Here’s
how you can detect the exact problems of your engine by using OBD-II.
A
brief history
The
California Air Resources Board was the first instance when OBD or
On-board Diagnostics requirements were made mandatory. The mandate
was made public for their jurisdiction in California, USA (1991).
The
first generation system was only able to monitor the oxygen sensor,
engine control module, fuel delivery system and EGR system. It was
useful to track emissions but lacked detailed information for most of
the car parts.
OBD-II,
the second generation of the system was introduced in the year 1994
and is mandatory for every car since 1996. It is a fast and
sophisticated process that keeps your car running for years. OBD-II
also collects important data like throttle position, brake position,
vehicle speed, etc.
Troubleshooting
capabilities
If
your Check Engine Light is illuminated, you need to attach an OBD-II
tool to its port (every car has one) and activate scanning after
starting the engine.
The
tool comes up with a list of fault codes, with each code representing
different problems. For instance, code ‘P0300’ refers to a
cylinder misfire. Each code starts with a letter which indicates to
the referring system.
-
P- Powertrain refers to the engine, fuel system, transmission, ignition and emissions.
-
B- Body parts as in airbags, power seating, seat belts and more.
-
C- Chassis as in ABS, brake fluid, axles, and more.
-
U- Undefined codes are for other aspects of the car.
OBD-II
has more than 11000 fault codes and a few more manufacturer-specific
codes. Some OBD scanners have the definitions for the codes
preloaded. If you get only the trouble codes in your scanner, look
them up online to get an explanation. But, you can’t look up the
manufacturer codes online as different manufacturers have different
codes.
Sometimes
it gets difficult to track down a problem. A closer look at the
readings of your car's sensors might help you in such situations.
Still,
if you are unsure of the facts, visit a professional technician for a
car repair Harrogate
or any other place
in the UK.
Other
functions
Other
than diagnosing and troubleshooting purposes, OBD is used to keep
track of the data about the driver’s driving habit by the insurance
companies and vehicle fleet managers.
Reset
check engine light
If
you are done with the repair, reset the Check Engine Light by using
OBD scanners. The light turns off after you drive for a while.
In
a nutshell, OBD-II gives you the key to unlocking the secrets hidden
under your car dashboard. To diagnose and fix the issues, visit a
professional garage like HG Motors. They also offer a long list of
other car-related services like wheel alignment and balance, MOT test, oil change,
etc.
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