Re: Tried the Autothority chip?

["David Anderson" <anderson@msai.mea.com>]

On May 5,  8:54am, jchulani@tellabs.com wrote:
> Subject: Re: Tried the Autothority chip?
> Question:
>
> 	Can someone give me a brief explanation of what OBD I stands for?
>


OBD = On-Board-Diagnostics.  First, there was OBD-I.  (OBD "one".)  Then, all
cars built for the '96 model year (and after) must be compliant with OBD-II
(OBD "two").  Basically, it's just an effort for all auto-makers to standardize
the say data is retrieved from your car's computer.

Car's have had computers for a long time now, but they varied greatly from
manufacturer to manufacturer.  Recepticles from which you gathered data, the
diagnostic codes that were retrieved, and even the kinds of information
monitored were all different.  OBD-I is the first effort to consolidate all of
that.

With OBD-II, the computers on all cars monitor the same information, the
diagnosticcodes are all standardized..  The same data-retrieval computer can be
used to scan the codes on our VW's as on a Chevy with OBD-II.  And if the
computer returns a "2231" (for example), it means a problem with the
Idle-Air-Control Valve, whether it's a Porsche or a Pontiac.

Since OBD-II monitors many more systems on your car than OBD-I, it is presumed
that OBD-III will monitor that much more, and there's a lot of controversy
about infringing upon people's privacy.  Furthermore, there's a fear that with
increasing computer-control of our cars, it make it nearly impossilbe for the
aftermarket to offer us anything "legal" to make performance modifications...

There's even fear that OBD-III computers will include a transmitter so that
various government agencies may be able to keep tabs on us....  But, I think
that's an exaggeration.

That's about all I know...

Dave

anderson@msai.mea.com