What Is OBD II? How Can It Be Used For Determining Car Problems?

by Jessica W. Writer

The OBD II (on board diagnostics two) is a diagnostic software present in all modern cars manufactured in and after 1996. It aids the vehicles in running smoothly and also allows mechanics to access information about different types of automotive problems. The software system consists of a port, and sensors located in various parts of a car for monitoring different activities. The port may be situated either beneath the dash or under the seat of the driver.

The OBD II software entirely monitors the functioning of a vehicle. Not only does it control certain activities of the engine, but also records each and everything happening while driving, be it good or bad. This information can be easily accessed by a mechanic by downloading diagnostic codes right from OBD II port. The codes retrieved from the system are translated for identifying the cause of any malfunction as well as fixing the problem.

In order to fix a car problem and access information from the OBD II about it, vehicle owners generally use automotive diagnostic tools. These simple equipment pieces, also known as OBD II scanners, can even be handled by car owners who do not wish to go to an auto repair shop. But there are certain requirements which need to be taken care of before proceeding with the task. Most scanner systems, such as Launch automotive diagnostics in Ireland for example, require to be connected with a laptop. They generally come with a particular software that has to be installed into the computer in order to get readings from the scanner.

Once the software has been installed successfully, the automotive diagnostic scanner must be connected to the OBD II port of the car. The port is more often situated under the dash beneath the steering wheel or below the driver’s seat. Going through the owner’s manual of the car can make it easier to find the port quickly. As soon as connection is established between the scanner and diagnostic software of the vehicle, a reading of the scanner can be taken by following instructions from it and the software on the laptop. A series of codes would then be sent to the laptop and displayed on its screen. By identifying them using a code translation sheet, the exact problem or reason of the problem can be effectively figured out. The car owner would then be able to determine the best solution for the issue, or take the car to a repair shop if needed.