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SPN 168 — Battery voltage

Safe to driveTo the nearest safe stop

J1939 code SPN 168. Below — how the fault is worded at the factory by DAF, Dongfeng, International, KAMAZ, MAZ, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Trucks, SITRAK, YaMZ and ZF AS-Tronic, and what the second half of the code (FMI) means in the standard.

DAFDongfengInternationalKAMAZMAZMercedes-BenzRenault TrucksSITRAKYaMZZF AS-Tronic

DAF

FMI 16ECU power supply, pin C4 voltage too high (>36V)
FMI 18ECU power supply, pin C4 voltage too low (<6V)

Dongfeng

FMI 16Battery voltage too high
FMI 18Battery voltage too low

International

FMI 2Electrical Potential (Voltage) — Comm. fault from ESC/BC to PP3.
FMI 3Electrical Potential (Voltage) — DC Module Overvoltage condition on Vehicle DC Bus.; Electrical Potential (Voltage) — AC Module Overvoltage condition on High Voltage DC Bus.; Electrical Potential (Voltage) — Battery Voltage High
FMI 4Electrical Potential (Voltage) — DC Module Undervoltage condition on Vehicle DC Bus.; Electrical Potential (Voltage) — AC Module Undervoltage condition on High Voltage DC Bus.; Electrical Potential (Voltage) — Battery Voltage Low
FMI 6Electrical Potential (Voltage) — AC Module has shutdown due to overload condition.
FMI 8Electrical Potential (Voltage) — Phase missing fault/alternator fault.
FMI 16Electrical Potential (Voltage) — DC module over temperature condition.; Electrical Potential (Voltage) — AC module over temperature condition.
FMI 17Electrical Potential (Voltage) — PPE3 Fuse Open.

KAMAZ

FMI 3Battery supply voltage out of range. K-line code on KamAZ-5490: MR2 17542.
FMI 4Battery supply voltage out of range. K-line code on KamAZ-5490: MR2 17543.

MAZ

FMI 3Battery supply voltage out of range - Battery voltage high. Blink code: 1-2-4. Repair: Check the battery and its wiring.
FMI 4Battery supply voltage out of range - Battery voltage low. Blink code: 1-2-4. Repair: Check the battery and its wiring.

Mercedes-Benz

FMI 0Coolant Level below operating level (pre-warning condition)
FMI 1Battery Voltage Very Low
FMI 7Opt Idle Detected Charging System or Battery Failure
FMI 9Main battery connection lost

Renault Trucks

FMI 0Battery voltage measured by the EECU processor too high. Repair: The alternator regulator is faulty.
FMI 1Battery voltage measured by the EECU processor too low. Repair: The alternator or the batteries are faulty.
FMI 3Battery voltage measured by the control unit above 40 V. Repair: If the voltage is normal, replace the EECU.
FMI 4Battery voltage measured by the control unit below 5.5 V. Repair: If the voltage is normal, replace the EECU.
FMI 8Pedal released contact, erroneous signal. Repair: Check that the accelerator pedal position changes correctly. Run the diagnostic check of the EECU. Check the programming. Switch the ignition off, switch it on again and repeat the test. If the fault persists, replace the control unit.
FMI 12Battery voltage reading fault. Repair: Replace the EECU.
FMI 15Battery voltage measured by the EECU processor too high. Repair: The alternator regulator is faulty.
FMI 17Battery voltage measured by the EECU processor too high. Repair: The alternator or the batteries are faulty.

SITRAK

FMI 3System voltage above the upper limit for the actuator supply. Scan tool code: P0563. Effect: OBD limits torque immediately.
FMI 4System voltage below the lower limit for the actuator supply. Scan tool code: P0562.
FMI 15High battery voltage
FMI 17Low battery voltage

YaMZ

FMI 3Battery supply voltage out of range (Battery voltage high). Blink code: 1-2-4. Repair: Check the battery and its wiring.
FMI 4Battery supply voltage out of range (Battery voltage low). Blink code: 1-2-4. Repair: Check the battery and its wiring.

ZF AS-Tronic

ZF AS-Tronic uses its own fault numbering: the number in the table below is an internal ZF code, not a J1939 SPN. It matches the title of this page by digit only and means something different.

FMI 8No idle signal from the electronic accelerator pedal.

What FMI means in J1939

SPN 168 FMI 0168/0 · 168.0data above normal range (most severe level)
SPN 168 FMI 1168/1 · 168.1data below normal range (most severe level)
SPN 168 FMI 2168/2 · 168.2data erratic or intermittent
SPN 168 FMI 3168/3 · 168.3voltage above normal or shorted high
SPN 168 FMI 4168/4 · 168.4voltage below normal or shorted to ground
SPN 168 FMI 6168/6 · 168.6current above normal or grounded circuit
SPN 168 FMI 7168/7 · 168.7mechanical system not responding
SPN 168 FMI 8168/8 · 168.8abnormal frequency or pulse width
SPN 168 FMI 9168/9 · 168.9abnormal update rate
SPN 168 FMI 12168/12 · 168.12faulty device or component
SPN 168 FMI 15168/15 · 168.15above normal — low severity
SPN 168 FMI 16168/16 · 168.16above normal — moderate severity
SPN 168 FMI 17168/17 · 168.17below normal — low severity
SPN 168 FMI 18168/18 · 168.18below normal — moderate severity

Can I keep driving

Safe to drive. Below — how much time you have and what happens if you keep going.

What happens if you keep driving

Time you have: To the nearest safe stop

The electrical system is not holding voltage. While the engine runs the alternator carries it; shut it off and you may not restart.

Next the lights go, then modules start dropping out and false codes appear all over the truck. Get to somewhere with help without shutting the engine down.

That said, the manufacturer flags this code as critical — if in doubt, it is safer to stop and check on the spot.

What to check on the spot

Check the battery terminals and earth strap — corrosion and loose clamps throw false codes all over the truck. Running voltage should be 27–29 V.

Nearby: power supply

Scanner threw several codes at once? Paste the whole list — we will show which one is the root cause and which ones simply followed.