Understanding Dtcs; First Character - System; Second Character - Sub-System; Third Character - Sub-System - Black & Decker Smart Scan AD925 Instruction Manual

Understanding DTCs

DTCs are five (5) character codes that automobile manufacturers use to relate to a
component, sensor, or other part of the vehicle when the Check Engine/Service Engine
Soon light turns on. Each DTC breaks down as follows:

First Character - System

• P = Power train
• B = Body
• C = Chassis
• U = Network
For example: P0107
If you get a P0107 code, the first character is a "P" which indicates that the Check
Engine/ Service Engine Soon light is related to the vehicle's Power train.

Second Character - Sub-System

The second character identifies whether the DTC is a generic code (the same for all
OBD II equipped vehicles), or a manufacturer-specific code.
• 0 = Generic
• 1 = Manufacturer Specific
• 2 = Generic
• 3 = Generic / Manufacturer Specific
For example: P0107
If you get a P0107 code, the second character is a "0" which indicates that this DTC is
generic or a standard DTC used by all vehicle manufacturers. This is good to know if
you want to troubleshoot the problem yourself.
For example: P1402
If you get a P1402 code, the second character is a "1" which indicates that this DTC is
a manufacturer-specific code reserved for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Manufacturers specific codes are not mandated by the SAE. Therefore, each OEM
may have their own standard for defining the codes.

Third Character - Sub-System

The third character indicates the vehicle area (fuel or air emission management, ignition,
idle control, transmission) that generated the DTC.

Fourth and Fifth Characters

The fourth and fifth characters define the malfunction that has triggered the DTC.

Most Common Generic DTCs

The table below lists the 75 most common Generic DTCs.
DTC Description
P0031 Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Control Circuit Low (Bank 1, Sensor 1)
P0100 Mass or Volume Air Flow A Circuit
P0101 Mass or Volume Air Flow A Circuit Range/Performance
P0102 Mass or Volume Air Flow A Circuit Low Input
P0107 Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Sensor Low Input
P0108 Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Sensor High Input
P0110 Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit
P0113 Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High Input
P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit
P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Low Input
P0118 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit High Voltage
P0120 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor A Circuit
P0121 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
P0122 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor A Circuit Low Input
P0123 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor A Circuit High Input
P0125 Insufficient Coolant Temperature for Closed Loop Control
P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating
Temperature)
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