What this code means
DSRC stands for Dedicated Short-Range Communication. It's the external module that lets roadside enforcement officers interrogate your tachograph remotely, without stopping your vehicle, as you pass a control point. It connects to the VDO DTCO 4.1 over the vehicle's CAN bus.
Code 85, DSRC communication fault, means the DTCO 4.1 has lost that CAN-bus link — logged as DTC 002D80. This is different from code 84 (internal DSRC fault), which flags a problem inside the module itself: code 85 is specifically a breakdown in communication between the two units.
What to do now
The manual gives two steps for code 85:
- Acknowledge the message on the display.
- If it recurs, have an approved workshop check the CAN bus parameters, the cabling between the DTCO 4.1 and the DSRC module, and the antenna connection.
There is no requirement to stop driving. Book the workshop visit at your next opportunity.
Your tachograph logs this fault — TAGRA reads it
TAGRA doesn't repair a DSRC communication fault — only an approved workshop can fix the wiring, connector or module behind it. But once code 85 is written to the tachograph's memory and your driver card, TAGRA finds it in your downloaded data, evaluates it and documents it — exactly what you need at a roadside check, and when you raise it with the workshop.
Stop looking up codes by hand — try TAGRA TRUCKER free for 30 daysWhy it happens
According to the manual, code 85 has three possible causes:
- A wiring or connector fault on the CAN link between the DTCO 4.1 and the external DSRC module.
- The DSRC module not responding on the bus — due to a power loss, internal fault, or configuration mismatch.
- Electrical interference or a loose connection disrupting CAN communication.
Because the DSRC module only handles remote roadside interrogation, a communication fault here does not interrupt the normal recording of driving, other work, availability or rest.
Can you keep driving?
Yes. Code 85 is classified as Low severity in the manual. It does not affect the tachograph's core recording function, and there is no requirement to stop the vehicle.
The only practical effect is that remote DSRC interrogation at a roadside control point may not work correctly until communication is restored — in that case an inspector simply carries out a normal in-cab check instead. Acknowledge the message, and if the fault recurs, have the CAN wiring, connector and DSRC module checked at your next approved workshop visit.
Also displayed as
Drivers across Europe see the same fault under different on-screen wording. These are the real search terms used for code 85:
- DSRC-Kommunikationsstörung 85 — German
- Erreur communication DSRC 85 — French
- Errore comunicazione DSRC 85 — Italian
- DSRC-communicatiefout 85 — Dutch
- Błąd komunikacji DSRC 85 — Polish
Related codes
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between code 84 and code 85?
Code 84 (internal DSRC fault) means the problem is inside the DSRC module itself. Code 85 (DSRC communication fault) means the module and the DTCO 4.1 can't talk to each other over the CAN bus — the module may be fine, but the link between it and the tachograph is broken.
Can I keep driving with a DSRC communication fault (code 85)?
Yes. The manual classifies code 85 as Low severity. It does not affect the recording of driving time, breaks or rest — acknowledge the message and book a workshop check if it recurs.
Does code 85 affect my driver card data?
No. The DSRC module and its CAN link only handle remote roadside interrogation — they play no part in recording your driving, other work, availability or rest, which is why the manual rates this fault Low severity.
What should a workshop check for code 85?
The CAN bus parameters, the cabling between the DTCO 4.1 and the external DSRC module, and the antenna connection, as instructed by the manual. A recurring fault points to a wiring or connection problem rather than a one-off glitch.