Information
TableofContents
FieldGuideInformation......................................................................................................................2
TableofContents..................................................................................................................................................2
ListofTables.........................................................................................................................................................3
ListofFigures........................................................................................................................................................3
Acknowledegements.............................................................................................................................................4
EngineCoverage/Identification...........................................................................................................................5
Documentation.....................................................................................................................................................6
PreservingData.....................................................................................................................................................7
Caterpillar................................................................................................................................................8
AboutCaterpillar...................................................................................................................................................8
SupportedEngines................................................................................................................................................8
EngineIdentification.............................................................................................................................................9
PotentialDataLoss..............................................................................................................................................10
Cummins.................................................................................................................................................11
AboutCummins...................................................................................................................................................11
SupportedEngines..............................................................................................................................................11
EngineIdentification...........................................................................................................................................12
DetroitDiesel........................................................................................................................................14
AboutDetroitDiesel...........................................................................................................................................14
SupportedEngines..............................................................................................................................................14
EngineIdentification...........................................................................................................................................15
PotentialDataLoss..............................................................................................................................................17
Mack.........................................................................................................................................................18
AboutMack.........................................................................................................................................................18
SupportedEngines..............................................................................................................................................18
EngineIdentification...........................................................................................................................................19
MercedesBenz.....................................................................................................................................20
AboutMercedesBenz.........................................................................................................................................20
SupportedEngines..............................................................................................................................................20
EngineIdentification...........................................................................................................................................21
DataReferenceTable.........................................................................................................................22
FieldGuideInformation
ListofTables
FieldGuideInformation......................................................................................................................2
Table1EnginesUsingECMsCapableofStoringCollisionData.........................................................................5
Caterpillar................................................................................................................................................8
Table21994and1995CaterpillarEnginesModelsWithoutInternalBatteries..............................................10
DetroitDiesel........................................................................................................................................14
Table3DDECModelsInstalledBetween1993and2010................................................................................14
Mack.........................................................................................................................................................18
Table4VMACModelsInstalledBetween1998and2010...............................................................................18
DataReferenceTable.........................................................................................................................22
ListofFigures
FieldGuideInformation......................................................................................................................2
Figure1SampleEngineIdentificationTag.........................................................................................................5
Figure2SampleSpicerTransmissionIdentificationTag....................................................................................6
Figure3MeasuringRollingRadius.....................................................................................................................6
Caterpillar................................................................................................................................................8
Figure41994Caterpillar3176EngineIdentificationTag..................................................................................9
Figure51994Caterpillar3176EngineIdentificationTag..................................................................................9
Figure6SampleCaterpillarECMLocation.........................................................................................................9
Figure7Caterpillar3176EngineandECMLocation........................................................................................10
Cummins.................................................................................................................................................11
Figure82001CumminsISXEngineIdentificationTag.....................................................................................12
Figure9ECMLocationonCumminsISXEngine...............................................................................................12
Figure10CelectECMon1994CumminsM11Engine.....................................................................................13
DetroitDiesel........................................................................................................................................14
Figure112001DetroitDieselSeries60EngineIdentificationDecal...............................................................15
Figure12DetroitDieselDDECIIIandIVLocationandIdentificationLabel.....................................................15
Figure13DDECVLocationandIdentificationLabel........................................................................................16
Figure14DDECVIMCMandCPC.....................................................................................................................16
Figure15SampleDDECIIIIdentification..........................................................................................................17
Mack.........................................................................................................................................................18
Figure16Sample2000MackE7IdentificationTag.........................................................................................19
Figure17MackVehicleElectronicControlUnit(VECU)..................................................................................19
MercedesBenz.....................................................................................................................................20
Figure18SampleMBE4000IdentificationDecal............................................................................................21
Figure19SampleMercedesBenzVehicleControlUnit(VCU)........................................................................21
FieldGuideInformation
Acknowledgements
This Field Guide has been prepared by the Wisconsin State Patrol and Messerschmidt Safety
Consulting based on training and testing completed as of January, 2010. Because of the
dynamicnatureoftheresearchinthisfield,theauthorsreservetherighttomakeupdatesas
additionaldatabecomeavailable.Questionsorcommentsabouttheinformationcontainedin
thisFieldGuideshouldbedirectedto:
TrooperTimothyAustin,M.S.Eng.
ACTARAccreditedReconstructionSpecialist
Mr.WilliamMesserschmidt
ACTARAccreditedPrincipalAnalyst
MesserschmidtSafetyConsulting
9340HelenaRoad,SuiteF166
Birmingham,AL35244
WisconsinStatePatrolAcademy
95South10thAvenue
FortMcCoy,WI54656
(205)4440071
w.messerschmidt@mscrecon.com
6082692500Ext.3253
timothy.austin@dot.wi.gov
Research for this Field Guide was completed in partnership with Fox
Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. Special
acknowledgementsaregiventoProgramDirectorRobertBehnkeand
Diesel Technician Instructor Mike Farrell from the schools J. J. Keller
Transportation Center. The advancement of education in this field is
onlypossiblewiththehelpofinstitutionssuchasFoxValleyTechnical
Collegethatarededicatedtothepursuitofacademicresearch.
Recognitionmustalsobegiventothefollowingindividualswhoprovidedinsight,corrections,
andideasforthisGuide.TheirdedicationtothefieldofECMtechnologyiscommendable.
Mr.DavidPlant,P.E.
D.P.PlantandAssociates
WashingtonD.C.
(202)2328929
dave@dplanteng.com
Det.GregWilcoxson
WashingtonStatePatrol
Olympia,Washington
(360)8051195
greg.wilcoxson@wsp.wa.gov
Insprs.BrianAusloos&JohnSorenson
WisconsinStatePatrol
FondduLac,Wisconsin
(920)9293700
brian.ausloos@dot.wi.gov
Mr.TimothyCheek,P.E.
Delta[v]ForensicEngineering
Charlotte,NorthCarolina
(704)5255700
tcheek@deltavinc.com
ThisFieldGuideisconsideredtheintellectualpropertyoftheWisconsinStatePatrolAcademy.
Itmaybereproducedforeducational,training,orinvestigativepurposesonly.
4
FieldGuideInformation
EngineCoverage/Identification
At the present time, five engine manufacturers use Electronic Control Modules (ECMs) that
record data of interest to collision investigators. In many cases, this information concerns
suddendecelerationdataforgiventimeperiodsbothbeforeandaftertheevent.Table1lists
theseenginesandtheyearsforwhichcoverageispresentlyavailable.Itshouldbenotedthat
not all engines manufactured for the years listed below are accessible. Furthermore, some
enginesmanufacturedduringthesemodelyearswillonlyprovideECMconfigurationdata.For
detailedcoverageinformation,itisnecessarytoreviewthemanufacturerpagespresentedlater
inthisFieldGuide.OftheengineslistedinTable1,Mackonlyallowspublicaccesstogeneral
programmingparametersandfaultcodeinformation.Mackcrashinformation,ifavailable,is
onlyrecoverablebyindividualsspecifiedbythemanufacturer.
EngineManufacturer
Caterpillar
Cummins
DetroitDiesel
Mack
MercedesBenz
ConfigurationData
19942010
19942010
19932010
19982010
20002010
IncidentData
199412010
200222010
19982010
19982010
200032010
OnlyECMswithsoftwarerevisionsafterlate1995havetheabilitytostoreincidentinformation.
OnlytheISMandISXenginemodelswithsoftwarerevisionsafterlate2004havetheabilitytostoreincidentinformation.Asof2008
(EPA07),allISeriesenginesmaydocumentthisdata.
3
OnlyECMshavingsoftwareversion12.09orhigherareaccessible.
When examining an engine for possible data extraction, it is important to note the engine
modelandyearofmanufacture.Thisinformationisfoundontheidentificationtag,whichcan
beanactualmetalplateoradecal.Inmostcases,thistagisaffixedtoeitherthetopofthe
valvecoverortotheleftsideoftheengine.InFigure1,theengineidentificationtagfroma
Cumminsengineisshownwithleaderarrowsshowingthemodel(ISB)andbuilddate(1998).
Model
Build Date
FieldGuideInformation
Documentation
TransmissionInformation
When calculating speed, the ECM uses the rear axle ratio as part of its programming.
Therefore,itisnecessarytoverifythisnumber.Inmostcases,thiscanbedonebyexamining
thetransmissionidentificationtaglocatedonthedifferentialhousing.Anylegibleinformation,
including the ratio and serial number, should be documented and photographed. A sample
identificationtagisshownbelowinFigure2.
RollingRadius
Inadditiontotherearaxleratio,theECMalso
considers the size of the drive tires when
determining the vehicles speed. Therefore,
tire data such as manufacturer, model, and
size should be recorded. In addition, the
rolling radius of the drive wheels must be
measured. This measurement should be
takenonaflatsurfacewiththevehicleinthe
same weighted configuration it was in when
theincidentoccured.
FieldGuideInformation
PreservingData
AfterdeterminingthatanengineandECMaresupportedbyavailablesoftwareasindicatedin
thisFieldGuide,stepsshouldbetakentopreserveanyinformationcontainedintheECM.
Respondingofficersshould:
Turn off the trucks ignition and secure the vehicle keys. This should be done
immediatelyuponarrivingattheincidentscene.
Determine if the ECM should be downloaded at the scene, or if the truck will be
towedtoasecondarylocation.Thisdecisionshouldbebasedonanticipatedroadway
closure time, availability of a technician that is trained to perform the forensic data
extraction,andtheneedtoobtainconsentorsearchwarrantauthorization.
If the vehicle must be moved, ensure that the key is in the off position, and
disconnect the vehicles battery as a precaution. The battery should not be
disconnectediftheECMisaDetroitDieselDDECIII,oriftheengineisa19941995
Caterpillar3176or3406.
If there is a danger of power being lost on a Detroit DDEC III or a 1994 1995
Caterpillar3176or3406engine,ensurethatasupplemental12Voltsystemisapplied
tothebatteries.
Calibrationdatashouldalwaysbeobtainedinadditiontoincidentdata.Thishelpsto
verifytheaccuracyofrecordedspeedsandincidenttimings.
Caterpillar
19942010
AboutCaterpillar
In addition to diagnostic codes, a quick stop snapshot can be created when the wheel speed
slows at a user specified rate. If the rate is set at zero, the feature will not be activated. In
mostcases,thequickstopparameterwasgenerallynotenabledunlessspecificallyrequested
bythecustomer.Beginningin2007,theparameterwasautomaticallysetto10mph/secatthe
factory.Whenaquickstopistriggered,theECMwilldocumentupto44secondspriortothe
decelerationthresholdbeingmet,and15secondsafter.
SupportedEngines
Most Caterpillar heavy and medium duty engines manufactured since 1994 using Advanced
Diesel Engine Management (ADEM) systems are capable of storing snapshot data. These
include the numerical CSeries, as well as electronic 3176, 3126, and 3406 models. Other
enginesarearelimitedtostoringECMconfigurationdata.
Caterpillar
EngineIdentification
AllCaterpillarengineswilllikelybeyellowincolor,regardlessofthesizeormodel.Thebest
methodtoidentifytheparticularproductistolookattheidentificationtaglocatedontopof
the valve cover. This label will show the model and year of manufacture. Figure 5 shows a
1994Caterpillar3176engineidentificationtagwiththeyearandmodelentriesnoted.Figure6
showsasampleCaterpillarenginewiththeECMlocationnoted.
Caterpillar
PotentialDataLoss
TheECMsinstalledon19941995enginesdonothaveaninternalbattery.Ifpowerislostor
notmaintainedtotheseengines,snapshotdatamaybeerased.Beginningin1996,theECMs
haveaninternalbattery,anddatawillnotbelostifpowerisremovedfromit.Affectedengine
modelsandserialnumbersareshowninTable2,andtheECMlocationonaCapterpillar3176is
showninFigure7.
EngineModel
3176
3406
AffectedSerialNumbers
9CK00001through9CK27878
5EK00001through5EK66039
Table 2 1994 and 1995 Caterpillar Engine Models Without Internal Batteries
10
Cummins
19942010
AboutCummins
Two separate software programs are used to access Cummins ECMs. The first of these
programs,Insite,isusedbytechnicianstoprogramthemodules,retrievetripdata,andtoread
faultcodeinformation.Withrespecttofaults,theECMsdocumentsnapshotsatthefirstand
lasttimesafaultcodeistriggered.Codesthatoccurinbetweenareoverwrittenandtherefore
notstored.Faultcodesnapshotsareforasinglemomentintime,andsurroundinginformation
isnotcaptured.
PowerSpec,thesecondCumminssoftwareprogram,alsorecoversconfiguration,trip,andfault
codedata.Inaddition,PowerspecextractssuddendecelerationinformationfromtheECMfor
59 seconds prior to the event and 15 seconds after the event. With Cummins, a sudden
deceleration is defined as a wheel speed change of 9 mph/sec. The ability to save such
informationwasnotprogrammeduntillate2004,andthesuddendecelerationdatawillonlybe
availableinspecificECMswithinitialprogrammingorsoftwareupdatessincethattime.
SupportedEngines
All Cummins heavy and medium duty onhighway engines built in 1994 or later will contain
configuration and fault code data. However, only the 2002 and newer ISM and ISX engines
have the ability to store sudden deceleration information. As of 2008 (EPA 07), all ISeries
engines may record this information. Celect engines are only accessible using Insite and are
thuslimitedintheirdatastorageability.DatacanbeextractedfromCelectPlusenginesusing
Powerspec;howeverthesedataarelimitedtotrip,configuration,andfaultinformation.
Some Cummins engines may use a secondary Road Relay recording system. This device is
located in the cab, within view of the driver. A Road Relay module has the ability to store
suddendecelerationinformation,eveniftheECMdoesnot.TheRoadRelayisaccessibleusing
PowerSpecsoftware.
11
Cummins
EngineIdentification
Cummins engines will likely be black or red in color, regardless of the size or model. For I
Seriesengines(ISB,ISC,ISL,ISM,ISX),thebestmethodofidentifyingthemotoristolookatthe
identificationtaglocatedeitherontopofthevalvecoverorontheleftsideoftheengine.This
tagwillshowthemodelandyearofmanufacture.Figure8showsa2001CumminsISXengine
identificationtagwiththeyearandmodelentriesnoted.Figure9identifiesasampleCummins
ISXenginewiththeECMlocationnoted.
12
Cummins
If the engine is not an I Series motor, it will be necessary to look at the ECM itself to
determinewhichtypeofmoduleitis.Locatedontheleftside,theCelectandCelectPlusECMs
willgenerallybeblackincolorandhavethemodelnameprintedontheface.Figure10shows
thetypicallocationofaCelectECM.
13
DetroitDiesel
19932010
AboutDetroitDiesel
Two separate software programs are used to access Detroit Diesel ECMs. The first of these
programs,DetroitDieselElectronicControlsReports,alsoknownasDDECReports,recoversdata
concerningengineoperationforthepreviousthreemonths.Thisincludestripinformationsuch
asdailymilestraveled,timeofoperation,averagespeed,andfueleconomy.Inaddition,data
surrounding the last three fault codes are shown. Referred to as Diagnostic Records, this
informationcontains55secondsofdataconcerningvehicleoperationandengineperformance.
Inadditiontotripdataandfaultcodeinformation,DetroitDieselECMsalsodocumentthelast
twohardbrakeevents,aswellasthelasttimethevehiclecametoastop.WithDetroitDiesel
engines,ahardbrakeisdefinedasawheelspeedchangeof7mph/sec.Datastoredinthese
eventfilesincludevehiclespeedandenginespeed,aswellasbrake,throttle,andcruisecontrol
usage for up to 104 seconds before the event, and 15 seconds after the event. The second
programusedtoaccessDetroitECMsisDetroitDieselDiagnosticLink(DDDL).DDDLretrieves
calibrationdataandadditionalfaultcodedata.
SupportedEngines
EngineswithDetroitDieselElectronicControls(DDEC)IIIor
higher ECMs will contain information. The DDEC III will DDECSeries YearsInstalled
DDECIII
19931997
only store trip and configuration data, while the
subsequentmodelswillstorethelaststop,hardbrake,and
DDECIV
19982003
diagnostic records. In addition, some Detroit Diesel
DDECV
20042006
engines may use a secondary ProDriver recording system.
DDECVI
20072010
A ProDriver module has the ability to store hard brake
information,eveniftheECMdoesnot.Beginningwiththe Table 3 DDEC Models
DDECVIsystem,diagnosticrecordsarenolongeravailable.Table3showstheapplicableDDEC
modelsandinstallationyears.
14
DetroitDiesel
DetroitDiesel
EngineIdentification
Detroitenginesaretypicallygreenincolor,withtheidentificationdecallocatedonthetopleft
sideoftheengine.Thiswillshowtheyear,enginemodel,andserialnumber.Figure11shows
atypicalSeries60engineidentificationdecal.
Afternotingtheengineyear,theECMitselfshouldbeidentified.AllDetroitECMsarelocated
ontheleftsideofthemotor.TheDDECIIIandDDECIVsystemsaresimilarinappearance,with
alabelonthetopsurfaceidentifyingtheexactunit.Figure12showstheDDECIII/IVlocation
andidentificationlabel.
Figure 12 Detroit Diesel DDEC III and IV Location and Identification Label
15
DetroitDiesel
TheDDECVexteriorwasredesignedfromitspredecessorsandhastwolargeplugsonitsface.
ThisECMwilllikelyalsohaveanidentificationlabelaffixedtoitssurface.Figure13showsthe
DDECVlocationandidentificationlabel.
TheDDECVIECMconsistsoftwocomponents,theMotorControlMount(MCM)ontheengine
andtheCommonPowertrainController(CPC)locatedinthecab.Thesecomponentsareshown
inFigure14.IftheECMsystemmustberemovedfromthevehiclefordataextraction,both
the MCM and the CPC should be secured. The CPC is commonly located under the dash or
behindtheBpillar,whiletheMCMislocatedontheleftsideoftheengine.
Figure 14 DDEC VI Motor Control Mount (MCM) and Common Powertrain Controller (CPC)
16
DetroitDiesel
PotentialDataLoss
TheDDECIIIECMdoesnothaveaninternalbattery.Ifpowerisinterruptedornotmaintained
totheseengines,datamaybelost.AfteridentifyingaunitasaDDECIII,precautionsshouldbe
taken to ensure that the vehicles battery system is maintained. Figure 15 shows the decal,
whichistypicallyaffixedtothetopoftheunit,identifyingitasaDDECIII.
17
Mack
19982010
AboutMack
TheECMusedbyMackisknownastheVehicleManagementControlSystem(VMAC).In1998,
theVMACIIIbegandocumentingquickstopeventsinadditiontofaultcodes.Inaddition,asof
2006,theVMacIValsorecordedlaststopinformation.Althoughconfigurationandfaultcode
information is retrievable by the public, quick stop and last stop events are not. Rather, this
information is only accessible by individuals specifically designated by Mack. When an
extractionisperformedtorecoverincidentinformation,upto75secondsmaybedocumented.
Availabledatamayincludewheelspeed,enginespeed,clutchuse,andcruisecontrolstatus.
Publicly available software, which is known as Vehicle Computer Aided Diagnostic Software
(VCADS), will allow the user to retrieve general programming information. Fault code
snapshots are for a single moment in time, and surrounding information is not captured.
Therefore, given the limitations of VCADS, it is recommended that precautions be taken to
preservetheECMdataforpreparationtoshipthemodule(s)directlytoMacksdesignee.
SupportedEngines
Mackenginesbuiltin1998andlaterthatuseVMACIIIandVMACIVECMshavetheabilityto
storeeventinformation(Table4).Itispossiblethatsome1997enginesthatweresoldinthe
latterportionof1997mayusetheVMACIIIandthusmayalsocontainaccessibledata.
CoveredVMACSeries
YearsInstalled
VMACIII
19982006
VMACIV
20062010
18
Mack
EngineIdentification
Mack engines are typically grey
or red in color. The
identification tag is generally
foundonthetopleftsideofthe
engine. This will show the year
and engine model. Figure 16
showsasampleidentificationtag
froma2000MackE7engine.In
thisexample,thetagwasaffixed
tothetopofthevalvecover.
MackECMsconsistoftwocomponents,theEngineElectronicControlUnit(EECU)onthemotor
andtheVehicleElectronicControlUnit(VECU)locatedinthecab.AsampleVECUisshownin
Figure17.WhenforwardingtheMackcomponentstothemanufacturerfordataextraction,it
isnecessarytoremovebothunitsfromthevehicle.VECUsinstalledpriorto2004arelocated
behindthekickpanelontheright(passenger)side.Beginningin2006,theVECUwasmounted
nearthecenterofthedashdoard,behindotherelectroniccomponents.Thesenewermodules
aresomewhatdifficulttoremoveduetotheirposition.Priortodisconnectinganycomponents,
itisrecommendedthattheMackdesigneeslistedonthepreviouspagebecontacted.
19
MercedesBenz
20002010
AboutMercedesBenz
TheMercedesBenzengine(MBE)usesDetroitDieselECMsoftware.Fordataextraction,two
separateprogramsarerequired.Thefirstoftheseprograms,DetroitDieselElectronicControls
Reports, also known as DDEC Reports, recovers data concerning engine operation for the
previous three months. This includes trip information such as daily miles traveled, time of
operation,averagespeed,andfueleconomy.Inaddition,datasurroundingthelastthreefault
codesareshown.ReferredtoasDiagnosticRecords,thisinformationcontainsapproximately
55secondsofdataconcerningvehicleoperationandengineperformance.Thesecondprogram
used to access MercedesBenzECMs is Detroit Diesel Diagnostic Link (DDDL). DDDL retrieves
calibrationdataandadditionalfaultcodedata.
In addition to trip data and fault code information, MercedesBenz ECMs will also document
the last two hard brake events, as well as the last time the vehicle came to a stop. In these
engines,ahardbrakeisdefinedasawheelspeedchangeof7mph/sec.Datastoredinthese
eventfilesincludevehiclespeedandenginespeed,aswellasbrake,throttle,andcruisecontrol
usageforupto104secondsbeforetheevent,and15secondsaftertheevent.
SupportedEngines
Data can be extracted from all 2000 and newer 900 Series and 4000 Series MercedesBenz
engines,providedthattheECMisusingsoftwareversion12.09orhigher.Becausetheinternal
softwareversioncannotbedeterminedwithoutactuallyaccessingtheECM,itisrecommended
thatthepresenceofinternalinformationbeassumedtoexistandthatstepsbetakentoward
itspreservation.BeginningwiththeuseofDDECVIcontrolsin2007,diagnosticrecordsareno
longeravailable.
20
MercedesBenz
EngineIdentification
MercedesBenz engines are typically silver in
color, with the identification decal located on
the top left side of the engine. This decal
includes the year, make, and engine model.
Figure18showsatypicalengineidentification
decal. In this example, a 2004 MBE 4000
engineisshown.
21
DataReferenceTable
Engine
Manufacturer
EngineorECM
Model
Year
Introduced
Configuration QuickStop
Data
Data
LastStop
Data
Diagnostic
Record
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
ADEMII
ADEMIII
ADEMIV
1994
1999
SeeNote2
Yes
Yes
Yes
SeeNote1
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
SeeNote1
Yes
Yes
Cummins
Cummins
Cummins
Cummins
Cummins
Cummins
Cummins
Celect
CelectPlus
ISB
ISC
ISL
ISM
ISX
1994
1996
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
SeeNote3
SeeNote3
SeeNote3
SeeNote4
SeeNote4
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Detroit
Detroit
Detroit
Detroit
DDECIII
DDECIV
DDECV
DDECVI
1993
1998
2004
2007
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Mack
Mack
VMacIII
VMacIV
1998
2006
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Mercedes
Mercedes
900and4000
900and4000
2000
2007
Yes
Yes
SeeNote5
Yes
SeeNote5
Yes
SeeNote5
No
Note1ECMMustHaveSoftwareRevisionAfterNovember1995
Note2TheADEMIVwasIntroducedin2005withtheC15Engineandin2007onAllOtherModels
Note3SuddenDecelerationDataisAvailableStartingin2008(EPA07)
Note4SuddenDecelerationDataisAvailableStartingin2002,withECMSoftwareRevisionsfromLate2004
Note5DataisavailablewithECMSoftwareRevisions12.09orHigher
22