Description of On-Board Diagnostics: Overview
OVERVIEWThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) began regulation of On Board Diagnostics (OBD) for vehicles sold in California beginning with the 1988 model year. The first phase, OBD-l, required monitoring of the fuel metering system, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system and additional emission related components. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (M IL) was required to light and alert the driver of the fault and the need for repair of the emission control system. Associated with the MIL was a fault code or Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) identifying the specific area of the fault.
The OBD system was proposed by CARB to improve air quality by identifying vehicle exceeding emission standards. Passage of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990 has also prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop On Board Diagnostic requirements. CARB OBD-II regulations will be followed until 1999 when the federal regulations will be used.
The OBD-II system meets government regulations by monitoring the emission control system. When a system or component exceeds emission threshold or a component operates outside tolerance, a DTC will be stored and the MIL illuminated.
The diagnostic executive is computer program in the Engine Control Module (ECM) that coordinates the OBD-II self-monitoring system. This program controls all the monitors and interactions, DTC and MIL operation, freeze frame data and scan tool interface.
Freeze frame data describes stored engine conditions, such as state of the engine, state of fuel control, spark, RPM, load and warm status at the point the first fault is detected. Previously stored conditions will be replace only if a fuel or misfire fault is detected. This data is accessible with the scan tool to assist in repairing the vehicle.
The center of the OBD-II system is a microprocessor called the Engine Control Module (ECM) which has two connector.
The ECM receives input from sensors and other electronic components (switches, relays, and others) based on information received and programmed into its memory (keep alive random access memory, and others), the ECM generates output signals to control various relays, solenoids and actuators.