Chrysler Vehicle Support

1. Do you have an expectation of when Dodge vehicles will be available?  (2008-02-14)

   As of Dec 07, Dodge, Chrysler and jeep vehicles back to MY05 are supported by the CDR System using version 3.0.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
2. Vehicle: 2009 Dodge Journey. Help file refers to notes 6 & 7. Notes 6 and 7 appear to contradict each other. Is a DLC download possible or not? Thanks  (2009-05-01)

   CDR v3.1 and v3.1.1 software versions do not support collecting data thru the DLC on the 2009 Dodge Journey. The coverage notes for these vehicles were confusing because note 6 was intended to be generic and applicable to all supported Chrysler vehicles except for the vehicles that included note 7. The Help file notes were changed in CDR v3.2 which now supports DLC data collection thru the DCL on the 2009 Dodge Journey. CDR v3.2 help file has also been changed so that it is less confusing.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
3. What type of crash data can be obtained from a 2007 Dodge Charger that was hit on the passenger's door by a motorcycle resulting in air bag deployment? Thanks.  (2009-09-06)

   It depends on many factors including configuration and whether or not there was a deployment. There isn't a "you get ___ and ___" answer.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
4. Will the most current version of CDR extract vechile speed and throttle position on a 2005 Dodge Dakota? I have been told events are not retrievable by the CDR tool  (2010-03-05)

   The 05 Dakota is not currently supported by the CDR System.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
5. Reference: 2006 Chrysler 300 Note: #3 How can I identify which ACM that cant be read by the CDR ? Will an attempted read destroy any of the information on those ACM's which cannot be read ?  (2010-03-05)

   When you attempt a download of an unsupported module, it will return a message in the File Information block tht there was "data not retrievable." Attempting to retrieve data but that attempt being unsuccesful does nothing to what, if anything, is in the module.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
6. Concerning a 2009 Dodge Nitro, which is included in the vehicle coverage list, is there "sample data" that is available to know what the information would encompass? Thank you William Fischer  (2010-05-06)

   Sorry, no. Since a CDR file should be reviewed in the latest version of the CDR program and that formatting may change from version-to-version, there would be no real way to provide a "sample data" report. Having said that, check Volume 5, Issue 1 of Collision Magazine for a list of the general data elements available by vehicle make and model for vehicles supported by the CDR program.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
7. My question is simple. If the crash data recovered indicates that the brake switch was "OFF" does that mean that the brakes were not applied? If so, could it be that the data recovered then related to another incident, and not the one that is the subject of the investigation since all parties agree that the brakes were applied just before the indcident?  (2010-05-06)

   Actually, that question is NOT so simple. Depending on the type of vehicle you're asking about there may be more than one "brake switch" referenced in a CDR report. Generally speaking; however, an indication of "brake switch = 'off'" - assuming it is actually a monitored parameter - means the switch isn't closed, not whether ornot there was braking or the brakes were "applied."

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net
   

   
   
8. Is data downloaded from a non-supported vehicle reliable? If so, why not? This is regarding a Vin from a 2002 Ford Escape as an input in the onscreen prompt for a 2002 Mazda Tribute.  (2010-05-06)

   No, it is not. What you're proposing is called "VIN Spoofing" and it is specifically NOT a supported process and is strongly discouraged. Assuming that you DO actually get the CDR program to communicate with the otherwise UNsupported module, you CANNOT be sure any recovered data is translated correctly. Part of the proper translation process often includes a reliance on the VIN and "spoofing"a VIN may result in data being incorrectly translated.

   Rusty Haight
   Collision Safety Institute
   
   www.collisionsafety.net