Advanced Emissions and On-

Board Diagnostics (OBD)

Chapter 47

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Objectives
• Describe the operation of on-board diagnostic
systems
• Explain the differences between OBD I and
OBD II
• Interpret OBD II scan tool data
• Describe the operation of OBD II monitors
• Use a scan tool to verify the running of various
OBD II monitors

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Introduction
• Government involvement in emission controls
and fuel economy
– Drives technology advancement
• Objective of modern on-board diagnostics
– Air-quality improvement
– 90% of emissions occur during warm-up
– Early computer-controlled: required 176°F to
achieve closed loop
– 1996: closed loop achieved at 68°F with OBD II
within seconds of startup

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 History of On-Board
Diagnostics
• 1988: OBD I legislation began with cars sold in
California
– California has toughest emission laws
• Since 1994: air quality in Los Angeles basin has
been improving
• Today OBD legislation national
– 1997: OBD II required on all cars built in U.S.

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 OBD II Operation
• OBD II detects exhaust and evaporative
emissions in excess of 1.5 times FTP
• FTP measures emission in grams per mile
– Hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and oxides of
nitrogen
• Extra hardware is required
– Heated O2 sensor and misfire detection capability
– 16-pin data link connector
– Evaporative system monitor
– Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) monitor
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) Standards
• Standard communication protocol
– Specifies protocol used to communicate between
computer and scan tool
• Standardization of terms
– Lists common names for all components that
serve a similar purpose
• Standard diagnostic connector
– Requires a universal DLC for reading DTCs
• Generic scan tool
– Scan tool used on different makes of vehicles
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Society of Automotive Engineers
(SAE) Standards (cont'd.)
• Standard diagnostic trouble codes
– SAE J2012: SAE-approved list of generic DTCs
• Common diagnostic test modes
– Scan tools have global and enhanced portions
– Enhanced side requires VIN input
• Includes manufacturer-specific menus and data
– Global is generic
• Includes 15 modes
• Only modes one through nine are used

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Trouble Codes and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
• MIL must illuminate if emissions exceed 1.5
times the federal standard
– OBD II deals only with emission codes
– Generic scan tool might read 50 fault codes
• Manufacturer’s tool might read hundreds
– DTC is stored in computer’s non-volatile RAM
– Warm-up cycle occurs every time the engine
cools off and temperature rises 40°F
• Code erased after 40 warm-up cycles

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Trouble Codes and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (cont'd.)
• Trip requires ignition switch to be off for a while
– Emission control monitors operate to complete
one trip
• Enabling criteria include monitors
– Engine misfire and catalyst efficiency
– Fuel system
– O2 sensor
– EGR
– Evaporative system
– Air injection
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Trouble Codes and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (cont'd.)
• During drive cycle engine must enter closed
loop
– All trip monitors must operate
• Same fault must be detected during two drive
cycles to light MIL
– First time DTC enable criteria are met: pending
code is set
– Second consecutive occurrence of the fault
illuminates the MIL
• Some scan tools read pending codes

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 OBD II Codes
• DTCs have five characters
– First character: letter that identifies the area of
the vehicle
– Second character: zero is generic and one is
assigned by manufacturer
– Third character: one to eight represents vehicle
subsystem
– Last tow characters: represent the fault code

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 OBD II Codes (cont'd.)
• Expanded numbers
– P2XXX and P3400–P3999
• Types of DTCs
– Two emission related and two are not
• OBD are separate programs within the
computer
– Computer decides which signals are rational

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 OBD II Diagnostic Testing
• Monitors look for malfunctions
– Continuous: operates when engine runs
– Non-continuous: tests once per drive cycle
• Readiness indicators
– Tell if OBD II monitors completed since KAM last
cleared
• Incomplete monitors result in failed test

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

OBD II Diagnostic Testing (cont’d.)
• Monitor tests
– Comprehensive component monitor
• Continuous monitor
• Looks at electrically controlled emissions devices
– Evaporative emission leak check monitor
• No leaks larger than end of a ballpoint pen
• Done by pressure or by vacuum
– EGR monitor
• Checks electronic components that direct vacuum
or measure opening of the EGR valve

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

OBD II Diagnostic Testing (cont’d.)
– Fuel trim monitor
• Operates continuously when fuel system in closed
loop
• Compares fuel trim to O2 sensor signal
– Heated oxygen sensor monitor
• Changes the injector pulse width while checks
upstream oxygen sensor
• Checks for fast enough oscillating frequency

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

OBD II Diagnostic Testing (cont’d.)
– Sensor identification
• O2 sensor is identified by code resulting from
monitor test
– Oxygen sensor heater monitor
• Tested electronically
• Tests right away in drive cycle
– Misfire detection monitor
• Continuously detects when engine slows
momentarily due to misfire
– Type A misfires
• PCM is more likely to flash the MIL
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
OBD II Diagnostic Testing (cont’d.)
– Type B misfires
• Typical monitor allows two- to three-percent
random misfiring
• After one more drive cycle, a code is set
– Secondary air injection monitor
• Higher engine compression increases NOX, which
provides more O2 for conversion in the cat
• Test is done at startup when air is needed
– Thermostat monitor
• Used since 2000 model year
• Enabled in drive cycle after engine is off two hours
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
OBD II Diagnostic Testing (cont’d.)
– Positive crankcase ventilation system monitor
• Required since 2004 model year
• Detects disconnected, damaged hose, or
restriction in hose or valve
– Catalytic converter monitor
• Other monitors must run before catalytic converter
monitor runs
• Detects switch ratio
– Mode $06 Data
• Tells which tests have been run
• Test results
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Emission Testing Programs
• Enhanced testing
– Used in areas with higher smog levels
• Rich or lean conditions must be addressed
before diagnosing NOX failures
– Lean air-fuel ratio increases NOX when it causes
preignition
• Rich mixture does not increase NOX but resulting
misfire increases CO
• O2S must be fast enough in repeated transitions
from rich to lean and must be within calibration
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Emission Testing Programs
(cont'd.)
• Propane enrichment test
– Run at 2,000-2,500 rpm for one second
– Shut off propane while system is still rich
– DSO reading should flatline lean
– Inject a quick burst of propane while pattern is
lean
– Voltage should rise from lean to full rich in less
than 100ms

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning