means of various actuators, e.g. an injector or a lamp. For the system to be capable of performing its functions, it must be possible to activate the actuators. For this reason the actuators must be connected to the control module and have a proper power supply or ground connection.

Inputs

A condition for the control module's capability of controlling its actuators is that the system's sensors supply the control module with correct values.

Sensor performance can be checked with the diagnostic instrument.

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