ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS(OBD)

BY
BAILADUGU NARENDRA
M-Tech AE (143705)
CONTENT..

• What is OBD?
• Classification of OBD based on standard interfaces
• How it works?
• Proposed OBD Monitoring Requirements
• Benefits
 What is OBD?
• OBD is the monitoring and fault
detection/notification process of the Powertrain
Control Module (PCM) related to the vehicle’s
emission control system and powertrain operation.

• microprocessor based OBD system is intended to

self diagnose and report when the performance of
the vehicle’s emissions control systems or
components have degraded.
 OBD consists of:

• PCM
• Related input and output components
• Monitored Emission Control Systems
• Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC)
• Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
– Commonly referred to as the “Check Engine” Light

.
 OBD
OBD is being extended to cover vehicle systems and
components as Vehicle body, chassis and accessories
such as air conditioning or door modules can now also
be interrogated to determine their serviceability as an
aid to fault diagnosis.
 Uses information from sensors.
 Mostly software that runs diagnostics in the
background
Standard interfaces

OBD-I:
The hope was that by forcing annual emissions testing, and
denying registration to vehicles that did not pass.

OBD-I was largely unsuccessful as the means of reporting

emissions-specific diagnostic information was not
standardized..
OBD-II:
OBD-II is an improvement over OBD-I in both capability
and standardization.
The OBD-II standard specifies the type of diagnostic
connector and the messaging format.
It also provides a component list of vehicle parameters to
monitor along with how to encode the data for each.
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.
How does OBD work?

Uses information from sensors to judge the performance

of the emission controls or any other component.

It can detect a malfunction of these various components

usually well before the driver becomes aware of the
problem through decrease in performance or mechanical
damage.
How does the driver know there is a problem?
When the OBD system determines that a
problem exists, a corresponding “Diagnostic
Trouble Code” is stored in the computer
memory.
The computer also illuminates a dashboard
light indicating “service engine soon” or “check
engine” or displays an engine symbol. This
light serves to inform the driver that a problem
has been detected and vehicle service is
needed.
.
 MIL
 What to look for:
 Possible colors: “Service Engine Soon”
“Service Powertrain Soon”
• Amber
“Check Engine”
• Red
• Standardized to
Amber 2004
 The ISO engine symbol may
be used alone or in
combination with above
 Must be located in or
near the dashboard area
Diagnostic Trouble Code

The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is displayed usually as a

5-character alphanumeric code. The first character is a
letter that defines which vehicle system set the code be it
Power train, Body, or Chassis.
P – means Power train System set the code
B – means Body System set the code
C – means Chassis System set the code
U – is currently unused but has been ‘stolen’ to represent
communication errors
DTC Structure
•EXAMPLE:
Diagnostic Trouble Code

•Figure : Example of fault codes

Potential Technologies for HD Diesel Engines in
2010
•Fig: The engine management unit (ECU) accepts inputs from a range of sensors
and controls the ignition timing, fuel injectors and EGR valve. The OBD scan tool
plugs into the ECU and displays a range of diagnostic information to aid
troubleshooting.
•Acura Vehicle
•Volkswagen Vehicle

•Courtesy OBDClearinghouse.com
Monitoring requirement

 Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)

• Should a malfunction
be detected, a warning
light will appear on the
vehicle's instrument
panel to alert the
driver
 Standardized Information
• When a malfunction is detected,
information about the
malfunctioning component is
stored
• Technicians can download the
information with a “scan tool”
• Information is communicated in a
standardized format so one tool
works with all vehicles
Various tools are available that plug in to the OBD
connector to access OBD functions

 Hand-held scan tools:

Professional hand-held scan tools
may possess more advanced functions
Access more advanced diagnostics
Access and control other control
units, such as air bag or ABS
PC-based scan tools and analysis platforms:
 A PC-based OBD analysis
tool may use a proprietary
adapter, or a more universal
adapter.
The interface will convert the
OBDII signals to serial data (USB
or serial port) standard to PCs.
The software then decodes the
received data to a visual
display.
 Monitoring of various systems of vehicle
The emission control systems integral with the vehicle
employ many sensors and actuators. A software program
housed within a microprocessor defines their actions.

Component monitoring:
The ‘component monitor’ is responsible for determining
the serviceability of these sensors and actuators.

Intelligent component drivers linked to the microprocessor

have the ability to enable/disable sensors/actuators, and
to receive signals.
The analogue inputs from the sensors are converted to
digital values within the microprocessor.

In combination with these component drivers, the

microprocessor possesses the functionality to detect
circuit faults on the links between microprocessor and
component.
Benefits of OBD
– Encourages design of durable emission control systems
– Aids diagnosis and repair of complex electronic engine
controls
– Helps keep emissions low by identifying emission
controls in need of repair
– Works for life of the vehicle
What vehicles have OBD today?

• All passenger cars, and small trucks

• Started in 1996 for gasoline and 1997 for diesel
• Over 120 million OBD II-equipped vehicles operating
in the United States today
Reference

• www.deq.state.or.us/aq/vip/pdfs/OnBoardDi
agnostics
• www.e38.org/OBDproc
• www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/jia_trnsprt_obd_e.
pd
• California Environmental Protection Agency
THANK YOU