Network Termination

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Mercury Mariner and 2007 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The CAN network uses a network termination circuit to improve communication reliability. The network termination of the CAN bus takes place inside the termination modules by termination resistors. Termination modules are located at either end of the bus network. As network messages are broadcast, in the form of voltage signals, the network voltage signals are stabilized by the termination resistors. Each termination module has a 120 ohm resistor across the positive and negative bus connection in the termination module. With two termination modules on each network, and the 120 ohm resistors located in a parallel circuit configuration, the total network impedance, or total resistance is 60 ohms.

Network termination improves bus message reliability by:

stabilizing bus voltage.
eliminating electrical interference.