Can Bus

The Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus allows all electronic modules or nodes connected to the bus to share information with each other. Regardless of whether a message originates from a module on the lower speed CAN-B bus or on the higher speed CAN-C or CAN-D bus, the message structure and layout is similar, which allows the Front Control Module/Central GateWay (FCM or FCMCGW) to process and transfer messages between the CAN buses. The FCM also stores a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for certain bus network faults.

All modules (also referred to as nodes) transmit and receive messages over one of these buses. Data exchange between nodes is achieved by serial transmission of encoded data messages. Each node can both send and receive serial data simultaneously. Each digital bit of a CAN bus messages is carried over the bus as a voltage differential between the two bus circuits which, when strung together, form a message. Each node uses arbitration to sort the message priority if two competing messages are attempting to be broadcast at the same time.

The ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN) is the Local Interface Network (LIN) master module in this vehicle and it gathers information from the compass module, the instrument panel switch bank, the Steering Control Module (SCM), and the Heated Seat Module (HSM) through the LIN data bus. There is also LIN bus communication between the individual Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) transponders and the Wireless Ignition Node (WIN) (also known as the Sentry Key Immobilizer Module/SKIM, the Sentry Key REmote Entry Module/SKREEM or the Wireless Control Module/WCM). Both the EMIC and the WIN either act directly upon the information received through the LIN data bus, relay the information to other nodes in the vehicle using electronic messages placed on the CAN bus, or both.

The voltage network used to transmit messages requires biasing and termination. Each module on the CAN bus network provides its own biasing and termination. There are two types of nodes used in the CAN bus network. On the CAN-C bus, a dominant node has a 120 ohm termination resistance while a non-dominant (or recessive) node has about a 2500 to 3000 ohm (2.5 to 3.0 kilohm) termination resistance. The dominant nodes on the CAN-C bus are the WIN and the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).

The termination resistance of two dominant nodes is combined in parallel to provide a total of about 60 ohms. This resistance value may vary somewhat by application, depending upon the number of non-dominant nodes on the CAN-C bus. On the CAN-D bus (or Diagnostic CAN-C) all of the 60 ohm termination resistance is present in the Central GateWay (FCMCGW).