1991 LEXUS SC400 airbag

TOTAL DIAGNOSTIC
COMMUNICATION LINK (TDCL)
The TDCL is provided inside the cabin (located under the left side
instrument panel) as a connector exclusively for diagnosis of data
from the engine, ECT, ABS, A/C, Airbag and Cruise Control Sys-
tem to improve serviceability. The check connector inside the en-
gine compartment is used for engine adjustment.
Connecting the following terminals of the TDCL to terminal E1 se-
lects the diagnosis mode shown.
NOTICE: Never make a mistake with the terminal connection
position as this will cause a malfunction.
TerminalSystem
TE1Engine and ECT (Normal mode)
TE2 and TE1Engine and ECT (Test mode)
TcABS, A/C, Airbag, Traction Control and Cruise
Control System
TTECT
Refer to the respective system for the inspection method.
HINT: By connecting the TDCL up to a monitor specifically de-
signed for use with the TDCL, the diagnosis result for each system
can be read easily.
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INTRODUCTION Total Diagnostic Communication Link (TDCL)IN±7
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PRECAUTIONS FOR VEHICLES
EQUIPPED WITH SRS AIRBAG
The LEXUS SC400 is equipped with an SRS (Supplemental Re-
straint System) airbag.
Failure to carry out service operations in the correct sequence
could cause the airbag system to unexpectedly deploy during serv-
icing, possibly leading to a serious accident.
Further, if a mistake is made in servicing the airbag system, it is pos-
sible the airbag may fail to operate when required.
Before performing servicing (including removal or installation of
parts, inspection or replacement), be sure to read the following
items carefully, then follow the correct procedure described in this
manual.
Locations of Airbag Components
1. Malfunction symptoms of the airbag system are difficult to confirm,
so the diagnostic codes become the most important source of
information when troubleshooting.
When troubleshooting the airbag system, always inspect the diag-
nostic codes before disconnecting the battery. (See page
AB±25)
2. Work must be started after approx. 20 seconds or longer from the time the ignition switch is turned to the LOCK position and
the negative (±) terminal cable is disconnected from the
battery.
(The airbag system is equipped with a back±up power source
so that if work is started within 20 seconds of disconnecting
the negative (±) terminal cable of the battery, the airbag may be
deployed.)
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When the negative (±) terminal cable is disconnected from
the battery, memory of the clock and audio systems will be
cancelled. So before starting work, make a record of the con-
tents memorized by each memory system. Then when work
is finished, reset the clock and audio systems as before.
When the vehicle has power tilt and power telescopic steer-
ing, power seat, power outside rear view mirror and power
shoulder belt anchorage, which are all equipped with
memory function, it is not possible to make a record of the
memory contents. So when the operation is finished, it will be
necessary to explain this fact to the customer, and ask the
customer to adjust the features and reset the memory.
To avoid erasing the memory of each memory system, never
use a back±up power supply from outside the vehicle.
3. Even in cases of a minor collision where the airbag does not deploy, the front airbag sensors and the steering wheel pad
should be inspected. (See page AB±9)
4. Never use airbag parts from another vehicle. When replacing parts, replace them with new parts.
5. Before repairs, remove the airbag sensors if shocks are likely
to be applied to the sensors during repairs.
6. The center airbag sensor assembly contains mercury. After
performing replacement, do not destroy the old part. When
scrapping the vehicle or replacing the center airbag sensor
assembly itself, remove the center airbag sensor assembly
and dispose of it as toxic waste.
7. Never disassemble and repair the front airbag sensors, center airbag sensor assembly or steering wheel pad in order
to reuse it.
8. If the front airbag sensors, center airbag sensor assembly or steering wheel pad have been dropped, or if there are cracks,
dents or other defects in the case, bracket or connector,
replace them with new ones.
9. Do not expose the front airbag sensors, center airbag sensor assembly or steering wheel pad directly to hot air or flames.
10. U s e a v o l t / o h m m e t e r w i t h h i g h i m pedance (10 kW/V
minimum) for troubleshooting of the electrical circuit.
11. Information labels are attached to the periphery of the airbag components. Follow the notices.
12. After work on the airbag system is completed, perform the
airbag warning light check (See page AB±30).
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FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR
1. Never reuse the front airbag sensors involved in a collisionwhen the airbag has deployed. (Replace both the left and
right airbag sensors.)
2. Install the front airbag sensor with the arrow on the sensor facing toward the front of the vehicle.
3. The front airbag sensor set bolts have been anti±rust treated. When the sensor is removed, always replace the set bolts
with new ones.
4. The front airbag sensor is equipped with an electrical connection check mechanism. Be sure to lock this
mechanism securely when connecting the connector. If the
connector is not securely locked, a malfunction code will be
detected by the diagnosis system (See page AB±10).
SPIRAL CABLE (IN COMBINATION
SWITCH)
The steering wheel must be fitted correctly to the steering column
with the spiral cable at the neutral position; otherwise cable dis-
connection and other troubles may result. Refer to page AB±15
of this manual concerning correct steering wheel installation.
STEERING WHEEL PAD (WITH AIRBAG)
1. When removing the steering wheel pad or handling a new steering wheel pad, it should be placed with the pad top
surface facing up.
In this case, the twin±lock type connector lock lever should
be in the locked state and care should be taken to place it so
the connector will not be damaged. And do not store a steer-
ing wheel pad on top of another one. (Storing the pad with its
metallic surface up may lead to a serious accident if the air-
bag inflates for some reason.)
2. Never measure the resistance of the airbag squib. (This
may cause the airbag to deploy, which is very
dangerous.)
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3. Grease should not be applied to the steering wheel pad andthe pad should not be cleaned with detergents of any kind.
4. Store the steering wheel pad where the ambient temperature remains below 93
C (200
F), without high humidity and
away from electrical noise.
5. When using electric welding, first disconnect the airbag connector (yellow color and 2 pins) under the steering
column near the combination switch connector before
starting work.
6. When disposing of a vehicle or the steering wheel pad alone, the airbag should be deployed using an SST
before disposal (See page AB±91). Perform the
operation in a place away from electrical noise.
CENTER AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY
The connector to the center airbag sensor assembly should be
connected or disconnected with the sensor mounted on the floor.
If the connector is connected or disconnected while the center air-
bag sensor assembly is not mounted to the floor, it could cause un-
desired ignition of the airbag system.
WIRE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR
The airbag system's wire harness is integrated with the cowl wire
harness assembly. The wires for the airbag wire harness are en-
cased in a yellow corrugated tube. All the connectors for the sys-
tem are also a standard yellow color. If the airbag system wire har-
ness becomes disconnected or the connector becomes broken
due to an accident, etc., repair or replace it as shown on page
AB±22 .
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HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT ECU CONTROLLED SYSTEMS
A large number of ECU controlled systems are used in the LEXUS SC400. In \
general, the ECU controlled sys-
tem is considered to be a very intricate system requiring a high level o\
f technical knowledge and expert skill to
troubleshoot. However, the fact is that if you proceed to inspect the circuits one by one, trou\
bleshooting of these
systems is not complex. If you have adequate understanding of the system\
and a basic knowledge of electricity,
accurate diagnosis and necessary repair can be performed to locate and fix the p\
roblem. This manual is de-
signed through emphasis of the above standpoint to help service technici\
ans perform accurate and effective
troubleshooting, and is compiled for the following major ECU controlled \
systems:
Repair ManualSystemPage
1. EngineTR±1
Vl1
2. Automatic TransmissionAT±33
Vol. 13. Anti±Lock BrakeBR±43
4. Traction ControlBR±139
5. Steering Column Electronic ControlSR±22
6. SRS AirbagAB±25
7. Power Seat ControlBE±265
Vl2
8. Door Lock ControlBE±347
Vol. 29. Theft DeterrentBE±381
10. Wireless Door Lock ControlBE±425
11. Cruise ControlBE±459
12. Air ConditionerAC±21
The troubleshooting procedure and how to make use of it are described on\
the following pages.
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[2] SYMPTOM CONFIRMATION AND DIAGNOSTIC CODE CHECK
The diagnostic system in the LEXUS SC400 fulfills various functions. The fi\
rst function is the Diagnostic Code
Check in which a malfunction in the signal circuits to the ECU is stored\
in code in the ECU memory at the time
of occurrence, to be output by the technician during troubleshooting. Anot\
her function is the Input Signal Check
which checks if the signals from various switches are sent to the ECU correct\
ly.
The air conditioner system has an Actuator Check function whereby the ECU a\
utomatically operates the actua-
tors of the damper and blowermotor, etc. to check the operation. The cruise control system has a Cancel Si\
gnal
Check function which memorizes and displays what sort of signal it was that l\
ast cancelled the cruise control.
By using these check functions, the problem areas can be narrowed down qui\
ckly and troubleshooting can be
performed effectively. Diagnostic functions are incorporated in the following systems in the \
LEXUS SC400.
SystemDiagnostic CodeCheckInput Signal Check(Sensor Check)Other Diagnosis Function
Engine (with Test Mode)
Automatic Transmission (with Test Mode)
Anti±Lock Brake
Traction Control (Option)
SRS Airbag
Power Seat (only vehicles with memory function)
Wireless Door Lock Control
Cruise Control Cancel Signal
Check
Air Conditioner Actuator Check
In diagnostic code check, it is very important to determine whether the pr\
oblem indicated by the diagnostic code
is still occurring or occurred in the past but returned to normal at pre\
sent. In addition, it must be checked in the
problem sym ptom check whether the malfunction indicated by the diagnostic code is d\
irectly related to the prob-
lem symptom or not. For this reason, the diagnostic codes should be chec\
ked before and after the symptom
confirmation to determine the current conditions, as shown in the table below. If this is not done, it may, depend-
ing on the case, result in unnecessary troubleshooting for normally oper\
ating systems, thus making it more diffi-
cult to locate the problem, or in repairs not pertinent to the problem. Ther\
efore, always follow the procedure in
correct order and perform the diagnostic code check.
DIAGNOSTIC CODE CHECK PROCEDURE
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wTighten the O±ring fittings or the bolted type fittings to
the specified torque.
Precautions When Charging Refrigerant
1. DO NOT OPERATE COMPRESSOR WITHOUT ENOUGH
REFRIGERANT IN REFRIGERANT CYCLE
If there is not enough refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle, oil
lubrication will be insufficient and compressor burnout may
occur, so take care to avoid this.
2. DO NOT OPEN HIGH PRESSURE VALVE OF MANIFOLD GAUGE WITH COMPRESSOR OPERATING
If the high pressure valve is opened, refrigerant flows in the
reverse direction and could cause the charging cylinder to
rupture, so open and close the low pressure valve only.
3. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERCHARGE WITH REFRIGERANT IN SYSTEM
If refrigerant is overcharged, it causes trouble such as insuffi-
cient cooling, poor fuel economy, engine overheating etc.
Electrical Parts
Before removing and inspecting the electrical parts, set the
ignition switch to the LOCK position and disconnect the neg-
ative (±) terminal cable from the battery.
CAUTION: Work must not be started until after at least 20
seconds or longer from the time the negative (±) terminal
cable is disconnected.
SRS Airbag System
Failure to carry out service operations in the correct se-
quence could cause the airbag system to deploy, possibly
leading to a serious accident.
When removal or installation of the parts and the yellow wire
harness and connector for the airbag is necessary, refer to
the precautionary notices in the AB section before perform-
ing the operation.
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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM General DescriptionAC±5
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