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U0004

High Speed CAN Communication Bus (+) Low

Communication network (CAN bus) Generic OBD-II High

What it means

U0004 means the voltage on the high-speed CAN bus (+) line is lower than it should be — the main network that lets the car's control modules talk to each other. A low bus can garble or cut that communication, so you may see multiple warning lights, erratic module behavior, and in bad cases limp mode or a no-start. It usually points to a wiring short, a bad connector, or a module dragging the bus down.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — a high-speed CAN fault can knock out communication between modules, causing warning lights, limp mode, or a no-start/stall. Diagnose before relying on the vehicle.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Common causes

Most likely first

  1. CAN bus high (+) wire shorted to ground or to the low wire
  2. Damaged, chafed, or corroded CAN wiring or connector
  3. A failed module dragging down the bus voltage
  4. Water intrusion in a connector or module
  5. Faulty terminating resistor or bad ground/power to a module

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

  1. Scan all modules and note which report communication loss to narrow the affected bus segment.
  2. Inspect the CAN high wiring and connectors for shorts, chafing, corrosion, or water.
  3. With the key off, measure CAN bus resistance and check the high line for a short to ground.
  4. Disconnect modules one at a time to find one pulling the bus down; repair wiring or replace the faulty module.
  5. Repair the fault, clear codes, and verify all modules communicate before driving.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with U0004?+
Not reliably. A high-speed CAN fault can disable communication between critical modules and cause limp mode, no-start, or stalling. Have it diagnosed first.
Can I just clear U0004?+
It will come back while the bus fault is present, and may reappear across many modules. Fix the wiring, connector, or failed module first.

Related codes

Often seen with U0004

Read & clear U0004 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

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Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX