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DTC codes / U01xx · Lost communication with a control module / U0190

U0190Lost Communication With Digital Disc Player/Changer Module 'D'

U0190 is a generic communication fault code indicating that one of the vehicle's control modules has lost contact with the digital disc player or changer module designated 'D' over the controller area network (CAN) bus. The module that set the code, typically the audio or infotainment head unit, expected regular status messages from the disc player but stopped receiving them for a set period.

SystemNetwork
Code typeGeneric (all makes)
SeverityLow
Fix difficultyIntermediate
AreaLost communication with a control module

Symptoms you may notice

  • The check engine light or a communication warning light illuminates on the dashboard.
  • The disc player or changer is completely unresponsive and will not accept or eject discs.
  • The audio system may default to radio only, with CD or DVD sources greyed out or missing from the menu.
  • Intermittent operation of the disc player, sometimes working and sometimes not, especially over bumps or in temperature extremes.
  • Other unrelated modules may log communication codes if the fault is on a shared bus segment.
  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, because the disc player is a convenience feature and the vehicle remains fully drivable.

Common causes, most likely first

  1. A blown fuse or poor connection at the disc player's power or ground circuit.
  2. Corroded, loose, or damaged wiring at the disc player connector or along the harness.
  3. A failed disc player or changer module that no longer communicates on the bus.
  4. A fault in the head unit or audio gateway module that is not properly polling the disc player.
  5. CAN bus wiring damage, such as a chafed or shorted twisted pair, between the audio modules.
  6. Low battery voltage or a weak charging system causing modules to drop off the bus intermittently.
  7. A software or configuration mismatch after a battery replacement or module swap.

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Verify battery voltage and charging system output, then clear the code and test-drive to see if it returns.
  2. Check the fuse and relay for the disc player circuit and confirm power and ground at the module connector.
  3. Inspect the disc player connector and harness for corrosion, loose pins, or chafed wires, repairing as needed.
  4. Perform a wiggle test on the audio harness while watching live data for the disc player communication status.
  5. Use a scan tool to check whether the head unit can see the disc player and whether other modules on the same bus are also missing.
  6. If wiring and power are good, substitute a known-good disc player or bench-test the original unit to confirm failure.
  7. After repair, clear codes and verify communication is restored across several drive cycles.

Why the disc player code appears when the radio works

  • A dead disc player often does not affect radio or navigation operation, so owners ignore the warning until a state inspection fails.
  • The letter suffix 'D' refers to a specific module address, and on some vehicles the same physical changer can be addressed differently after a replacement, causing a mismatch.
  • Water intrusion into the rear quarter panel or cargo area where changers are often mounted is a frequent hidden cause of this code.
  • A weak battery that still starts the engine can cause modules to drop off the bus and set U0190 without any hard failure.
  • Technicians sometimes replace the head unit when the actual fault is a single chafed wire in the trunk harness feeding the changer.

Can I keep driving with U0190?

This code does not affect engine, steering, or braking, so the vehicle is safe to drive normally. Avoid repeated key cycles or battery disconnects until the fault is diagnosed, as those can erase useful freeze-frame data and make intermittent communication faults harder to trace.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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