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Home >> BMW >> 2019 >> X3 M40i >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 576 (Functional Descriptions - F25 - Charging System, Anti-Theft, Body Electrical Systems) >> Body Electrical System - Functional Description >> Checking the CAN bus signal >> Body CAN, powertrain CAN, and suspension CAN oscilloscope measurement

Body CAN, powertrain CAN, and suspension CAN oscilloscope measurement

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In order to obtain a clear idea of whether the CAN bus is functioning properly, you must be able to observe activity on the bus. You do not need to analyze the individual bits; you simply need to observe whether or not the CAN bus is working. The oscilloscope test can state that, "the CAN bus is probably operating without faults".

When you measure the voltage between the CAN Low line (or CAN High line) and the ground, you receive a rectangle-like signal in the following voltage ranges:

These values are approximate values and can vary by a few hundred mV depending on the bus load.

Oscilloscope settings for the measurement at the K-CAN:

CH1: Probe tip 1, range 2 V/div; DC coupling
CH2: Probe tip 2, Range 2 V/div; DC coupling
Time: 50 μs/div
Fig 1: Display - Body CAN Measurement Screen
G09908725Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

When you measure the voltage between the CAN Low line (or CAN High line) and the ground, you receive a rectangle-like signal in the following voltage ranges:

These values are approximate values and can vary by a few hundred mV depending on the bus load.

Oscilloscope settings for the measurement at the PT-CAN (or F-CAN):

CH1: Test probe 1, range 1 V/div; DC coupling
CH2: Test probe 2, range 1 V/div; DC coupling
Time: 10 μs/div
Fig 2: Display - Powertrain CAN Measurement Screen
G09908726Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.