General Troubleshooting Information: Self-Diagnosis

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Acura MDX, 2012 Acura MDX, 2011 Acura MDX, and 2010 Acura MDX. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

If the PCM detects the failure of a signal from a sensor, a switch, a solenoid valve, or another control unit, it stores Pending or Confirmed DTCs. Depending on the failure, a Confirmed DTC is stored in either the first or the second drive cycle. When a Confirmed DTC is stored, the PCM blinks the D indicator and/or turns on the MIL by a signal sent to the gauge control module via F-CAN.

One Drive Cycle Detection Method
When an abnormality occurs in the signal from a sensor, a switch, a solenoid valve, or from another control unit, the PCM stores a Pending or Confirmed DTC for the failure and blinks the D indicator and/or turns on the MIL immediately.
Two Drive Cycle Detection Method
When an abnormality occurs in the signal from a sensor, a switch, a solenoid valve, or from another control unit in the first drive cycle, the PCM stores a Pending DTC. The D indicator and the MIL do not turns on at this time. If the failure continues in the second drive cycle, the PCM stores a Confirmed DTC and blinks the D indicator and/or turns on the MIL.