Continuous DTCS

Retrieve/Clear Continuous DTCs

During vehicle operation the RCM will detect and store both intermittent and hard failure DTCs in nonvolatile memory. The DTC strategy employed by the RCM incorporates a time-out scheme for determining when a concern exists in the system. This requires a concern to exist for up to one minute in the system before the RCM will detect it. For the monitor to determine that a concern no longer exists, the concern must be absent for up to one minute. The actual detection time-outs vary with each DTC. DTCs can be retrieved with a scan tool using the Retrieve/Clear Continuous DTCs test mode. Any DTCs stored in the RCM will be displayed on the scan tool along with a brief description of the DTC. If no DTCs are present, the scan tool will display a SYSTEM PASSED message. This option can also be used to Clear DTCs from memory as long as the concern no longer exists. Once 256 key cycles have been recorded since the concern was last detected, the DTC will automatically be removed from memory.

To retrieve or clear DTCs, follow these steps:
1. Connect the scan tool to the Data Link Connector (DLC).
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
3. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the scan tool being used.

NOTE: Before proceeding with the clearing operation, make note of the DTCs displayed. Once cleared, DTCs cannot be retrieved.

4. All continuous DTCs will be displayed on the screen.
5. Clear the DTCs. After clearing the DTCs, cycle the key OFF, then ON.
- Continuous DTCs that have been cleared will not re-occur as "Continuous" in the same key cycle. Only new DTCs which were not present before clearing can occur as "Continuous" after clearing.

On-Demand Self-Test
The On-Demand Self-Test option is used to verify that no electrical concerns exist with the air bag system. Upon entering the On-Demand Self-Test, the RCM will make an electrical check of each electrical component in the system. If a concern is detected, a DTC is displayed on the scan tool with a brief description of the DTC. Concerns detected during the Self-Test are not stored in memory unless the same concern was also detected during normal vehicle operation. The Self-Test should always be run after any repair to verify that the repair was successful.

To run the On-Demand Self-Test, follow these steps:
6. Connect the scan tool to the Data Link Connector (DLC).
7. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
8. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the scan tool being used.
9. The RCM will run the On-Demand Self Test and display on-demand DTCs (reflecting hard system concerns) on the screen.