Retrieve/Clear Continuous DTCs

RETRIEVE/CLEAR CONTINUOUS DTCs

During vehicle operation, the restraints control module (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 RCM 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. The DTCs can be retrieved with a scan tool using the retrieve/clear continuous DTCs option. 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 the RCM memory, as long as the concern no longer exists. Once 128 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.

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

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.