cle to function safely or provide assistance dur‐
ing driving, for instance driver assistance
systems. Furthermore, control devices facilitate
comfort or infotainment functions.
Electronic control devices contain data memo‐
ries, which are able to temporarily or permanently
store information about the condition of the vehi‐
cle, component load, maintenance requirements,
technical events or faults.
This information generally records the state of a
component, a module, a system, or the environ‐
ment, for instance:
▷ Operating states of system components,
e.g., fill levels, tire inflation pressure, battery
status.
▷ Status messages for the vehicle and its indi‐
vidual components, e.g., wheel rotational
speed, wheel speed, deceleration, transverse
acceleration, engaged safety belt indicator.
▷ Malfunctions and faults in important system
components, for instance lights and brakes.
▷ Information on vehicle-damaging events.
▷ Responses by the vehicle to special situa‐
tions such as airbag deployment or engage‐
ment of the stability control systems.
▷ Ambient conditions, e.g., temperature, rain
sensor signals.
The data is required to perform the control de‐
vice functions. Furthermore, it also serves to rec‐
ognize and correct malfunctions, and helps the
vehicle manufacturer to optimize vehicle func‐
tions. The majority of this data is transient and is
only processed within the vehicle itself. Only a
small proportion of the data is stored in event or
fault memories and, if needed, in the vehicle key.
Reading out data
When servicing, for instance during repairs, serv‐
ice processes, warranty cases, and quality assur‐
ance measures, this technical information can be
read out from the vehicle together with the vehi‐
cle identification number. A dealer’s service cen‐
ter or another qualified service center or repair
shop can read out the information. The socket
for OBD Onboard Diagnosis required by law in
the vehicle is used to read out the data. The data
is collected, processed, and used by the relevant
organizations in the service network. The data
documents the technical conditions of the vehi‐
cle, helps in locating faults and improving quality,
and is transferred to the vehicle manufacturer, if
needed.
Furthermore, the manufacturer has product
monitoring duties to meet in line with product lia‐
bility law. To fulfill these duties, the vehicle man‐
ufacturer needs technical data from the vehicle.
Fault and event memories in the vehicle can be
reset when a dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair shop performs
repair or servicing work.
Data on the scope of servicing work performed
and maintenance records are stored in the vehi‐
cle by means of the service history and transfer‐
red to the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle
owner can contact a dealer's service center to
object to the data being stored and transferred to
the vehicle manufacturer. This objection applies
for as long as the vehicle owner remains the pro‐
prietor of the vehicle.
Data entry and data transfer into
the vehicle
General information
Depending on the vehicle equipment, some data
can be transferred into the vehicle when using
comfort and infotainment functions, for instance:
▷ Multimedia data such as music or movies for
playback in an integrated multimedia system.
▷ Address book data for use in conjunction with
an integrated hands-free system or an
integrated navigation system.
▷ Entered navigation destinations.
▷ Data on the use of Internet services.
This data can be stored locally in the vehicle or is
found on a device that has been connected to
the vehicle, e.g., a smartphone, USB stick or
Seite 12
NOTES
Information
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Online Edition for Part no. 01402989843 - II/18