Email: info@hcei.ca

Windsor Office:
1725 North Talbot Road, RR#1
Windsor, ON,  N9A 6J3
Tel: 519.737.7234  Fax: 519.737.7796

Dartmouth Office:
2 Stonehaven Crescent
Dartmouth, NS  B2V 2S1
Tel: 902.499.9283  Fax: 902.462.2897

Guelph Office:
York Business Centre
Building A, Suite 215
490 York Road
Guelph, ON  N1E 6V1
Tel: 519.822.7234  Fax: 855.531.3774

 



 

[ Title Page | Abstract | Table of Contents ]

 

Place an Order:

$29.95 US Dollars --- $39.95 CAN Dollars

Price includes all applicable taxes and standard shipping.

Click here to Order Your Copy Now!

 

 

Preserving Data from Electronic Control Modules on
Heavy Duty Truck Engines for
Accident Investigation

By
Sebastian A. van Nooten, P.Eng.
&
James R. Hrycay, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.



 

© 2006 HRYCAY Consulting Engineers Inc.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation in whole or in part is not permitted.

 

ABSTRACT

 [ top of page ]

The purpose of this document is to provide those involved with the investigation of accidents with an overview of the available data. For those individuals who possess and are familiar with the original equipment manufacturer’s software and hardware, this document serves as a step-by-step guideline on how to extract and download the information from Electronic Control Modules (ECMs) and other recording devices found on heavy-duty trucks. It is expected that the readers have a very basic understanding of the Windows operating system.

There may be differing opinions on what information needs to be preserved from an ECM after an accident. This document provides an explanation on how to preserve all information from an ECM using the commercially available software that is provided by the engine manufacturers. However, it does not try to assist the reader in how to interpret the data recovered from the ECM.

The information provided is subject to change without notice. The ECMs and the software on the ECMs found on heavy-duty trucks are updated regularly. This document is based on the current information available to the authors at the time of printing.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 [ top of page ]

Title

Page No.

 

 

 

 

1.0

Introduction

1-1

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

What is the ECM?

1-1

 

1.2

What does an ECM do?

1-1

 

1.3

When were ECMs placed on heavy trucks?

1-1

 

1.4

Is every ECM the same?

1-1

 

1.5

How does the ECM store its data?

1-2

 

1.6

What kinds of information can be downloaded?

1-2

 

 

1.6.1  Calibration/Configuration Data

1-2

 

 

1.6.2  Diagnostic Data

1-3

 

 

1.6.3  Maintenance Scheduling

1-3

 

 

1.6.4  Trip Data

1-3

 

 

1.6.5  Event/Incident Data

1-4

 

 

1.6.6  Audit Trail Data

1-4

 

1.7

What is required to download an ECM?

1-5

 

 

 

 

2.0

Detroit Diesel and Mercedes Engines

2-1

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

Detroit Engines

2-1

 

2.2

Mercedes Engines

2-2

 

2.3

Detroit Diesel Software

2-2

 

 

2.3.1  DDDL

2-2

 

 

2.3.2  DDEC Reports

2-3

 

 

2.3.3  DDDS

2-3

 

 

2.3.4  ProDriver Reports

2-3

 

 

2.3.5  Pocket Diagnostic Link (PDL)

2-3

 

2.4

Hardware Setup

2-3

 

2.5

Setting the Defaults

2-4

 

2.6

Downloading from DDDL

2-6

 

2.7

Downloading DDEC Reports

2-8

 

2.8

Finding the Electronic Versions of the Files

2-11

 

2.9

Vehicle Inspection

2-11

 

 

 

 

3.0

Caterpillar Engines

3-1

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

Caterpillar Software

3-1

 

 

3.1.1  Fleet Information Software (FIS)

3-1

 

 

3.1.2  Electronic Techniciann (ET)

3-1

 

 

3.1.3  Cat Pocket Tech

3-2

 

3.2

Incident and Event Reports Available from a Caterpillar Engine

3-2

 

3.3

Downloading a Caterpillar Engine

3-2

 

3.4

Finding the Electronic Versions of the Files

3-9

 

3.5

Vehicle Inspection

3-9

 

 

 

 

4.0

Mack Engines

4-1

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

Mack Software

4-1

 

 

4.1.1  VMAC Support Software

4-1

 

 

4.1.2  InfoMax

4-1

 

4.2

Mack Incident Reports

4-1

 

4.3

Downloading a Mack

4-2

 

4.4

Vehicle Inspection

4-2

 

 

 

 

5.0

Cummins Engines

5-1

 

 

 

 

 

5.1

Cummins Sofware

5-1

 

 

5.1.1  INSITE

5-2

 

 

5.1.2  INFORM/INSPEC

5-2

 

 

5.1.3  PowerSpec

5-2

 

 

5.1.4  Quick Check

5-2

 

5.2

Incident and Event Reports available from a Cummins ECM and Road Relay

5-2

 

5.3

Downloading a Cummins ECM

5-3

 

5.4

Using Inform/Inspec to Access Road Relay Information

5-3

 

5.5

Vehicle Inspection

5-3


APPENDIX 1


List of References


A-1

APPENDIX 2

Table 2.1 – Information from DDDL
Table 2.2 – Information from DDEC Reports
Table 3.1 – Information from Caterpillar ET

A-2
A-2
A-3

APPENDIX 3

   

3.1   
3.2   
3.3   

Portion of DDEC Reports Last Stop Record
Portion of DDEC Reports Hard Brake
DDEC Reports Diagnostic Record

A-4
A-5
A-6

 

 

Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

G-1 to G-3

 
Click here to Order Your Copy Now!


All information subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 2006 HRYCAY Consulting Engineers Inc