On Board Diagnostics
Auto diagnosis is a detection technology and considered as the most efficient way to solve auto problem including mechanical and electronic ones. On-Board Diagnostics, or OBD, refers to a vehicle's self-diagnostic and reporting capability. OBD systems give the vehicle owner or a repair technician access to state of health information for various vehicle sub-systems. The amount of diagnostic information available via OBD has varied widely since the introduction in the early 1980s of on-board vehicle computers, which made OBD possible. Early instances of OBD would simply illuminate a malfunction indicator light, or MIL, if a problem was detected but would not provide any information as to the nature of the problem. Modern OBD implementations use a standardized fast digital communications port to provide real-time data in addition to a standardized series of diagnostic trouble codes, or DTCs, which allow one to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle.
Auto diagnosis includes a lot of analysis procedures like scanning dash warning lights, engine problems, brakes problems, cooling system, battery, starting and charging system, fuel related problems, ignition and spark plugs, steering system, transmission, clutch, all lights system and air conditioning.
Engine Problems: contains problems like weak valve springs, engine noise, low oil pressure, engine oil leaks, engine vacuum leaks, and engine overheating and gasket failure. This kind of diagnosis finds the trouble codes that trigger check engine lights. Scan tools gives the ability to read enhanced codes, graph engine data, record and playback stored vehicle information.
The diagnostic scanner can read and erase trouble codes and retrieve live engine data of the vehicles, it also handles a lot of systems such as oil shut-off function. This tool is very easy to use and highly reliable and accurate diagnostic tool. The scan tool can also read fault codes and clear fault code memory, give detailed repair information for nearly every fault code, make component activation, adaptation and synchronization.
On the other hand, you no longer need to have several different tools to repair the many models of American and Asian vehicles coming into your shop. You will save thousands of dollars by using such a scan tool (like diagnostic scanner).
Diagnostic tools offer enhanced power train, ABS, Air Bag, and Body/Chassis coverage for a lot of manufacturers. It also offers hundreds of additional body and chassis controllers and parameters, and comprehensive bi-directional controls. It allows the user to view many different parameters on the screen at the same time.
The interrelationships between different parameters can be easily seen through multiple graphs, meters with min/max determination, or as a data grid, providing the user with the most comprehensive and functional look at live data possible.
OBD-II is an improvement over OBD-I in both capability and standardization. The OBD-II standard specifies the type of diagnostic connector and its pin out, the electrical signaling protocols available, and the messaging format. It also provides a candidate list of vehicle parameters to monitor along with how to encode the data for each. There is a pin in the connector that provides power for the scan tool from the vehicle battery, which eliminates the need to connect a scan tool to a power source separately.
However, some technicians might still connect the scan tool to an auxiliary power source to protect data in the unusual event that a vehicle experiences a loss of electrical power due to a malfunction. Finally, the OBD-II standard provides an extensible list of DTCs. As a result of this standardization, a single device can query the on-board computer(s) in any vehicle. This OBD-II came in 2 models OBD-IIA and OBD-IIB.
The OBD-II specification provides for a standardized hardware interface-the female 16-pin (2x8) J1962 connector. Unlike the OBD-I connector, which was sometimes found under the hood of the vehicle, the OBD-II connector is required to be within 2 feet (0.61 m) of the steering wheel (unless an exemption is applied for by the manufacturer, in which case it is still somewhere within reach of the driver).
In the long run, various tools (like AutoHex scan tool) are available that plug into the OBD connector to access OBD functions. These range from simple generic consumer level tools to highly sophisticated OEM dealership tools.