3408 & 3412 HIGH PERFORMANCE MARINE ENGINES Caterpillar

4.0 Troubleshooting with a Diagnostic Code

Usage:

Active Diagnostic Codes

Diagnostic codes are used by the ECM system to warn the operator of a problem and indicate to the service technician the nature of the problem. Some codes are used only to record an event, and do not indicate problems, such as over speed.

An ACTIVE Diagnostic code represents a problem that should be investigated and corrected AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Repairing the cause of an ACTIVE code will cause the code to be cleared from the ACTIVE Diagnostic Code screen.

When an ACTIVE code is generated, the ECM diagnostic lamp will turn ON and flash the fault code, blinking every five seconds. If the condition generating the fault occurs only for a brief moment, the diagnostic lamp will go OFF after five seconds and the fault will be LOGGED.

NOTE: After a problem has been investigated and corrected, the related diagnostic code should be cleared from memory.

Using The ECAP To Display ACTIVE Codes

A. With key OFF, install an ECAP into the ECM system through the J13 ATA Data Link connector.

B. Turn key ON (engine does not need to be started to view codes).

C. Refer to the Operating Manual and Special Instructions for the service tool (listed under ECM Service Tools) to read the code(s). On the ECAP, the display menu will direct you to the proper screen to display diagnostic messages similar to the example below.

Example ECAP Screen: "Display ACTIVE Diagnostic Messages"

Logged Diagnostic Codes

When an ECM generates a diagnostic code, it usually logs the code in permanent memory within the ECM. The time the code occurred (in hours on the internal diagnostic clock) is logged along with the code. The logged codes can then be later retrieved or erased using an ECAP service tool. They can be a valuable indicator when troubleshooting intermittent problems.

When investigating Logged diagnostic codes, keep in mind:

* The most likely cause of an intermittent problem is connections or damaged wiring. Next likely is the component (sensor or BTM, for instance). Least likely is the ECM.

* Some codes represent "events", not failures. These codes are 23-02 Excessive Engine Power (48), and 190-00 Engine Overspeed Warning (35). Passwords are required to clear these events from the log. An example of a "Logged Event" is below.

* Some codes are both events and faults and are associated with Caterpillar Engine Protection. These codes are 100-01 Low Oil Pressure Warning (46), 110-00 High Coolant Temp. Warning (61), and 111-01 Low Coolant Level Warning (62) Passwords are required to clear these events and faults from the log.

* Codes not requiring passwords to clear are automatically deleted after 100 ECM hours.

To troubleshoot a logged diagnostic code, refer to the procedure in this manual for troubleshooting the specific code first (Troubleshooting With A Diagnostic Code). If symptoms continue, use the procedure for troubleshooting symptoms (See Section 3: Troubleshooting Without A Diagnostic Code).

Using The ECAP To Display Logged Codes:

With key ON or engine running, follow the directions of the Operating Manual and Special Instructions for ECAP (listed under ECM Service Tools) to view the codes. The ECAP menu will direct you to the proper screen to display logged diagnostic messages.

Using The ECAP To Clear Logged Codes:

Follow directions in the Operating Manual and Special Instructions for ECAP to clear logged codes. The ECAP menu will direct you to the proper screen to clear logged diagnostic codes.

Example ECAP Screen: "Logged Faults"

Example ECAP Screen: "Logged Events"

Parameter Identifier (PID): Two or three digit code which is assigned to each component or system.
Failure Mode Identifier (FMI): Type of failure the component experienced (adopted from SAE standard practice J1587 diagnostics).
Flash Code (FC): Caterpillar proprietary code numbers which when ACTIVE are flashed out on the diagnostic lamp.