P1696 ACURA, HONDA: TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LOW VOLTAGE
POST UPDATED IN January, 2023
P1696 ACURA, HONDA: TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LOW VOLTAGE
The PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and EBCM (Electronic Brake Control Module) work together to control the Traction Control System. The PCM, in turn, reduces the torque sent to the drive wheels after retarding spark timing and selectively disabling the injectors. The EBCM has the function of applying the brakes to the front wheels, significantly reducing torque.
The EBCM requests the required torque from the PCM based on a PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signal. A duty cycle varying from 10 to 90% is used to calculate the torque needed by the EBCM, being at its highest value during traction control deactivation at higher values when the system is activated. The PCM sends 5 reference volts switched to the ground by the EBCM to create the signal.
When the P1696 OBD2 diagnostic code is set on Acura and Honda vehicles it is because excessively low voltages were detected in the Traction Control System, a condition that is interpreted as a malfunction.
The reasons for storing the P1696 OBDII fault code are:
In order to resolve the DTC P1696 OBD2 code consider the following: