What Is the Severity of an ISO/SAE Reserved Trouble Code?
The severity of an ISO/SAE reserved trouble code can vary from severe to irrelevant, which can be frustrating.
Possible Symptoms
Symptoms of an “ISO/SAE Reserved” code may include:
Potential Causes for This Code
“ISO/SAE Reserved” Diagnostic Information
When diagnosing an ISO/SAE code, the best outcome is to find other stored codes. The codes and symptoms exhibited, along with their severity, play a critical role in successfully diagnosing the ISO/SAE code.
Before attempting to diagnose the ISO/SAE code, it is necessary to diagnose and repair any other stored codes.
Search for applicable technical service bulletins (TSB) that match the symptoms, codes, and vehicle in question. Finding a TSB that aligns with these factors will greatly assist in the diagnosis.
Ensure that all corrosion is removed from the battery and battery cable ends, the battery is fully charged, and the alternator is charging adequately. A low voltage condition or poor connection at the battery could contribute to an ISO/SAE code being stored.
In my professional experience, I have discovered that rodent damage was often the cause of a CAN malfunction. I would start the limited diagnosis with a visual inspection of all visible wiring and connectors, making necessary repairs.
After a thorough visual inspection, connect a scanner to the diagnostic port of the vehicle and retrieve all stored codes and freeze frame data. It is helpful to write down this information as the diagnosis progresses. Next, clear the codes and test-drive the vehicle, hoping that the ISO/SAE code does not reset. Operate the vehicle normally until the PCM enters readiness mode or the ISO/SAE code is reset.
If the ISO/SAE code is reset and there are no helpful TSB entries, perform a wiggle test on all controller/CAN bus connectors. If the wiggle test does not yield results, suspect a possible controller defect or a controller programming error.
ISO/SAE Reserved Code Examples
Some examples of ISO/SAE reserved diagnostic OBD-II trouble codes include: P011E, P011F, P012F, P015E, P015F, P016A-P016F, P017A-P017F, P019A-P01FF, P04AB-P04FF, P030A-P030F, P031A-P031F, P032F, P033F, P034A-P034F, P035A-P035F, P036A-P036F, P037A-P037C, P038A-P038F, P0395-P03FF, P0000, P00C0-P00FF, P052F, P053D-P053F, P054E, P054F, P055A-P055F, P056C-P056F, P057A-P057F, P058A-P058F, P059A-P05FF, P025E, P025F, P026A-P026F, P027A-P027F, P028A-P028F, P02FB-P02FF, etc.
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