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On-Board Diagnostic - OBD II
In response to the Clean Air Act of 1970, the government started to define and enforce emission standards and maintenance requirements for vehicles. To meet these new standards, car manufactures created their own OBDI implementations, using computers, sensors, and actuators.
In an effort to continue to improve emission standards and diagnostics and monitoring standardization, the EPA and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) worked together to produce the OBD-II standard. In January, 1996, this standard was adopted by the EPA and CARB (California Air Resources Board).
In essence, OBDII compliant cars are constantly monitoring and regulating the car’s engine to ensure that emissions meet the requirements of this new standard.
Related Links
- OBDII - OBDII Information
- Wikipedia - Protocol Discussion
- NAPA Institute of Automotive Technology - OBDII Discussion
- AutoTap - OBD II and Emissions Testing
GeekDIYMechanic - Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Overview