OBD-III

As covered in the last section, OBD-II does a good job of monitoring for malfunctions. So good that emissions experts are looking into the possibility of eliminating the annual tailpipe test if they could figure out a way to get a customer to bring a car in for repair when the MIL illuminates. This next generation of OBD-II cars that report malfunctions are usually referred to as OBD-III cars. The implementation of this type of system is a long ways off, not because of the technology, but because of civil liberty, freedom, and liability issues. The goal of OBD-III is to minimize the time delay between detection of a malfunction by the OBD-III system and the actual repair of the vehicle. Some of the reporting technologies that are being studied are:

External Signal

The car would have some type of external indicator (like a light) that would indicate the car was being driven around with an illuminated MIL. Apparently the Visit Our Website: www.tech2tech.net Page idea was to "shame" the owner into getting the car fixed. The civil liberties organizations and the manufacturers are fighting this one. This idea will not be one that will make it!

Driveability Modification

The idea to start having the car change its driveability the longer the owner went without getting the car fixed. Something like slowly reduce the top speed until the car is repaired. The civil liberties organizations and the manufacturers are fighting this one too and it is highly unlikely that this idea will be used either.

On-Board Transmitter

If there is ever going to be an OBD-III, it will probably use an on-board transmitter to report a MIL light on. The technology is available to handle this. The most likely version will be the use of a roadside receiver to "query" cars as they pass. GM Hughes Electronics has already tested a roadside unit that can check every car on an eight lane interstate going 100 MPH. A violating car will transmit its VIN and stored DTCs to the roadside receiver.