Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Circuit/System Testing
Each device may need to be disconnected to isolate a circuit fault. Use the schematic to identify the following:
- High speed GMLAN devices and terminating resistors the vehicle is equipped with
- Device locations on the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits
- Each device's ground, B+, ignition, and high speed GMLAN serial data circuit terminals
Some devices with an internal terminating resistor have a loop in the harness that connects the internal terminating resistor to the serial data circuit. When wired this way, test these loop circuits for the appropriate failure mode short to voltage, short to ground, or open/high resistance prior to replacing the device for each of the following tests.
Testing the Serial Data Circuits for a Short to Voltage
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at an easily accessible device, ignition ON/Vehicle In Service Mode.
- Test for greater than 4.5 V between each serial data circuit at the device connector that was just disconnected and ground.
- If each serial data circuit is 4.5 V or lessÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF.
- Test for less than 10 Ω between each of the device's ground circuit terminals and ground.
- If 10 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 10 Ω, replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any serial data circuit is greater than 4.5 VÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at another device, in the direction of the circuit shorted to voltage, ignition ON/Vehicle In Service Mode.
- Test for greater than 4.5 V between each serial data circuit at the device connector that was just disconnected and ground.
- If each serial data circuit is 4.5 V or lessÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF.
- Test for less than 10 Ω between each of the device's ground circuit terminals and ground.
- If 10 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 10 Ω, replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any serial data circuit is greater than 4.5 VÂ
- Repeat step 3 until one of the following conditions are isolated:
- A short to voltage on the serial data circuit between two devices or splice packs, if equipped.
- A short to voltage on the serial data circuit between a device and a terminating resistor.
Testing the Serial Data Circuits for a Short to Ground
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at an easily accessible device.
- Test for greater than 100 Ω between each serial data circuit at the device connector that was just disconnected and ground.
- If each serial data circuit is 100 Ω or greaterÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any serial data circuit is less than 100 ΩÂ
- If each serial data circuit is 100 Ω or greaterÂ
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at another device, in the direction of the circuit shorted to ground.
- Test for greater than 100 Ω between each serial data circuit at the device connector that was just disconnected and ground.
- If both serial data circuits are 100 Ω or greaterÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any serial data circuit is less than 100 ΩÂ
- If both serial data circuits are 100 Ω or greaterÂ
- Repeat step 4 until one of the following conditions are isolated:
- A short to ground on the serial data circuit between two devices or splice packs, if equipped.
- A short to ground on the serial data circuit between a device and a terminating resistor.
- A short to ground on the serial data circuit between the X84 Data Link Connector and the first device or splice pack.
Testing the Serial Data Circuits for a Short between the Circuits
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at an easily accessible device that is not communicating.
- Test for greater than 110 Ω between each pair of serial data circuits at the device connector that was just disconnected.
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 110 Ω or greaterÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any pair of serial data circuits is less than 110 ΩÂ
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 110 Ω or greaterÂ
- Connect the harness connectors at the device that was disconnected.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at another device, in the direction of the circuit shorted together.
- Test for greater than 110 Ω between each pair of serial data circuits at the device connector that was just disconnected.
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 110 Ω or greaterÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any pair of serial data circuits is less than 110 ΩÂ
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 110 Ω or greaterÂ
- Repeat step 4 until one of the following conditions are isolated:
- Serial data circuits shorted together between two devices or splice packs, if equipped.
- Serial data circuits shorted together between a device and a terminating resistor.
- Serial data circuits shorted together between the X84 Data Link Connector and the first device or splice pack.
- A shorted terminating resistor.
Testing the Serial Data Circuits for an Open/High Resistance (Data Bus Diagnostic Tool)
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at the non responding device closest to the responding device.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at the responding device closest to the non responding device.
- Test for less than 2 Ω in each of the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits end to end between the two devices that was just disconnected.
- If 2 Ω or greaterÂ
Repair the open/high resistance in the serial data circuit.
- Go to next step: If less than 2 ΩÂ
- If 2 Ω or greaterÂ
- Replace the non responding device that was disconnected.
Testing the Serial Data Circuits for an Open/High Resistance (Digital Multimeter)
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at an easily accessible device that is not communicating.
- Test for less than 130 Ω between each pair of serial data circuits at the device connector that was just disconnected.
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 130 Ω or lessÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any pair of serial data circuits is greater than 130 ΩÂ
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 130 Ω or lessÂ
- Connect the harness connectors at the device that was disconnected.
- Disconnect the harness connectors with the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits at another device, in the direction of the circuit with the open/high resistance.
- Test for less than 130 Ω between each pair of serial data circuits at the device connector that was just disconnected.
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 130 Ω or lessÂ
Replace the device that was disconnected.
- Go to next step: If any pair of serial data circuits is greater than 130 ΩÂ
- If each pair of serial data circuits is 130 Ω or lessÂ
- Repeat step 4 until one of the following conditions are isolated:
- An open/high resistance on the serial data circuit between two devices or splice packs, if equipped.
- An open/high resistance on the serial data circuit between a device and a terminating resistor.
- An open/high resistance terminating resistor.
Testing the Device Circuits
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Disconnect the harness connectors at a high speed GMLAN device that is not communicating.
- Test for less than 10 Ω between each ground circuit terminal and ground.
- If 10 Ω or greaterÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF.
- Test for less than 2 Ω in the ground circuit end to end.
- If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 2 Ω, repair the open/high resistance in the ground connection.
- Go to next step: If less than 10 ΩÂ
- If equipped, verify a test lamp illuminates between each B+ circuit terminal and ground.
- If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is goodÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, remove the test lamp.
- Test for less than 2 Ω in the B+ circuit end to end.
- If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 2 Ω, verify the fuse is not open and there is voltage at the fuse.
- If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is openÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, remove the test lamp.
- Test for infinite resistance between the B+ circuit and ground.
- If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
- If infinite resistance, replace the disconnected device.
- Go to next step: If the test lamp illuminatesÂ
- Ignition ON/Vehicle In Service Mode.
- If equipped, verify a test lamp illuminates between each ignition circuit terminal, which has a fuse in the circuit, and ground.
- If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is goodÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, remove the test lamp.
- Test for less than 2 Ω in the ignition circuit end to end.
- If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 2 Ω, verify the fuse is OK and there is voltage at the fuse.
- If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is openÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, remove the test lamp.
- Test for infinite resistance between the ignition circuit and ground.
- If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
- If infinite resistance, replace the disconnected device.
- Go to next step: If the test lamp illuminatesÂ
- If equipped, verify a test lamp illuminates between each ignition circuit terminal, which is controlled by a control module, and ground.
- If the test lamp does not illuminateÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, remove the test lamp, disconnect the harness connectors at the control module that controls the ignition circuit.
- Test for infinite resistance between the ignition circuit and ground.
- If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
- Go to next step: If infinite resistance
- Test for less than 2 Ω in the ignition circuit end to end.
- If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
- If less than 2 Ω, replace the control module that controls the ignition circuit.
- Go to next step: If the test lamp illuminatesÂ
- Ignition/Vehicle OFF, all access doors closed, all vehicle systems OFF, and all keys at least 3 m (9.8 ft) away from vehicle. It may take up to 10 min for all vehicle systems to power down.
- Test for less than 2 Ω in each of the high speed GMLAN serial data circuits end to end between the device harness connector and the appropriate X84 Data Link Connector terminals listed below:
- Terminal 6
- Terminal 14
- If 2 Ω or greaterÂ
Repair the open/high resistance in the serial data circuit.
- Go to next step: If less than 2 ΩÂ
- Replace the device that was disconnected.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.