2004 ISUZU TF SERIES section 8A

6D2-2 IGNITION SYSTEM (6VE1 3.5L)
General Description
Ignition is done by the electronic ignition (El) that directly
fires the spark plugs from ignition coils through spark
plug wires without using a distributor. A pair of ignition
coils for the cylinders having different phases by 360

(No.1 and No.4, No.2 and No.5, No.3 and No.6) are
fired simultaneously.
Since the cylinder on exhaust stroke requires less
energy to fire its ignition plug, energy from the ignition
coils can be utilized to fire the mating cylinder on
compression stroke. After additional 360
rotation,
respective cylinder strokes are reversed.
The EI consists of six ignition coils, crankshaft position
sensor, engine control module (ECM) and othe
r
components.
The ignition coils are connected with the ECM.
The ECM turns on/off the primary circuit of ignition coils,
and also it controls the ignition timing.
A notch in the timing disc on the crankshaft activates
the crankshaft position sensor which then sends
information such as firing order and starting timing o
f
each ignition coil to the ECM.
Further, the El employs ignition control (IC) to control
similar to a distributor system.
Diagnosis
Refer to Section Drivability and Emissions for the
diagnosis to electronic ignition system (El system).

6E-64 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
Diagnostic Thought Process
As you follow a diagnostic plan, every box on the
Strategy Based Diagnostics chart requires you to use
the diagnostic thought process. This method of thinking
optimizes your diagnosis in the following ways:

Improves your understanding and definition of the
customer complaint

Saves time by avoiding testing and/or replacing
good parts


Allows you to look at the problem from different
perspectives

Guides you to determine what level o
f
understanding about system operation is needed:
 Owner’s manual level
 Service manual level
 In-depth (engineering) level
1. Verify the Complaint
What you should do
To verify the customer complaint, you need to know the
correct (normal) operating behavior of the system and
verify that the customer complaint is a valid failure o
f
the system.
The following information will help you verify the
complaint:

WHAT the vehicle model/options are

WHAT aftermarket and dealer-installed
accessories exist

WHAT related system(s) operate properly

WHEN the problem occurs

WHERE the problem occurs

HOW the problem occurs

HOW LONG the condition has existed (and if the
system ever worked correctly)

HOW OFTEN the problem occurs

Whether the severity of the problem has
increased, decreased or stayed the same
What resources you should use
Whenever possible, you should use the following
resources to assist you in verifying the complaint:
Service manual Theory or Circuit Description
sections

Service manual “System Performance Check”

Owner manual operational description

Technician experience

Identical vehicle for comparison


Circuit testing tools

Vehicle road tests

Complaint check sheet

Contact with the customer
2. Perform Preliminary Checks
NOTE: An estimated 10 percent of successful
vehicle repairs are diagnosed with this step!
What you should do
You perform preliminary checks for several reasons:

To detect if the cause of the complaint is
VISUALLY OBVIOUS

To identify parts of the system that work correctly

To accumulate enough data to correctly and
accurately search for a ISUZU Service Bulletin.
The initial checks may vary depending on the
complexity of the system and may include the following
actions:

Operate the suspect system

Make a visual inspection of harness routing and
accessible/visible power and ground circuits

Check for blown fuses

Make a visual inspection for separated connectors

Make a visual inspection of connectors (includes
checking terminals for damage and tightness)

Check for any DTCs stored by the on-board
computers

Sense unusual noises, smells, vibrations o
r
movements

Investigate the vehicle service history (call othe
r
dealerships, if appropriate)
What resources you should use
Whenever appropriate, you should use the following
resources for assistance in performing preliminary
checks:

Tech 2 or other technical equipment for viewing
DTCs

Service manual information:
 Component locations
 Harness routing
 Wiring schematics
 Procedures for viewing DTCs

Dealership service history file

Vehicle road test

Identical vehicle or system for comparison

3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS 6E-65
3. Check Bulletins and
Troubleshooting Hints
NOTE: As estimated 30 percent of successful
vehicle repairs are diagnosed with this step!
What you should do
You should have enough information gained from
preliminary checks to accurately search for a bulletin
and other related service information. Some service
manual sections provide troubleshooting hints that
match symptoms with specific complaints.
What resources you should use
You should use the following resources for assistance
in checking for bulletins and troubleshooting hints:

Printed bulletins

Access ISUZU Bulletin Web site

Videotapes

Service manual
4. Perform Service Manual
Diagnostic Checks
What you should do
The “System Checks” in most service manual sections
and in most cells of section 8A (electrical) provide you
with:


A systematic approach to narrowing down the
possible causes of a system fault

Direction to specific diagnostic procedures in the
service manual

Assistance to identify what systems work correctly
What resources you should use
Whenever possible, you should use the following
resources to perform service manual checks:

Service manual

Technical equipment (for viewing DTCs and
analyzing data)

Digital multimeter and circuit testing tools

Other tools as needed
5a and 5b. Perform Service Manual
Diagnostic Procedures
NOTE: An estimated 40 percent of successful
vehicle repairs are diagnosed with these steps!

What you should do
When directed by service manual diagnostic checks,
you must then carefully and accurately perform the
steps of diagnostic procedures to locate the fault related
to the customer complaint.
What resources you should use
Whenever appropriate, you should use the following
resources to perform service manual diagnostic
procedures:

Service manual

Technical equipment (for analyzing diagnostic
data)

Digital multimeter and circuit testing tools

Essential and special tools
5c. Technician Self Diagnoses
When there is no DTC stored and no matching
symptom for the condition identified in the service
manual, you must begin with a thorough understanding
of how the system(s) operates. Efficient use of the
service manual combined with you experience and a
good process of elimination will result in accurate
diagnosis of the condition.
What you should do
Step 1: Identify and understand the suspect
circuit(s)
Having completed steps 1 through 4 of the Strategy
Based Diagnostics chart, you should have enough
information to identify the system(s) or sub-system(s)
involved. Using the service manual, you should
determine and investigate the following circuit
characteristics:

Electrical:
 How is the circuit powered (power distribution
charts and/or fuse block details)?
 How is the circuit grounded (ground distribution
charts)?
 How is the circuit controlled or sensed (theory
of operation):
 If it is a switched circuit, is it normally open o
r
normally closed?
 Is the power switched or is the ground
switched?
 Is it a variable resistance circuit (ECT senso
r
or TPS, for example)?
 Is it a signal generating device (MAF senso
r
of VSS, for example)?

6E-66 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
 Does it rely on some mechanical/vacuum
device to operate?

Physical:
 Where are the circuit components (componen
t
locators and wire harness routing diagrams):

Are there areas where wires could be
chafed or pinched (brackets or frames)?

Are there areas subjected to extreme
temperatures?

Are there areas subjected to vibration or
movement (engine, transmission or
suspension)?

Are there areas exposed to moisture, road
salt or other corrosives (battery acid, oil o
r
other fluids)?

Are there common mounting areas with
other systems/components?
 Have previous repairs been performed to
wiring, connectors, components or mounting
areas (causing pinched wires between panels
and drivetrain or suspension components
without causing and immediate problem)?
 Does the vehicle have aftermarket or dealer-
installed equipment (radios, telephone, etc.)

Step 2: Isolate the problem
At this point, you should have a good idea of what could
cause the present condition, as well as could not cause
the condition. Actions to take include the following:

Divide (and separate, where possible) the system
or circuit into smaller sections

Confine the problem to a smaller area of the
vehicle (start with main harness connections while
removing panels and trim as necessary in order to
eliminate large vehicle sections from furthe
r
investigation)

For two or more circuits that do not share a
common power or ground, concentrate on areas
where harnesses are routed together o
r
connectors are shared (refer to the following hints)

Hints
Though the symptoms may vary, basic electrical failures
are generally caused by:

Loose connections:
 Open/high resistance in terminals, splices,
connectors or grounds

Incorrect connector/harness routing (usually in
new vehicles or after a repair has been made):

 Open/high resistance in terminals, splices,
connectors of grounds

Corrosion and wire damage:
 Open/high resistance in terminals, splices,
connectors of grounds

Component failure:
 Opens/short and high resistance in relays,
modules, switches or loads


Aftermarket equipment affecting normal operation
of other systems You may isolate circuits by:

Unplugging connectors or removing a fuse to
separate one part of the circuit from another part

Operating shared circuits and eliminating those
that function normally from the suspect circuit

If only one component fails to operate, begin
testing at the component

If a number of components do no operate, begin
tests at the area of commonality (such as powe
r
sources, ground circuits, switches or majo
r
connectors)
What resources you should use
Whenever appropriate, you should use the following
resources to assist in the diagnostic process:

Service manual

Technical equipment (for data analysis)

Experience

Technical Assistance

Circuit testing tools
5d. Intermittent Diagnosis
By definition, an intermittent problem is one that does
not occur continuously and will occur when certain
conditions are met. All these conditions, however, may
not be obvious or currently known. Generally,
intermittents are caused by:

Faulty electrical connections and wiring

Malfunctioning components (such as sticking
relays, solenoids, etc.)

EMI/RFI (Electromagnetic/radio frequency
interference)

Aftermarket equipment
Intermittent diagnosis requires careful analysis of
suspected systems to help prevent replacing good
parts. This may involve using creativity and ingenuity to
interpret customer complaints and simulating all
external and internal system conditions to duplicate the
problem.

3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS 6E-67
What you should do
Step 1: Acquire information
A thorough and comprehensive customer check sheet
is critical to intermittent problem diagnosis. You should
require this, since it will dictate the diagnostic starting
point. The vehicle service history file is another
source for accumulating information about the
complaint.

Step 2: Analyze the intermittent problem
Analyze the customer check sheet and service history
file to determine conditions relevant to the suspect
system(s).
Using service manual information, you must identify,
trace and locate all electrical circuits related to the
malfunctioning system(s). If there is more than one
system failure, you should identify, trace and locate
areas of commonality shared by the suspect circuits.

Step 3: Simulate the symptom and isolate the
problem
Simulate the symptom and isolate the system by
reproducing all possible conditions suggested in Step 1
while monitoring suspected circuits/components
/
systems to isolate the problem symptom. Begin with the
most logical circuit/component.
Isolate the circuit by dividing the suspect system into
simpler circuits. Next, confine the problem into a smalle
r
area of the system. Begin at the most logical point (or
point of easiest access) and thoroughly check the
isolated circuit for the fault, using basic circuit tests.

Hints
You can isolate a circuit by:

Unplugging connectors or removing a fuse to
separate one part of the circuit from another

If only component fails to operate, begin testing
the component

If a number of components do not operate, begin
test at areas of commonality (such as powe
r
sources, ground circuits, switches, main
connectors or major components)

Substitute a known good part from the parts
department or the vehicle system

Try the suspect part in a known good vehicle See
Symptom Simulation Tests on the next page fo
r
problem simulation procedures. Refer to service
manual sections 6E and 8A for information abou
t
intermittent diagnosis. Follow procedures for basic
circuit testing in service manual section 8A.
What resources you should use
Whenever appropriate, you should use the following
resources to assist in the diagnostic process:

Service manual

Bulletins

Digital multimeter (with a MIN/MAX feature)

Tech 2 and Tech 2 upload function

Circuit testing tools (including connecto
r
kits/harnesses and jumper wires)

Experience

Intermittent problem solving simulation methods

Customer complaint check sheet
Symptom Simulation Tests
1. Vibration
This method is useful when the customer complain
t
analysis indicates that the problem occurs when the
vehicle/system undergoes some form of vibration.
For connectors and wire harness, slightly shake
vertically and horizontally. Inspect the connector join
t
and body for damage. Also, tapping lightly along a
suspected circuit may be helpful.
For parts and sensors, apply slight vibration to the par
t
with a light tap of the finger while monitoring the system
for a malfunction.
2. Heat
This method is important when the complaint suggests
that the problem occurs in a heated environment. Apply
moderate heat to the component with a hair drier o
r
similar tool while monitoring the system for a
malfunction.
CAUTION: Care must be take to avoid overheating
the component.
3. Water and Moisture
This method may be used when the complaint suggests
that the malfunction occurs on a rainy day or unde
r
conditions of high humidity. In this case, apply water in
a light spray on the vehicle to duplicate the problem.
CAUTION: Care must be take to avoid directly
exposing electrical connections to water.
4. Electrical loads
This method involves turning systems ON (such as the
blower, lights or rear window defogger) to create a load
on the vehicle electrical system at the same time you
are monitoring the suspect circuit/component.

3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS 6E-71
Basic Knowledge of Tools Required
Lack of basic knowledge of this powertrain when
performing diagnostic procedures could result in an
incorrect diagnosis or damage to powertrain
components. Do not attempt to diagnose a powertrain
problem without this basic knowledge.
A basic understanding of hand tools is necessary to
effectively use this section of the Service Manual.
Serial Data Communications
Class II Serial Data Communications
This vehicle utilizes the “Class II" communication
system. Each bit of information can have one of two
lengths: long or short. This allows vehicle wiring to be
reduced by transmitting and receiving multiple signals
over a single wire. The messages carried on Class II
data streams are also prioritized. If two messages
attempt to establish communications on the data line at
the same time, only the message with higher priority will
continue. The device with the lower priority message
must wait. The most significant result of this regulation
is that it provides Tech 2 manufacturers with the
capability to access data from any make or model
vehicle that is sold.
The data displayed on the other Tech 2 will appear the
same, with some exceptions. Some scan tools will only
be able to display certain vehicle parameters as values
that are a coded representation of the true or actual
value. For more information on this system of coding,
refer to Decimal/Binary/Hexadecimal Conversions.On
this vehicle the Tech 2 displays the actual values fo
r
vehicle parameters. It will not be necessary to perform
any conversions from coded values to actual values.
On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
On-Board Diagnostic Tests
A diagnostic test is a series of steps, the result of which
is a pass or fail reported to the diagnostic executive.
When a diagnostic test reports a pass result, the
diagnostic executive records the following data:

The diagnostic test has been completed since the
last ignition cycle.

The diagnostic test has passed during the curren
t
ignition cycle.

The fault identified by the diagnostic test is no
t
currently active.
When a diagnostic test reports a fail result, the
diagnostic executive records the following data:

The diagnostic test has been completed since the
last ignition cycle.

The fault identified by the diagnostic test is currently
active.

The fault has been active during this ignition cycle.

The operating conditions at the time of the failure.
Remember, a fuel trim DTC may be triggered by a list o
f
vehicle faults. Make use of all information available
(other DTCs stored, rich or lean condition, etc.) when
diagnosing a fuel trim fault.
Comprehensive Component Monitor
Diagnostic Operation
Input Components:
Input components are monitored for circuit continuity
and out-of-range values. This includes rationality
checking. Rationality checking refers to indicating a
fault when the signal from a sensor does not seem
reasonable, i.e.throttle position sensor that indicates
high throttle position at low engine loads. Inpu
t
components may include, but are not limited to the
following sensors:

Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)

Inlet Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)

Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor

Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
In addition to the circuit continuity and rationality check
the ECT sensor is monitored for its ability to achieve a
steady state temperature to enable closed loop fuel
control.
Output Components:
Output components are diagnosed for proper response
to control module commands. Components where
functional monitoring is not feasible will be monitored fo
r
circuit continuity and out-of-range values if applicable.
Output components to be monitored include, but are no
t
limited to, the following circuit:

Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve

Control module controlled EVAP Canister Purge
Valve

Electronic Transmission controls

A/C relays

VSS output

MIL control
Refer to ECM and Sensors in General Descriptions.

6E-78 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
F1: Data Display
The purpose of the "Data Display" mode is to
continuously monitor data parameters.
The current actual values of all important sensors and
signals in the system are display through F1 mode.
See the "Typical Scan Data" section.

3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS 6E -91
SERVICE PROGRAMMING SYSTEM (SPS)
The procedure to program the control unit by using the
Service Programming System (SPS) software
contained in TIS2000 is explained below.
NOTE:






If the Engine Control Module (ECM) was
programmed, the Immobilizer System must be
linked to the ECM: Refer to section 11
"Immobilizer System-ECM replacement" for the
ECM/Immobilizer linking procedure.







Should Tech2 display "SPS Procedure was not
successful", engine will not start, but no DTCs
are present, low battery voltage or poo
r
electrical connections should be the primary
suspects. Perform the SPS procedure again
after rectifying the fault/s.


IMPORTANT:
Perform the following checks before attempting to
program the control unit:







The Tech2 PCMCIA card is programmed with
the latest software release.







The latest release of TIS2000 is loaded on the
PC.







The vehicle battery is fully charged.







The control unit to be programmed is
connected to the vehicle.
1. Preparations of TIS 2000
1.
Connect Tech 2 to P/C.
2.
Check to see if Hardware Key is plugged into Port.
3.
Activate TIS 2000 by P/C.
4.
On the activating screen of TIS2000, choose
"Service Programming System"




5.
On the screen of "Diagnostic Tester and
Processing Program Selection", choose the one
that will comply with the following.


Diagnostic Tech 2 in use


New programming by the existing module or new
programming by the replaced/new module.


Fixing position of the control unit.
6.
Upon completion of the selection, push the button
of "Next".