Intermittent Failures
The term "intermittent failure" means a system may have had a failure, but it checks OK now. Check for poor connections or loose terminals at all connectors related to the circuit that you are troubleshooting.
Opens and Shorts
"Open" and "short" are common electrical terms. An open is a break in a wire or at a connection. A short is an accidental connection of a wire to ground or to another wire. In simple electronics, this usually means something won't work at all. With complex electronics (such as PCMs) this can sometimes mean something works, but not the way it's supposed to.
HDS Clear Command
The PCM stores DTCs about the ACM system even if there is no electrical power such as when the battery negative terminal or No. 19 Fl MAIN (15 A) fuse are disconnected. Stored data based on failed parts should be cleared by using the CLEAR COMMAND of the HDS, if parts are replaced.
The HDS has two kinds of clear commands to meet this purpose. They are DTC clear, and ACM. DTC clear command erases all stored DTC codes, freeze data, and on-board snapshot, and readiness codes. This must be done with the HDS after reproducing the DTC during troubleshooting.
The PCM reset command erases all stored DTC codes, freeze data, on-board snapshot, readiness codes, and all specific data about the ACM system.