OBD ii question

[Rob]

in my '97 defender, i can scan codes as long as the ignition is on but the engine is not running.....however, ive been told that fopr ny state inspection, they require the engine to be running....anyone have info on this?? thx....

[mhansen]

I think there are different scanners that can get real time info from the OBD2 port, But the cheap scanners (like mine) only read trouble codes and can reset them

[artm]

I have an Innova Equus and can read codes while running. It also reads every 10-15 esconds. I also have a PC-based system that reads while running.

Of course inspection stations must read while running. How else would you get emissions numbers?

[Rob]

is that nec true? i thought the whole idea of the obd2 was that the sensors/monitors do all the worl while the engine is running and record it, possibly making it unneccessary to have it running for the inspection....the inspection could just be the retrieving of the obd2 info.....but like i said im not sure....

more important, any thoughts on why my scanner can read but only when not running? if i try to scan while running, i get an error.....thx...

[Rob]

ok the engine does have to be running...so any thoughts on why i can scan in the "accessory" mode, but not in the "on" mode or while the engine is running??

[artm]

You have a crappy scanner. What is it?

Wait a minute...what sort of error? I sometimes get spurious readings (P0000) initially while running but these are pending codes. Yes, my scanner reads pending codes. These P0000 codes never materialize into real codes.

[Rob]

according to british car services out of california, u need one of 3 specific scanners to read while the engine is running....

[artm]

...and those are???

What is yours?

At any rate, my Equus does it: pending codes, perpetual readings every 15 seconds, clears clearable codes and only $100.

It pays to do your research IN ADVANCE! :)

[Rob]

i have the equus (inova) scanner also....according to british car svcs the only scanners that will work properly when the car is running are rovercom, orthlogic, and t4 - spellings might not be correct.....

Follow-up Post:

they're spelled autologic and rovacom

[artm]

Ha! They're wrong. I have an Equus and I can read while running. In fact, when I first got it I would leave it on and drive around to notice its function. It beeps every 15 seconds as it reads continually.

Does yours beep like so?

What error message is displayed?

[Rob]

it doesnt beep but never does - it will try to read every 15 seconds....the error message is ERROR2, which is not in the manual....

[artm]

In all honesty you may have a defective Equus. Do the obvious - try yours in another vehicle or try another Equus in yours.

[Rob]

i hear u - thats what i did - i get the same result in 5 different scanners! (but none were one of the above 3 i mentioned)