the vehicle, in a separate booklet, for exam-
ple.
Personal reference
Each vehicle is marked with a unique vehi-
cle identification number. Depending on the
country, the vehicle owner can be identified
with the vehicle identification number, li-
cense plate and corresponding authorities.
In addition, there are other options to track
data collected in the vehicle to the driver or
vehicle owner, for instance via utilized
services.
Operating data in the vehicle
Control units process data to operate the ve-
hicle.
For example, this includes:
– Status messages for the vehicle and its
individual components, e.g., wheel rota-
tional speed, wheel speed, deceleration,
transverse acceleration, engaged safety
belt indicator.
– Ambient conditions, e.g., temperature,
rain sensor signals.
The processed data is only processed in the
vehicle itself and generally volatile. The
data is not stored beyond the operating pe-
riod.
Electronic components, e.g. control units
and ignition keys, contain components for
storing technical information. Information
about the vehicle condition, component us-
age, maintenance requirements events or
faults can be stored temporarily or perma-
nently.
This information generally records the state
of a component, a module, a system, or the
environment, for instance:
– Operating states of system components,
for instance, fill levels, tire inflation
pressure, battery status.
– Malfunctions and faults in important
system components, for instance lights
and brakes.
– Responses by the vehicle to special sit-
uations such as airbag deployment or
engagement of the driving stability con-
trol systems.
– Information on vehicle-damaging
events.
The data is required to perform the control
unit functions. Furthermore, it also serves
to recognize and correct malfunctions, and
helps the vehicle manufacturer to optimize
vehicle functions.
The majority of this data is volatile and is
only processed within the vehicle itself.
Only a small share of the data is stored
event-related in event or fault memories.
When servicing, for instance during repairs,
service processes, warranty cases, and qual-
ity assurance measures, this technical infor-
mation can be read out from the vehicle to-
gether with the vehicle identification
number.
A dealer’s service center or another quali-
fied service center or repair shop can read
out the information. The socket for OBD On-
board Diagnosis required by law in the ve-
hicle 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 technical con-
ditions of the vehicle, helps with the identi-
fication of the fault, compliance with war-
ranty obligations and quality improvement.
Furthermore, the manufacturer has product
monitoring duties to meet in line with prod-
uct liability law. To fulfill these duties, the
vehicle manufacturer needs technical data
from the vehicle. The data from the vehicle
can also be used to check customer claims
for warranty and guaranty.
Fault and event memories in the vehicle can
be reset when a dealer’s service center or
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NOTES Information
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Online Edition for Part no. 01405A02C73 - II/20