The US government introduced legal standards in 1996 for all manufacturers to follow this standard was OBD II.ĭespite it being an American format, most tools for sale in the UK go by the same name. The original OBD system was in operation pre-1996 in the United States. EOBD2 or EOBDIIĮOBD2 is not an updated system but a second-generation EOBD that has access to manufacturer-specific features available on more advanced EOBD tools. Each car has a universal socket that allows a scanning tool to retrieve fault codes and readings. The EOBD system was introduced in 2001 for petrol cars in Europe (2003 for diesel models) to measure engine emissions. EOBDĮOBD is the abbreviation for European On-Board Diagnostics. They come with a few different names, but they each perform, pretty much, the same job. Mechanics have special state-of-the-art tools that plug into your car that read the fault or error codes. Your car’s on-board diagnostic system-or OBD for short- monitors everything that goes on in your ECU and delivers fault or trouble codes via a plug-in device. Think of these codes as symptoms that the mechanic can utilise to find out what the real problem is.ĭriving the car, you could also be aware of symptoms, for example, poor acceleration, stiff suspension, heavy steering, and any other anomalies in your car’s performance.
The codes won’t tell the mechanic how to repair the car, only offer which components have triggered a fault. Armed with this new information, your mechanic, with their wealth of experience and knowledge, will perform a deep-dive into locating the real problem. So, what happens with that warning light when you take your car to a garage? The car diagnostic check and your on-board diagnosisĪ car diagnostic test will deliver details from your car’s many sensors to alert your technician to which component isn’t working correctly.
Once repaired, the mechanic can also clear any fault codes and warning lights. Trained technicians and mechanics can then access the fault codes to determine the component that isn’t operating correctly.
When a sensor delivers a fault, the code is stored in your car’s computer system. Your ECU monitors your major engine functions, electrical components, and measures your vehicle emissions. Your ECU is where each of your engine’s sensors reports anything amiss, and if there’s a problem, it will illuminate an appropriate warning light on your dashboard. This is your car’s brain-an on-board computer known as the Engine Control Unit. Your ECU and the car engine diagnostic testĮvery car rolling off a production line today will have an ECU. Vehicle diagnostic testing-saving time and money.What is the average cost of a car diagnostic test?.What issues can a car diagnostic service detect?.The car diagnostic check and your on-board diagnosis.Your ECU and the car engine diagnostic test.