1997 ASTON MARTIN DB7 ECU

^^?
The Aston Martin Lagonda Diagnostic System
Users Guide
Seat Belt Pretensioner Diagnostics
(where fitted)
Description
The DB7 seat belt pretensioner system operates the
drivers seat belt pretensioner in conjunction with the
Airbag system. The seat belt pretensioner control
module is located underthe right hand seat, beside the
seat control module.
The pretensioner control module calculates changes
in vehicle speed using an input signal from an
accelerometer. When a collision is detected (Rapid
reduction in vehicle speed) the pretensioner charge is
fired using electrical energy stored in a capacitor
within the pretensioner control module. Firing of the
pretensioner charge applies additional tension to the
drivers seat belt.
The airbag and seat belt pretensioner systems share the
SRS (Airbag) warning lamp. Any fault detected by the
pretensioner control module is indicated by constant
illumination ofthe
SRS
(Airbag) warning
lamp.
Flashing
of the SRS warning lamp indicates a fault in the airbag

system.

Should both systems develop faults, the pretensioner
system will permanently illuminate the warning lamp.
This would mask the airbag system warning indication.
Therefore, rectify the pretensioner fault and then retest
for faults in the airbag system
The pretensioner control module can log up to 10
diagnostic trouble codes together with a time since
each fault was alerted to the driver. Each fault will be
identified as 'Permanent' or 'Intermittent' on the PDU
diagnostic trouble codes screen.
System Connections
The Autoliv RC5 Pretensioner Control Module has an
18 pin connector featuring six shorting bridges. The
mating halves ofthe connector may be securely locked
using a double mechanical locking system.
The following pins on the control module connector
are used in the Aston Martin seat belt pretensioner

system:

Pin 1
Pin 2
Pin n
Pin 12
Pin 14
Pin 15
Case
September 1996
Ground
SRS/Airbag Warning Lamp
Drivers airbag positive
Drivers airbag negative
Serial communications
12 volt positive feed
Ground
System Fault Strategy
No single fault may cause an unexpected deployment.
The controller will supervise the airbag/pretensioner
electrical system in order to warn the driver should a
fault occur. Any fault detected by the self diagnostics
shall cause the airbag warning lamp to be activated,
and in some cases the pretensioner control module to
enter shutdown mode. In shutdown mode, the energy
ofthe reserve capacitors shall be discharged to avoid
unintended deployment.
As the ignition is switched on, the pretensioner
controller will directly discharge theenergy capacitors.
When the start up procedure is completed without
detecting any faults, the converter will be activated
allowing the capacitors to be
charged.
The system shall
be fully active within 11 seconds after switching the
ignition on providing that no faults are detected.
All system faults monitored by the controller are filtered
in software to avoid fault warnings due to transient
electrical disturbances.
If a fault which could lead to inadvertent deployment
bedetectedbythemicroprocessor,asoftwareshutdown
will be generated. However, a leakage to an earth or
positive potential in the pretensioner output circuit
shall not cause the controller to enter shutdown mode.
If
a
permanent short of the ignition transistor occurs, a
shutdown shall be generated by the hardware circuit.
If a shutdown occurs, the system shall be unable to
deploy the pretensioner after a period of
3
seconds (i.e.
capacitors discharged to under minimum deployment
voltage).
WARNING: To avoid the possibility of personal
injury caused by accidental deployment of the
pretensioner, disconnect the vehicle battery and
wait at least 10 minutes for all voltages to fully
discharge before working on the pretensioner
system. This covers the possibility of the normal
capacitor discharge circuits being inopera tive and
failing to discharge the capacitor when instructed
to do so.
If the module enters shutdown mode, all diagnostic
functions are stopped, but the communications link
remains active. A fault code corresponding to the
cause of the problem may be read by the PDU.
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The Aston Martin Lagonda Diagnostic System
Users Guide ^=2?
Printer Use Digital Multimeter
Print Trace
The Trace Buffer is used to record technician use of the
PDU.As the diagnostics are executed, the following
information is written to trace:
Screen Title
Menu options selected
Operator questions selected
Operator actions
Control module information
Test limits and results
P codes detected by the DTC monitor
Snapshot data from the datalogger
OBD II freeze frame data
Set up the printer and load with paper. Select Print
Trace and confirm the selection. All recorded
information in the above list will be printed.
Printtrace is supported in English, French, German and

Italian.

Print Screen
The Print Screen function dumps a bitmap image of the
current screen display to the printer. This function is
particularly useful for recordingdata such as waveforms
captured by the datalogger application.
The print screen function is supported in English,

French,
German, Italian and Japanese.
Introduction
The Digital Multi-Meterprovidesthecapability to measure
voltage, current, resistance, frequency, pulse width, pulse
period and duty cycle using measurement probes or
vehicle interface adaptor channels.
WARNING: DMM measurements must not be taken
while the PDU
is
connected to the
base
station. The PDU
measurement system
becomes
referenced to earth when
connected to the base station. Serious measurement
errors may be present
because
of any voltage difference
between vehicle ground and base station earth. Operation
of the PDU in this mode has both functional and safety
implications and therefore must be
avoided.

A digital multimeter (DMM) is resident within the PDU
software toolbox.
The DMM application can be accessed from the main

menu.
On selection of "Digital Multimeter" from the main

menu,
the PDU will always display the same screen,
known as the DMM general screen.
DDD
DMM : Voltage
(+) : RED PROBE
(-) : BLACK PROBE
HOLD/UPDATE Exit
The DMM General Screen
The DMM is used to display measured values, to three
significant figures, in the correct units.
Modes of measurement are Voltage, Voltage (AC),
Resistance, Frequency, Pulse Period, Pulse Width (High/
Low) and Duty Cycle. Current measurements up to 50A
may be made using the current probe. Measurements are
usually madedirectlyusingthe PDU measurement probes.
On the air conditioning system only, when using the VIA,
measurements may be made between specific module

pins.
If required, this mode must be specified when
specifying the measurement to be made.
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The Aston Martin Lagonda Diagnostic System
Users Guide
•=2?

Clear all Trouble Codes
Selecting the clear all trouble codes icon will invoke a
confirmation window.
EEC-V EMS
dri
dri
CONFIRM
Clear all logged trouble
codes?
O

'Clear
All Codes' confirmation
screen

Selectingthe'tick'will instructthePDU to clear all logged
trouble codes in the selected module
and
return to the no
logged codes screen.
Select the 'tick' icon to exit Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
Clear Selected Trouble Codes
(95 MY Zytek Engine Management Only))
If
you
wish only to clear selected codes on the Zytek ECU
and
leave others
for later
investigation,
proceed
as
follows:
Highlight only the trouble code(s) to be cleared.
ZYTEK EMS
1 : Idle speed control valve driver #1
5 : Purge Valve driver #1
12 : Cooling fan#l relay driver
14 : Lannda heater
#2
driver
1 : Idle speed control valve driver #1
Highlighting
Selected
Trouble
Codes

Select the 'clear selected trouble codes'
icon;
this will
invoke a confirmation window.
Selectingthe 'tick' icon will instruct
the
PDU to clear only
the selected trouble codes from the control module fault

table,
and if successful, the system will return to the
'Diagnostic trouble codes' screen.
If any attempt to clear trouble codes is unsuccessful, a
warning window will be displayed.
This will indicatethat
some selected
trouble codes remain
logged,selectingthe'tick'iconwillreturntothe'Diagnostic
trouble codes' screen.
Select the 'tick' icon again to exit Diagnostic Trouble
Codes.
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"^I?
The Aston Martin Lagonda Diagnostic System
Users Guide
Datalogger
Introduction
Datalogger is software produced to identify permanent or
intermittent faults on vehicle electronics. The objective of
Datalogger is to provide a view of the vehicle's electrical
behaviour, such that intermittent activity can be recorded
and interpreted quickly and accurately. Running on the
Portable Diagnostic Unit (PDU), the Datalogger
appi ication can captu
re
vehicle information in three ways.
• Serial communications direct from the control unit.
• Parallel communications using the Interface Adaptor.
• Direct signal monitoringusingthemeasurementprobes.
Serial Communication
Serial Communication is a two-wire communication link
between the PDU and most vehicle control modules
providingdigital measurements forconnected components.
The serial communication link allows the tester to
determine the current condition of components connected
to the control module, and to identify any history of faults.
On later vehicles, the PDU is connected to the vehicle
diagnostic sockets via the mu
Iti
Protocol Adaptor (MPA) to
gather serial data from the control modules.
Parallel Communication
The Vehicle Interface Adapter (VIA) provides an interface
between the PDU and the vehicle harnesses for the
acquisition of multiple analogue measurements. The VIA

is
connected between the relevantvehicle control module
and it'sharness connector. Thisallows the PDU to captu re
information from a multitude of channels entering the
control module. This vehicle interface is used with control
modules not equipped with a serial communication link
(Teves Mk II braking system and the air conditioning
system).
Measurement Probes
The measurement probes permit readings to be taken
directly from any connector on the vehicle.
Datalogger Applications
Datalogger may be used to interrogate the following DB7
systems:
• ABS braking system controller
• Engine Management Controller
• Air Conditioning Controller
• Automatic Transmission Controller
• Passive Anti Theft (97 MY)
• Security System (97 MY)
Using the Datalogger
Configure the vehicle to the normal operating conditions
for the system under test.
From the PDU main menu screen:
Highlight 'Diagnostics'.
Press the 'tick' icon to confirm the selection.
Enter the Transmission Type and confirm the selection.
Select the Vehicle Area to be tested and confirm the

selection.

The PDU tools screen should now be displayed.
Highlight 'Datalogger'.
Confirm the selection with the 'tick'
icon.

The PDU connection screen should now be displayed.
Cable Setup
Upper Diagnostic Socl o
PD\J Connections for Datalogger
Connect the PDU to the vehicle as described in the screen

image.

Switch On the ignition and press the 'tick'
icon.

September 1996 9-55