Sup all,

Quick question. In GA, we need to get emission inspections and they have to connect to the computer via OBD 2 port. Went to 2 inspection places today and neither can connect to the computer. I got my oil changed today, and both places (and dealership) indicate that they reset the computer which will require about 100 miles of driving before the computer can connect to those external system and download data. How legit does this sound to you? This sounds legit to me, and as my car is an 02 RL with 64k miles on it (just got my 60k done a few months ago), I can't imagine there is a problem with the computer.

Thoughts?

 

The OBD2 port is inside the ashtray area. Its not hard to connect it.

I think they're full of it

 

No doubt. Both inspectors were able to connect the port, I know where it is. Just plugged in, restarted the car, tried connecting multiple times, but all failures.

I just can't believe that at 60k and even today the port was fine, but both inspectors can't connect to the computer through it.

 

Couldn't connect or the monitors were not all set? If your vehicle did not have the chance to run all the monitors then the emissions machine would not be able to pass the vehicle. Depending on manufacturer and driving conditions it could take 100 miles of driving to complete all the monitors. And since they cleared your PCM your vehicle will have to run all the monitors again.

 

The inspector's machine kept saying can not connect after plugging into the OBD port. What you're saying makes sense if there is sensor data that was wiped by the dealership when i got the oil change earlier in the data and that it takes time to build back up those data from monitoring. Obviously, you understand my lack of knowledge about this, but that's what this forum is for

Am I understanding you correctly? If so, then what the inspector told me about the "100 miles" is true.

 

Can't connect (?) probably means their system can't access your ECM via the OBD II port. That tells me there is something wrong with the data path to your ECM which should be warranteed because of the extended emissions warranty. Check your owners manual to see how many miles and years you have - it's probably 8 years or 80,000 miles whichever comes first. Else you'll probably need to get a remanned ECM installed.
And the 100 miles is rubbish. Their equipment is only looking for stored error codes which the dealer would not have cleared during a normal service visit.

 

Hey wanted to update everyone. Took my car in again to the same inspector. Same failure again. Then the guy says "let me go get my super cable". He plugged in and was able to read, so definitely was a failure with the cable. My bet is he was using some slightly different style that perhaps didn't connect all pins on the OBD port. Just FYI for anyone else who has to suffer through the emissions inspection process.

 

So after this guy hooked up his "super cable" were you able to do the emissions test? As far as emissions machines work an OBD II cable is an OBDII cable unless it is bad. Emissions machines all work off a standardized pin in the DLC(the connector in your car). That pin is different from what the two pins that manufacturer or dealer uses to communicate to the car with their scan tool(oem computer).

 

Yeah exactly right. He hooked up his "super cable" and then could connect. I don't know jack about how it works to be honest, but I'm in the IT industry and have definitely seen lack of standardized cables cause issues. With you saying there is a standard cable, then my guess is that they were using a shitty cable with high latency and as he plugged in a higher quality cable, it worked. I do live in the country though lol so that may be expected