Service Bulletin

Volvo Bus Corporation

Göteborg, Sweden Buses
Date Group No. Release Page
6.05 59 24 02 1(9)

Retarder
Multiplex electrical system Version 2
Retarder

The function concerns activation/deactivation of the retarder — both foot operated and
hand operated. For further information, please refer to:

• “Conditions” page 2
• “Variant deviation” page 2
• “Function” page 2
• “Functional diagram” page 5
• “Signal description” page 7
• “Checking measurements” page 8
• “Abbreviations” page 9

20 034846
ENG17346 English
Printed in Sweden
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 2(9)

Retarder
Purpose
The function concerns activation/deactivation of the
retarder — both foot operated and hand operated.

Variant deviation
• Buses with foot operated retarder
• Buses with hand and foot operated retarder

Conditions
• Engine running
• The speed of the vehicle must exceed 7 kph
• Accelerator at idling position
• Clutch not activated

Function
The following control units are involved:

• Vehicle control unit (VECU)

• Brake control unit (EBS)
• Retarder control unit (RECU), built into the gearbox
control unit (TECU) on certain variants
• Instrument control unit (BIC)
• The engine control unit (EECU)

The retarder is an auxiliary brake that is connected to

the gearbox output shaft or is built into the gearbox.
Automatic gearboxes normally have the retarder built into
the same housing as the gearbox.
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 3(9)

Foot operated retarder

The foot controlled retarder is activated via a switch
(S905) on the instrument panel. The switch is hard-wired
to the VECU. When the switch is active, VECU sends a
message on the control link, informing that the function is
active, to EBS.

The retarder’s foot brake control is hard wired to EBS.

When EBS has received the message to activate the
function from VECU, EBS monitors the signal from the
foot brake control continuously and sends the position to
RECU via a message on the control link. When RECU
is activated a message is sent on the information link to
BIC, which then shows a symbol in the display to inform
the driver that the retarder function is activated.

When the foot brake control is activated, the brake control

unit calculates the retardation torque requested and and
sends this to RECU via the control link. The retarder
will then execute the retardation order. At the same time
RECU sends a message via the control link to EBS and
EECU, containing the retarders active status.

Hand and foot operated retarder

In buses with hand and foot controlled retarders, the
activation of the function is controlled via the retarder
stalk, which is hard wired to VECU. In order to use the foot
brake control, the retarder stalk must be set to position
“A”. In position “A” the hand switch functions in the same
manner as the switch on the dashboard mentioned above
and only the foot brake control is activated in this position.
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 4(9)

The retarder stalk has three fixed positions for retardation.

The retardation values of these positions can be
programmed in the VECU, via VCADS Pro. When the
retarder stalk is set to position 1, 2 or 3 the VECU will
send a message via the control link to EECU and RECU
containing information concerning the requested braking
torque. The torque is taken from the parameters in VECU
for positions 1 – 3.

The VECU will also send information to BIC via the

information link, concerning the retarder stalk position.
During retardation, BIC will display the position of the
retarder stalk— A, 1, 2 or 3.

Terminate function
Retardation is terminated, by the driver:

• Discontinue braking by releasing the foot brake control

(retarder stalk in position A if the bus is equipped with
a hand control).
• Move the retarder stalk to position “0” (only hand
control).
• Turning the switch on the dashboard off (foot brake
control only).
• Moving the accelerator from the idle position.
• Declutching (applies to buses with manual gearbox).

In addition, the function will also be terminated if either of

the vehicle’s safety systems, ABS or ESP, is activated.
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 5(9)

Functional diagram

T5014260

The symbol for one or more joints in the cabling

List of components
Component number Component name
A03 Instrument control unit (BIC)
A14 Engine control unit (EECU)
A17 Vehicle control unit (VECU)
A21 Brake control unit (EBS)
A65 Retarder control unit (RECU)
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 6(9)

Component number Component name

B23 Temperature sensor, retarder
B25 Accelerator pedal sensor
B900 Retarder, pressure sensor
B903 Retarder, coolant temperature sensor
F16 Fuse
F17 Fuse
F28 Fuse
F50 Fuse
K1 Relay
K6 Relay
K15 Relay
K16 Relay
S24 Retarder stalk
S905 Switch retarder
Y17 Solenoid valve, retarder
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 7(9)

Signal description
• “Hard-wired signals” page 7
• “Control link SAE J1939” page 7
• “Information link J1587/1708” page 7

Hard-wired signals
Name Input/output Signal type on ECU Signal description
signal
Foot operated In LDI The switch sends information to VECU stating that the
retarder retarder is activated via the foot retarder control.
Retarder stalk In AI The hand retarder lever sends information concerning
the torque for the position which the hand retarder lever
currently has to the VECU.
IVS In HDI The sensor sends a signal concerning if the accelerator
is in idle position or not to the VECU.

Control link SAE J1939

Message Signal description
ERC1 The message informs EECU and RECU that the retarder is activated.
TSC1 VECU sends a message to RECU, EBS and EECU and requests a specific
retarder torque.
EBC1 The message informs the ABS/EBS that ABS/EBS is active and that the
retarder is therefore inactive.
VP43 The message informs the VECU about the position of the retarder lever.

Information link J1587/1708

Sending MID Sending Receiving MID Signal name
PID/PPID
RECU: 222 PID 47 BIC: 140 Retarder status
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 8(9)

Checking measurements
Special measurement tool:
• Break-out box 9998699.
• 9812519 Multimeter
• 9998543 Adapter cable RECU
• 9998567 Adapter cable RECU

Voltage measurement A65 (RECU)

Measurements Measurement method Measurement points Key Expected Other
position value
Breakout Wiring
box diagram
Supply (+30) 2–1 A2 – A1 II U = Ubat

Supply, sensor 34 – 1 A34 – A1 II U=5V

Signal, PWM 40 – 46 A40 – II U=0–6V

valve A46

Sensor, air 37 – 1 A37 – A1 II U = 0.5 V At 0 bar

pressure pressure

Resistance measurement A65 (RECU)

Measurements Measurement method Measurement points Key Expected Other
position value
Breakout Wiring
box diagram
Sensor, oil 13 – 15 A13 – 0 R = 0.5 – 2
temperature A15 k

PWM valve 40 – 46 A40 – 0 R = 10 – 30

A46

Sensor, coolant 32 – 15 A32 – 0 R = 0.5 – 2

temperature A15 k
Volvo Bus Corporation Date Group No. Release Page
Service Bulletin 6.05 59 24 02 9(9)

Abbreviations
The abbreviations used for signal types are described
below.

HDI High Digital Input

LDI Low Digital Input

GDI General Digital Input (HDI/LDI,

selectable)

HDO High Digital Output

LDO Low Digital Output

HTDI High Digital Input True

LTDI Low Digital Input True

HLDI High Low Digital Input

AI Analogue Input

AO Analogue Output

RES Resistance

The signal types HDI, LDI, HDO and LDO have different
logic levels and structures in the control unit. The signals
have therefore different properties; see table. Note
that the limits for the different signal characteristics are
programmable and can therefore differ slightly between
the different pins. Signal types AO, AI and PWM have
fully individual programmable properties and will therefore
not be covered in detail here.

Limits, % of Ubat HDI LDI HDO LDO HTDI LTDI HLDI

1
U > 75% True Error True False True False
25% < U < 75% False False Error Error Error Error Error
2
U < 25% Error True False True False True
1
True or False, the logic is programmable.
2
False or True, the logic is programmable.

DI H = Digital signal with high activation.

If the voltage is >7.7 V the control unit interprets the
signal as active, and if the voltage is <3.5 V the signal
is interpreted as inactive.
DI L = Digital signal with low activation.
If the voltage is <3.5 V, the control unit interprets the
signal as active, and if the voltage is >7.7 V the signal
is interpreted as inactive.