How do Engine diagnostics work?

Since 1996, every vehicle that is built to be sold in the United States must have the OBD-II computer operating platform. The OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) platform maintains your vehicle's efficiency and manages emmissions output. Basically, this system detects and informs the driver of malfunctions in the system that keeps your engine running efficiently with the least amount of emmissions. When there is a problem, the system will send a message to your engine’s ECM (Engine Control Module). The ECM uses sensors to monitor your engine and adjust emissions or engine timing when necessary. It will inform the driver when something is wrong by storing a fault code in the ECM memory; which in turn, prompts your "Check Engine" light to illuminate on the dashboard. A trained technician can hook up his/her computer to your ECM System to receive the error code and diagnose the problem.

 

 

 

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