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Data Link Communications Description and Operation

Note: This is an overview of different serial data buses used by GM control modules to communicate with each others. Use schematics to find out which serial data buses are configured for a specific vehicle.

There are many components in a vehicle that rely on information from other sources, transmit information to other sources, or both. Serial data communication networks provide a reliable, cost effective, way for various components of the vehicle to "talk" to one another and share information.

GM uses a number of different communication buses to insure the timely and efficient exchange of information between control modules. When compared to each other, some of these buses are different in nature as far as speed, signal characteristics, and behaviour. An example of this is the High Speed GMLAN and Low Speed GMLAN buses.

On the other hand, when other buses are compared to each other they have similar characteristics and simply operate in parallel. In this case they are used to group together components which have high interaction. Examples are the High Speed GMLAN, Powertrain Expansion, and Chassis Expansion buses. This allows them to communicate with each other on a bus with reduced message congestion insuring faster and the more timely exchange of information than if all vehicle control modules were on a single bus.

The majority of information that exists within a given network generally stays local; however some information will have to be shared on other networks. Control modules designated as Gateway's perform the function of transferring information between the various buses. A Gateway module is connected to at least 2 buses and will interact with each network according to its message strategy and transmission models.

GMLAN provides the capability for a receiving control module to monitor message transmissions from other control modules in order to determine if messages of interest are not being received. The primary purpose is to allow reasonable default values to be substituted for the information no longer being received. Additionally, a control module may set a Diagnostic Trouble Code to indicate that the control module it is expecting information from is no longer communicating.

A High Speed GMLAN Bus is used where data needs to be exchanged at a high enough rate to minimise the delay between the occurrence of a change in sensor value and the reception of this information by a control device using the information to adjust vehicle system performance.

The High Speed GMLAN serial data network consists of two twisted wires. One signal circuit is identified as GMLAN-High and the other signal circuit is identified as GMLAN-Low. At each end of the data bus there is a 120 Ω termination resistor between the GMLAN-High and GMLAN-Low circuits.

Data symbols (1s and 0s) are transmitted sequentially at a rate of 500 Kbit/s. The data to be transmitted over the bus is represented by the voltage difference between the GMLAN-High signal voltage and the GMLAN-Low signal voltage.

When the two wire bus is at rest the GMLAN-High and GMLAN-Low signal circuits are not being driven and this represents a logic "1". In this state both signal circuits are at the same voltage of 2.5 V. The differential voltage is approximately 0 V.

When a logic "0" is to be transmitted, the GMLAN-High signal circuit is driven higher to about 3.5 V and the GMLAN-Low circuit is driven lower to about 1.5 V. The differential voltage becomes approximately 2.0 (+/- 0.5) V.

The GMLAN Chassis Expansion Bus is basically a copy of the High Speed GMLAN Bus except that its use is reserved for chassis components. This implementation splits message congestion between two parallel buses helping to insure timely message transmission and reception. Sometimes communication is required between the Chassis Expansion Bus and the primary High Speed GMLAN Bus. This is accomplished by using the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) as the Gateway module. Since the High Speed GMLAN Chassis Expansion Bus and primary High Speed GMLAN Bus operate in the same manner, the diagnostics for each are similar.

The GMLAN Powertrain Expansion Bus is basically a copy of the High-Speed GMLAN Bus except that its use is reserved for Hybrid powertrain components or Diesel powertrain components in some cases. The bus is optional based upon feature content. Sometimes communication is required between the Powertrain Expansion Bus and the primary High-Speed GMLAN Bus. This is accomplished by using the Engine Control Module (ECM) as the Gateway module. Since the High-Speed GMLAN Powertrain Expansion Bus and the primary High-Speed GMLAN Bus operate in the same manner, the diagnostics for each are similar.

All diagnostic information is available only through the primary high-speed GMLAN bus. However, Service Programming for the high-speed GMLAN powertrain expansion bus is performed only through the auxiliary data connector.

The GMLAN High-Voltage Energy Management Bus is basically a copy of the High-Speed GMLAN Bus except that its use is reserved for Hybrid charging components of an electric vehicle. Sometimes communication is required between the Low-Speed GMLAN Bus and the High-Voltage Energy Management Bus. This is accomplished by using the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 as the Gateway module. Since the High-Speed GMLAN High-Voltage Energy Management Bus and primary High-Speed GMLAN Bus operate in the same manner, the diagnostics for each are similar.

All diagnostic information is available only through the primary high-speed GMLAN bus.

This bus is used by the Entertainment sub-system to transfer high-rate display graphics between the Radio and the Info Display Module and/or Radio/HVAC Control. The electrical characteristics of the CAN Graphical Interface (CGI) Bus are very similar to the High Speed GMLAN Bus. The message strategy and construction of messages are different however. Sometimes communication is required between the CAN Graphical Interface Bus and the Low Speed GMLAN Bus. This is accomplished by using the Radio SilverBox as the Gateway module. Since the CAN Graphical Interface Bus and primary High Speed GMLAN Bus have similar electrical characteristics, the diagnostics for each are similar.

In the case where the Info Display Module and Radio/HVAC Control are separate control modules the Info Display Module is responsible for passing information between the Radio and the Radio/HVAC Control. The Radio interfaces only with the Info Display Module and the Info Display Module then communicates with the Radio/HVAC Control through a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) interface.

A bus wake up signal will be generated by the Radio or by the Info Display Module when the system functionality is required. The communication function of the CAN Graphical Interface shall be enabled or disabled based on the voltage level of the Centre Stack Wake. The network will stay awake as long as the circuit voltage is driven low, to less than 1.5 V. Communications are disabled with a high circuit voltage around 5.0 V.

The Radio can execute a warm reset of the Info Display Module if the Info Display Module fails to respond to the Radio's request. The Centre Stack Reset is a low-asserted pull down output (less than 1.5 V) from the Radio to the Info Display Module and has the same electrical characteristics as those for the Centre Stack Wake signal defined above.

The Mid Speed GMLAN Bus is very similar to the High Speed GMLAN Bus except that it uses a slower transmission rate of 125 Kbit/s. This bus is intended for use where the system response time demands that a large amount of data be transmitted in a relatively short amount of time, such as updating a graphics display. As such it has usually been used for infotainment applications. Sometimes communication is required between the Low Speed GMLAN Bus and the Mid Speed GMLAN Bus. This is accomplished by using the Radio (Silverbox) as the Gateway module. Since the Mid Speed GMLAN Bus and primary High Speed GMLAN Bus operate in a similar manner, the diagnostics for each are similar.

Low Speed GMLAN Bus is used in applications where a high data rate is not required which allows for the use of less complex components. It is typically used for operator controlled functions where the response time requirements are slower than those required for dynamic vehicle control.

The Low Speed GMLAN Serial Data Network consists of a single wire, ground referenced bus with high side voltage drive. During on road vehicle operation data symbols (1s and 0s) are transmitted sequentially at the normal rate of 33.3 Kbit/s. For component programming only, a special high speed data mode of 83.3 Kbit/s may be used.

Unlike the high speed dual wire networks, the single wire low speed network does not use terminating resistors at either end of the network.

The data symbols to be transmitted over the bus are represented by different voltage signals on the bus. When the Low Speed GMLAN Bus is at rest and is not being driven, there is a low signal voltage of approximately 0.2 V. This represents a logic "1". When a logic "0" is to be transmitted, the signal voltage is driven higher to around 4.0 V or higher.

The Local Interconnect Network (LIN) Bus consists of a single wire with a transmission rate of 10.417 Kbit/s. This bus is used to exchange information between a master control module and other smart devices which provide supporting functionality. This type of configuration does not require the capacity or speed of either a High Speed GMLAN Bus or Low Speed GMLAN Bus and is thus relatively simpler.

The data symbols (1s and 0s) to be transmitted are represented by different voltage levels on the communication bus. When the LIN Bus is at rest and is not being driven, the signal is in a high voltage state of approximately Vbatt. This represents a logic "1". When a logic "0" is to be transmitted, the signal voltage is driven low to about ground (0.0 V).

Control modules on GMLAN high speed type networks, excluding the Mid Speed GMLAN Bus and CAN Graphical Interface Bus, enable or disable communication based on the voltage level of this circuit. When the circuit voltage is high (around 12 V), communications are enabled. When the circuit is low, communications are disabled.

The CAN Graphical Interface Bus is similar but uses different voltage levels. See description above for the CAN Graphical Interface Bus.

The data link connector (DLC) is a standardised 16-cavity connector. Connector design and location is dictated by an industry wide standard, and is required to provide the following:

The auxiliary data connector is a standardised 16-cavity connector. This connector shall be available on all vehicles that require service programming for controllers on the Powertrain Expansion Bus for Hybrid applications only. Diagnostics shall be available via the data link connector (DLC), and not provided via the auxiliary data connector. The pinouts for this auxiliary data connector are as follows:

The scan tool communicates over the various buses on the vehicle. When a scan tool is installed on a vehicle, the scan tool will try to communicate with every control module that could be optioned into the vehicle. If an option is not installed on the vehicle, the scan tool will display No Comm for that optional control module. In order to avert misdiagnoses of No Communication with a specific control module, refer to Data Link References for a list of control modules, the buses they communicate with, and the RPO codes for a specific control module.