Safe Speed Forums

What exactly is onboard diagnostics and just whats it go to do with road safety?

Onboard Diagnostics is a method whereby an engine management computer uses known sensor values to replace those of a faulty sensor whilst flagging up a fault code so that you can go and get it fixed at some garages extortionate cost.

At present, there are at least two standards that i know of, OBD1 and OBD2.
The difference between the two is largely the degree of engine monitoring that can be performed, with obd2 being significantly more complex than its predecessor.

So what? You still havent found out what road safety and onboard diagnostics have to do with each other, well thats because theres a newcomer in the pipeline, OBD3.

Obd3 is going to have some super functions that you just wont be able to do without.
OBD3 is a proposal designed to minimise the delay between detection of an emissions malfunction by obd2 and repair of the vehicle.
Initially upon reading this i thought that it was more to do with "saving" the planet until i read a little further.

Quote:
"In the service of this, the two basic elements are the ability to read stored obd2 info form in use vehicles and the authority to direct owners of vehicles with fault codes to make immediate repair.
There are 3 proposed ways to send/receive the data: Roadside reader, local station network and satellite." Unquote.

The true nature of Onboard diagnostics3 becomes somewhat more apparent in the next quote.

Quote:" Proposed enforcement mechanisms include the following:

Incorporate into biennial i/m program (read fault code to screen for
vehicles that need complete testing, pass or short test for vehicles with no fault code).
Out of cycle inspection ( compile and screen data, mail notice to vehicle owner requiring out of cycle inspection within 10 days, require certificate of compliance on next registration/resale within 30 to 60 days, issue citation for non compliance via court or dmv (fpn) penalty at next registration, and so on).

Roadside pullover (chp flags down vehicles with fault codes, tehnician verifies problem by inspection/testing of vehicle, issuance of notice requiring out of cycle inspection etc)." Unquote.

Thats not even the half of it.
In the US the concept of obd3 is packed with legal issues as it imposes sanctions based on "suspicionless mass surveillence" of private property.
Presumably no such issues will be allowed to impede its usage in the Uk if current practices by the scamps and authority in general are any kind of example.

Quote:" the concept includes random, probably frequent testing. There would be no in advance knowledge of an impending test. The results of testing would not be immediately known (unless pullover follows).
There might be no opportunity to confront or rebut, and there is the possibility of the systems use for other purposes; police pursuit/immobilization, tracking and to cite speeders." Unquote.

Amazing isnt it the degree to which perversion of a totally innocuous system occurs whenever the authorities are let loose on something?

Theres very much more written in this piece regarding transponders etc to allow police to track and immobilise vehicles via the management system, all the more surprising that it should crop up in a book that primarily is about making your car very much faster/powerful using engine management tweaks and techniques.

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"Safety" Scamera Partnerships;
Profitting from death and misery since 1993.

Believe nothing- Question everything.

I reckon classic car prices will start going up soon!

And as information becomes more comprehensive- the systems used to impart that data in a set period will become more complex -- not exactly the best place to put complex electronics

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

IMHO all this computer/electronics technical gubbins should be confined to aiding the detection and correction of car faults.

In no way should it be used to check up on a driver's use of the car and be accessible by the government or any of its agencies, with the possible exception of providing relevant information in the event of a serious accident.

The car makers have no business to be building any driver monitoring type stuff into cars, toadying up to the government and its control freakery. They should jolly well rmember who it is that keeps them solvent - and from what I hear quite a few of the big companies are not too secure in that respect!

Best wishes all,
Dave.

Ah, if only they could do that.

All they ever seem to be able to find are faulty sensors, and only then after the very expensive (but perfectly OK) part they were supposed to monitor has been replaced.

Ah! You mean Vauxhall?


No I didn't buy one, I just have to drive one every day........(for my sins).

I, and several million others it seems, are driving around with indicated sensor faults which are totally false.....


Still it keeps the money coming in........ 'just glad that I'm not paying.


Don't worry Deltaf, If Vauxhall have anything to do with it, it'll never happen!......

TripleS wrote:
IMHO all this computer/electronics technical gubbins should be confined to aiding the detection and correction of car faults.

And does it do that too??
And did someone mention Vauxhall -

Not to mention all the other stealers (main dealers) ,who love car faults -

"We need to read the fault code ,sir --that'll be £xx ,before we get round to fleecing you for the bits we need to change ,just to make sure we're right ".

Sound familiar - in my case with my last car (Vauxhall) the xx was 60. So remembering i had AA cover, i called them - turned out to be a plug that had misfired.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Ahh, VX aren't all that bad, you just have to know how to sweet-talk them into whipping out the Tech2 without wanting to see the size of your wallet first... When our last Omega was suffering from a dodgy ABS/TC control module, which was giving all manner of intermittent faults and warning prompts, we must have had it down to our local dealer a good half-dozen times trying to trace the fault, yet I think we only ended up paying for the first attempt. Granted, considering the material and labour charges involved in replacing one of those modules, I suspect they weren't too bothered about giving us a few freebies if it meant we gave them the replacement work instead of taking their diagnosis to another garage to get it done!

There's good and bad dealers in every network, and good and bad employees in every dealership - if you're lucky you'll only ever find yourself dealing with the good guys, and be wondering why the unlucky ones have such a low opinion of the exact same dealership you think is wonderful...

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Chris

Ah! ......... There you are! Sorry, I'd literally "lost the thread" as it were........


Vauxhalls? ....... Yes well, my experience is: if you get a fault light ......... Ignore it for a while, and one morning it will simply ...... Go away!


(I wonder how they do it?).............. How on earth do they know which one to fix?........

Back to the TARDIS.

Exit 10 years ago - engine run rough, misfired - first step - pul out the plug. But then Vauxhalls used the large ones (25mm??) which gave no problems, never fouled .They did use these small ones many, many moons ago - and they did give problems - so why return to old technology , unless profit is an incentive.OH-YES - £60 an investigation - thats how they do it.Unless you get the AA /RAC to come out.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on