Air Repair OBDII Review: February 2008

              AIR REPAIR OBDII REVIEW 2008 1
From the Editor’s Desk:
This publication has been assembled for the benefit of repair shop personnel who specialize in vehicle emissions
repairs. It is a compilation of articles that have appeared in Air Repair to help technicians better understand
particular aspects of the vehicle emissions program and the repair process. The editors of Air Repair hope
technicians find this publication a useful and ready resource to add to their technical libraries.
OBDII Overview
OBDII: A Quick Review....................................................................2
Setting Readiness to Pass the OBD Test........................................3
Don’t Turn That Light Off! ................................................................5
Readiness Monitors
Setting Monitors that Defy Standard Methods ................................6
Stubborn Monitors...........................................................................6
OBDII Readiness Case Study .........................................................7
The Unexpected is Just a Little Tougher to Fix................................8
Five-Time Reject – A Case Study....................................................9
ALL Enabling Criteria Must Be Present to
Run Monitors................................................................................9
Meeting the Enabling Criteria is Crucial ........................................10
Driving Isn’t Always the Fix after Eight Rejects ............................. 11
How Fast Am I Going?................................................................... 11
Tough-to-Run Monitors can be a Simple Fix .................................12
Catalytic Converters
Catalytic Converters and OBDII....................................................13
Transmission Codes
Transmission Codes ...................................................................13
Mode 6
Mode 6 Information .......................................................................14
Three Strikes and It’s Out..............................................................14
Communication Issues
How to Check a Vehicle That Won’t Communicate .......................15
How Important is Wiring? ..............................................................16
Clean Cables Could Mean a Clean Pass ......................................17
Keep Alive Memory (KAM)
Any Vehicle Can Pass the Test .....................................................17
A Lucky Solution to a Stubborn Problem.......................................17
EVAP
Mystery Solved–Vacuum vs. Pressure.........................................18
If the Light is On, the Vehicle is Broken........................................19
Air Repair Review is published
by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Ron Wohrle, Editor
Ken Beauvais, Editor
Send all address changes, mailing requests and
letters to the editor to:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Vehicle Emissions Test Program
PO Box 767
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0767
Phone: (847) 758-3434
Fax: (847) 758-3448
E-mail: epa.repair.outreach@illinois.gov
Volume 4 Number 1 February 2008
Repair Shop Management
Communication and Thorough Research Make
for Good Customer Relations.......................................................19
National Automotive Service Task Force......................................20
How My Shop Benefits from Emissions Testing ...........................22
Service Writer Praises Shop Management Seminar ....................22
I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends ..................................23
Thoughts from the Trainers ..........................................................26
Diagnostics
Diagnosing Dirty Injectors.............................................................24
FFV
E-85 & : What’s Fueling an Incomplete Monitor? .........................26
Quick Reference Information
Federal Emissions Warranties .....................................................27
OEM Service Web Sites ..............................................................27
Most Common Seen OBDII Issues & the Fixes (1996-2004 MY) ...28
Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV)..............................................................30
Outreach Information....................................................................32
How to Deal with OBDII Canadian Vehicles.................................34
Aftermarket Catalytic Converters .................................................34
Difficult-to-Set Readiness Monitors ..............................................35
OBDII Chart..................................................................................35
Air Repair OBDII Review
Table of Contents