Imagine starting your day early and you are bright, the car inspection day is here and the family ids accompanying you. Your daughter had informed you of the occurrence of the check engine light and you feel some sense of worry. The worry is partly due to the fact that your daughter has informed you of the state of gas in the car cylinder which has quite a little amount of gas.

Car broken

The fact that the engine light warning is not caused by the gas situation is one thing you make sure of. However, the gas is to be filled before going into the line for inspection. Sadly as it is, your car does not get to pass the inspection test with a full tank!

Though this comes with just the basic knowledge in OBD II scan tool use, which you are bound to learn from this write up, you can definitely use your tools to diagnose the trouble code on your car. So you can explore more and find out the step by step method.

Step 1: OBD II scan tool use

Since 1994, the second generation onboard diagnostic system Auto ECU Programmer has been used to replace the OBD I. It is the modern model which is mandated through the widespread industry regulation .the inability of this method to give trouble code scan results through blinks on the malfunction indicator light as it used to be in the former method of do it yourself (DIY) methodology, has been noted to be its greatest undoing.
ELM327 OBDII OBD2 Bluetooth Car Diagnostic Interface Scanner

The OBD 2 scan tool

Initially the minimum you could spend when you visited a mechanic shop could be estimated to hundreds of dollars. However, learning to do it yourself could save a lot of money and time. An OBD Scanner Tools is definitely what you will need despite most people not having it on their vehicles.

The failure of the vehicle to pass an emission scan test should not be surprising, especially when the check the engine light persists. The significant effect to the vehicle emission is likely one of the reasons which may be causing the reappearance of the check engine light. Because of its ability to be able to detect other problems which may not be related to the check engine light is one reason why the OBD I is very important.

For some number of drive cycles, there is usually a likelihood that the trouble code remains within the engine computer memory, thus causing the check engine light to com re on and off even after performance of the trouble codes repair. The problem could have been even the signal for evaporative emission caused by the failure by your daughter to tighten the gas cap. When you switch on your car the next time, the code may go off probably after the system erases the trouble code from its memory. However, immediate erasing is possible by using a scan tool.

The scan tool is the best way to help erase the trouble codes, especially taking into account the several trouble codes likely to be coded with the many problems noted. The computer monitoring system is also usually erased when the scan tool is used or a battery is disconnected. The cause of car inspection failure is likely caused by taking the car before the driver achieves enough drive cycles necessary for one scan session.

The work of an OBD 2 tester is not only work to show you where the most complicated problems are found but also the simplest issues to do with your engine. What the technician could be looking for therefore will be within your knowledge.

Step 2: Code deciphering process
Cracking-the-Code

Cracking the Code

There are signals like the switch position ,calculated load value, air flow sensors, throttle position, barometer readings, mass air flow, the fuel injection calibrations, ignition timings typical RPM, and the several engine operating data which are usually read using an OBD II scan tool. In some cases, when a trouble hiccup occurs during the drive, the capture mode within the OBD II allows for snapshot picture taking of the sensors for precision.

Step 3: Perform a sensor scan

The check engine light does not need to be triggered by certain trouble code that you are likely to detect with an improved scan process. The presence on the modern car model of the generic code PO713 can be an example of such codes recently discovered. It is usually called the high input or the transmission fluid temperature sensor circuit. The quick and complete failure of the transmission could be caused by the state of the transmission fluid running hot.
Check troble code step 3

Perform a sensor scan

With enhanced diagnostics, a scan tool can save you a lot of worry and effort. As we did, you can also trouble shoot from the driver’s seat.  With a simple push on the tester button, we managed to clear the trouble codes. However on recheck, the code was quickly back. With a reading of 131 Fahrenheit, a rather normal transmission temperature reading, we cleared looking at it again.

Sadly, a bad connection in the sensor circuit was the car diagnostic software. A defective error was what we discovered arising from the physical damage to wiring despite the wiring being good, was what we discovered on further pocking around.

Step 4: Choices of the scan tools

An OBD 2 is what you have if you have the latest car model. Though it may be generic and having several wires to connect, it does not mean it has to work with your car. The ones which may require software upgrade are usually the European latest models made in 1998 onwards. A case by case investigation can help unravel how the problematic Korean cars work.

The newest European models are hard to use with the upgraded OTC mind reader with chip for OBD I despite working well with Japanese and other older European cars in helping read generic OBD II domestic codes.

In the same vain as if buying a new OBD II model, the Actron scan tool for OBD I that has a plug in cartridge is easily upgradable to work like the OTC mind reader.

A programmable scan tool is produced by the Auto X-ray. With more tools on the way, the Chrysler command tests is one of the tools among the several  tools we have  to date tested that cover generic OBD II models which is also inclusive of the European codes. The internet will be the point of the software sale. Via a cable which is usually accompanying it at purchase, saving the scan tool software on your personal computer will be possible to the user after adown load.

Through the latest scan tool models, upgrading Auto X-ray scan tool coverage of the OBD I from one make to the next can be done electronically. It is just a matter of waiting before this scan tool which the professionals have had on their tools. Via the internet, CD-ROM and new cartridges, the upgrading of other scan tools to enhanced status and even better is quite possible.

With read codes and code erase function, the simple Actron CP9087 is the topmost scanner among the numerous OBD II scan tools from the Actron line. With this, you either get other code readings or nothing. A back probe adapter with a thin curved metal terminal is some of the connection points that come with this low cost device.  For a test connection, a wiring terminal is what is used to make the probe to be left to slip through a water sealed connector.

OBD II has had an off warranty system through the several years running to six full years when vehicles have been using this system. Basic introduction is what has been given to you because OBD II is a complex system. Logging codes and getting trouble codes has never gotten better with the OBD power train computer. Without a hook up, this computer will sadly tell you nothing.

Step 5: The data transmission system by the OBD II

With safety systems, suspension, transmission, air conditioning antilock brakes controls which are usually connected to other computers, sensors and switches which are known to circulate information are part of the heart of the modern vehicle’s communication s network within then modern power train computer system.
The data transmission system by the OBD II

The data transmission system by the OBD II

The technician has to evaluate the available information coming from the computer power train system given the fact that this is what is in charge of the whole system affecting the engine emissions. Though fewer live terminals, ranging to half a dozen are available, a 16 terminal diagnostic connector is the wire channel through which the information travels.

The protocol’s use call on the manufacturers to program scan tool to be able to read the given codes. This is because of lack of uniformity in the coding process. The problem arising with the modern European cars like cardiac arise from the lack of standardization, though efforts are being made to have one transmission protocol.

The four different types of data transmission enhance stuff versions including other pins made with manufacturer specific data readings like the vehicle diagnostic system are some of the known stand- and –data pins in a standard connector.

Compatibility issues of the OBD II scan tools are however not sorted by the plug and play notion as witnessed by those who have this household PC based system. It is sad that when expected to, some of the European and Korean cars usually don’t always work when needed to. The manufacturer websites are to be checked to know how to tell that you have the current scan tool.