Diagnostics Using Product Link
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| Illustration 1 | g00657586 |
LED Indicators On The Side Of The Product Link (1) Red LED Indicator (Diagnostic Indicator) (2) Yellow LED Indicator (Power Indicator) (3) Green LED Indicator (Message Indicator) | |
The Product Link module has three LED indicators behind a clear window on the side of the unit. These three LED indicators blink in order to convey several types of information to the technician. This information is useful when a computer with the Electronic Technician is not available. The LED indicators do not flash together. Each LED indicator operates independently.
The red LED flashes in a specific sequence in order to indicate any current diagnostic codes for the Product Link. If the red LED indicator is always ON, the unit has failed. For more information, see Troubleshooting, "Using the Diagnostic Indicator to Determine Diagnostic Codes".
The yellow LED indicator (2) blinks at 2 Hz (two times per second) in order to indicate that the keyswitch is in the ON position. The yellow LED indicator blinks at 4 Hz (four times per second) when the engine is running. The yellow LED indicator blinks at 1 Hz in order to indicate that the modem is ON and the keyswitch is not on.
The green LED indicator (3) blinks at .5 Hz (one time per two seconds) when a satellite is visible.
When there are messages in the queue that are waiting to be sent to the satellite, the green LED indicator blinks four times at .5 Hz. This indicates that the satellite is visible. Then, the green LED indicator goes off for 2 seconds. Then, the green LED indicator flashes one time for each message that has been placed in the queue. When this process is completed, the green LED indicator turns OFF for 2 seconds, and the cycle begins again. If the LED indicator does not blink four times at .5 Hz, no satellite is visible. The green LED indicator will blink once for every message that has been placed into the queue.
Diagnostics Using Cateprillar Electronic Technician
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| Illustration 2 | g00777826 |
The Caterpillar Electronic Technician (ET) is a software program that is used to access data. The service technician can use the ET in order to perform maintenance on the machine. Some of the options that are available with the Caterpillar Electronic Technician are listed below:
- View diagnostic codes. See Troubleshooting, "Using the Caterpillar Electronic Technician to Determine Diagnostic Codes".
- Viewing active event codes and logged event codes
- View the status of parameters.
- Clear active diagnostic codes and clear logged diagnostic codes
- Perform calibration of machine systems.
- Program the ECM (Flash). This is done with the "WINflash" program. See Testing and Adjusting, "Electronic Control Module (ECM) - Flash Program".
- Print reports.
The following list contains some of the diagnostic functions and programming functions that are performed by the service tools.
- The failures of the ECM system are displayed.
- The status of most of the inputs and the outputs are displayed.
- The settings for the ECM are displayed.
- Display the status of the input and output parameters in real time.
- Display the clock hour of the internal diagnostic clock.
- The number of occurrences and the clock hour of the first occurrence and the last occurrence is displayed for each logged diagnostic code.
- The definition for each logged diagnostic code and each event is displayed.
- Load new FLASH software.
See Troubleshooting, "Diagnostic Code List" for the list of diagnostic codes for the ECM.
- Active diagnostic codes
- Logged diagnostic codes
Electronic Technician Status Groups
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| Illustration 3 | g00711287 |
There are five Status Screens available in ET for verifying and servicing Product Link. Illustration 3 shows the Status (Group) selection view in ET.
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| Illustration 4 | g00686021 |
Choose the Status screens from the toolbar as shown in illustration 4. These status groups should be used in order to verify that the installation of the Product Link module has been successful
Status Group 1 - Queued Messages
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| Illustration 5 | g00663435 |
The Product Link Group 1 Status screen shown in illustration 5 shows a current count of the messages that are pending to be sent by the Product Link module. The following table explains the possible values for the types of messages.
| Status Group 1 - Queued Messages | |
| Status Messages | 0 or 1 |
| Event Messages |
>= 0 |
| Diagnostic Messages | >= 0 |
| Registration Messages | 0 or 1 |
| Deregistration Messages | 0 or 1 |
| Service Meter Change | >= 0 |
| Position Report | 0 or 1 |
| SMU Report | 0 or 1 |
| Fuel Report | 0 or 1 |
| Product Watch report | >= 0 |
Test messages can be added to the queues by selecting "PLM Commands" from the "Service" drop down menu. Then, you have to select the desired message. All pending messages can be cleared by selecting "Clear Message Queue" from this menu.
Note: Do not clear out legitimate event/diagnostic messages that need to be sent. Messages will not be re-created unless an event/diagnostic occurs again.
Status Group 2 - PLM Operational Status
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| Illustration 6 | g00794494 |
The Product Link Group 2 Status screen shown in illustration 6 shows the current operational status of the Product Link Module. The following table explains the possible values and their meanings.
| Status Group 2 - PLM Operational Status | ||
| Status | Values | Value Description |
| PLM Enable Status | Enabled | The PLM is operating normally. The PLM must be Enabled for any messages to be transmitted. Billing is in effect. |
| Disabled | The PLM is disabled. The PLM is not communicating on the Cat Datalink and will not transmit any messages. The modem will receive any messages sent to it, but will only respond when the unit is enabled. When the PLM is disabled, the unit is not in a billable state. | |
| PLM Registration Status | Registered | The PLM is properly registered on the communications system. The PLM must be Registered for messages to be transmitted. |
| Deregistered | The PLM is not registered on the communications system and will not transmit any messages except a Registration command. | |
| Primary Communications Link | On-Line | A communications satellite is in view allowing the PLM to send and receive messages. |
| Off-Line | There are no communications satellites in view so no messages can be transmitted. | |
| Power Mode Status | Power Mode 1 | The machine has operated in the last 48 hours. |
| Power Mode 2 | The machine has not operated for greater than 48 hours but less than 1 week. The PLM will wake up every 6 hours to send and receive messages. Position messages will only be sent if the unit has changed position by greater than 200 meters. | |
| Power Mode 3 | The machine has not operated for more than one week. The PLM will wake up every 24 hours to send and receive messages. Position messages will only be sent if the unit has changed position by greater than 200 meters. | |
| Alternator Running Input | Engine Running | The alternator R-Terminal reflects that the engine is currently running. |
| Engine Off | The alternator R-Terminal reflects that the engine is not currently running. | |
| GPS Receiver | Functional | The GPS receiver has generated a fix since the PLM last powered up. |
| Not Functional | The GPS receiver has not generated a fix since the PLM last powered up. | |
| Key Switch Status | On | The machine key switch is in the on state. The PLM will be powered up. |
| Off | The machine key switch is in the off state. The PLM will periodically power up to send and receive messages depending on the Power Mode. | |
| Possible Periods of Communications Loss | Yes | The PLM has not seen a communications satellite for an extended period of time causing scheduled reports to be missed. This value is reset automatically after the status is reported to the office. |
| No | The PLM has not experienced a loss of communications and has been communicating as scheduled. | |
| Possible Device Power Disconnection | Yes | The PLM has missed reports due to a power loss. This value is reset automatically after the status is reported to the office. |
| No | The PLM has not missed any scheduled reports due to power loss | |
Status Group 3 - Digital Sensors
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| Illustration 7 | g00662770 |
The Product Link Group 3 Status screen shown in illustration 7 shows the current status of the Product Link Digital Sensors. The following table explains the possible values and their meanings.
| Status Group 3 - Digital Sensors | ||
| Status | Values | Value Description |
| Digital Sensor Input #1, #2, #3, #4 | Not Configured | Default setting signifying that there is no sensor attached at this time. |
| Active | When this type of sensor is configured as a normally open sensor, if the sensor is currently active, the sensor is closed to ground. If the sensor is configured as a normally closed sensor, if the sensor is active the sensor is open. In both cases, the sensor will not become active until the delay time has expired. | |
| Inactive | When this type of sensor is configured as a normally open sensor, if the sensor is currently inactive, the sensor is not closed to ground. The sensor is open. If the sensor is configured as a normally closed sensor, if the sensor is inactive the sensor is not open. The sensor is closed. In both cases, the sensor will not become active until the delay time has expired. | |
| Analog Sensor Input #1 | Not Available | This input has not been implemented and defaults to "Not Available / Not Configured" |
| Analog Sensor Input #2 | Not Available | This input has not been implemented and defaults to "Not Available / Not Configured" |
| Analog Sensor Input #3 | Not Available | This input has not been implemented and defaults to "Not Available / Not Configured" |
Status Group 4 - Product Watch
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| Illustration 8 | g00663432 |
The Product Link Group 4 Status screen shown in illustration 8 shows the current status of Product Watch. Product Watch allows tracking of a machines movement. Product Watch can report if a machine moves into a specified area, or a report can be sent if a machine moves out of a specified area. Also, if a machine is operated outside of a specified time period a report will be sent. Product Watch is configured via the "Caterpillar Product Link System PC Software". Refer to the software manual for details.
| Status Group 4 - Product Watch | ||
| Status | Values | Value Description |
| Time Based Activation Status | Active | Time Based Product Watch has been properly configured and is currently activated. |
| Not Active | There is currently no Time Based Product Watch properly configured and/or it is not currently activated. | |
| Geographical Exclusion Activation Status | Active | Geographical Exclusion Product Watch has been properly configured and is currently activated. |
| Not Active | There is currently no Geographical Exclusion Product Watch properly configured and/or it is not currently activated. | |
| Geographical Inclusion Activation Status | Active | Geographical Inclusion Product Watch has been properly configured and is currently activated. |
| Not Active | There is currently no Geographical Inclusion Product Watch properly configured and/or it is not currently activated. | |
| Time Based Alarm | On | There is an active Time Based Alarm. |
| Off | There is not an active Time Based Alarm. | |
| Geographical Exclusion Boundary Alarm | On | There is an active Geographical Exclusion Boundary Alarm. |
| Off | There is not an active Geographical Exclusion Boundary Alarm. | |
| Geographical Inclusion Boundary Alarm | On | There is an active Geographical Inclusion Boundary Alarm. |
| Off | There is not an active Geographical Inclusion Boundary Alarm. | |
Status Group 5 - GPS
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| Illustration 9 | g00662771 |
The Product Link Group 5 Status screen shown in illustration 9 shows the current status of the Product Link GPS. The following table explains the possible values and their meanings.
| Status Group 5 - GPS | |
| Status | Value Description |
| Current Date/Time | The current Date and Time of the host PC is displayed. |
| GPS Position Status | Valid: The Product Link Module has previously calculated a valid fix. Invalid: The Product Link Module has not calculated a previous fix. |
| GPS Time Stamp | The time stamp from the last fix is displayed. The time can be compared to the Current Date/Time to verify the time since the last position was calculated. |
| GPS Latitude | The last valid GPS Latitude is displayed. |
| GPS Longitude | The last valid GPS Longitude is displayed. |