donhov

Have been reading a little about the can bus architure and think I understand the basics. On to the question? What problems will it cause. I hear about people installing a Cd player and damaging the bus, wiring the trailer plug and damaging the computer. Can someone explain the system and related problems in layman terms? would appreciate a simple explaination please.

Thanks...Don

Flatlander

I don't know what the differences are between the '06 and earlier trucks specifically. The CAN bus is probably just a replacement or addition to existing bus protocols like PCI, J1850 , CCD (if that is still being used).

Lets say CAN is replacing the J1850 bus. This may be for the same reason newer computers may have USB and not a com port. The newer serial bus is perhaps faster and more reliable. It replaces the functionality, except for being backward compatible.

Problems with replacing items like radios on some newer vehicles (not specifically for Dodge) is the integration of other features. :


For example (just making this up), your 1976 truck has a switch in the door frame that is wired to a buzzer that is powered by ignition. When the door is open and the ignition is on the buzzer is powered and well buzzing.

Now on your 2006 truck the switch in the door is wired to a little computer in the door that is on the CAN bus. When the door is open the door computer sends a CAN bus message to the radio (cluster, theft alarm, whatever) to sound a chime.

If the radio is replaced, the problem would be that the chime feature doesn't work anymore and perhaps other "hidden" features that normally wouldn't be associated with a radio.


If there is a problem with a computer because of a trailer plug, well; that is probably for a different topic.