Not having a detailed idea about a device present in your vehicle can be quite alarming and very dangerous, because no one can predict what may happen at any instance of time. What if there’s smoke coming out of the vehicle’s engine? What if the vehicle is producing cranky noises? What if there is something wrong with the fuel tank? This is where the OBD device comes to help, detecting any sort of misshapen. In this article, we tell you everything you must know about OBD-II devices.
What is an OBD device?
An On – Board Diagnostic device, in short OBD, is a standardized system that permits the external electronics to interact with any automobile. This device plays a very important role when it comes to the fuel monitor, engine temperature, emission standards, etc. The OBD device is mainly used to know whether the vehicle is running efficiently or not, along with being a reliable vehicle tracking system. It is very important to keep your vehicle maintained at all times and it is really necessary to take care of it in the most precise way in order to keep it in good shape, keeping in mind the safety of the environment, of course.
How does the OBD- II device work?
There are multiple sensors present in every vehicle; oxygen sensors, engine sensors, pressure sensors, and many more. A computer is fixed to the vehicle, which is the Engine Control Unit (ECU), to which these sensors send signals to. The ECU collects all these information and incorporates them to make the necessary fixtures in the elements of the vehicle.
If in case the information or the data provided by the sensors to the ECU is too far fetched or too complicated to understand, then a code called as Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is saved. Now, what is DTC? They are codes used by the manufacturer of the vehicle in order to interpret the problems occurring. The number that comes up first is known to indicate whether the code is in the for of SAE generic code, which applies to all OBD- 2 systems, or whether it is specific to the manufacturer.
A signal to check the engine is also sent. Once the light is switched on, and it doesn’t switch off, then that indicates that a problem has occurred. But as this is a minor problem, the car can keep going up to a certain distance. Once the light starts to constantly flicker, then this means that the problem has enlarged and the engine has been damaged. Therefore, immediate action needs to be taken. An example of a problem like this can be engine knocking.
Check the live location of your vehicle with LocoNav’s Vehicle Tracking System!
OBD GPS Tracker
This is a compact GPS tracker that can be plugged into any vehicle. This is plugged into the OBD port of a vehicle of a semi – medium duty size. It contains a built in antenna that receives the signals while pulling in power from the OBD port itself.
Also read: How Can a GPS Tracker for Car Benefit You
Also read: Our Guide to Preventing Bike Theft
Advantages of OBD-2 Device
- Finding The Root Cause of Issues
Back in the days, when automobiles weren’t manufactured with any sort of high mechanism, it was really easy to find out what exactly went wrong with the vehicle and it was easy to fix the problem as well. But now, as the industry uses high technology mechanism for vehicles, it takes some time to understand what exactly went wrong. But with the OBD- 2 device, one can easily find out what exactly happened and hence makes it easier and less complicated to fix it by going to the depths of it with the help of just one device.
- Save Money On Minor Repairs
Having a scanner on your vehicle saves a lot of money from the pocket. Major expenses like buying an engine or fixing a new radiator can be avoided by just going through the information that the device has consumed. Instead of replacing the equipment, a fixture can be made to the slightly damaged equipment. For example, if in need of a new engine, it’s going to pull a lot of money from the pocket, especially if it is for one of the high-end luxury cars. So instead, soothing it with oil will just work like it brand new. When you assume that the problem with your vehicle is huge and end up giving it to the garage for servicing, you will just end up paying an extra amount of money because they will charge you more by mentioning more damages when there are just one or two (this happens in some cases, not all). If it is something one can fix by themselves, then that saves a lot of money.
- They Are Easy to Use
Even though such devices are very technical, it’s not at all complicated to understand or use. With the OBD-2 device, all you have to do is plug it in, run, and learn the results through the screen. This helps in saving so much time and also is a much faster way to analyse the problem and also get to the bottom of the solution. Now that the devices can connect to laptops, a clear view of the situation is achieved and hence can be much easier to deal with the problem.
-
Compatible Across Vehicles
These devices can be used across multiple vehicles. There is no precise rule or condition that an OBD device shouldn’t be used for another vehicle. Back in 1996, manufacturers used to use a standard diagnostic method using the OBD- 1
device. But now, as the technology has advanced over time, the method and programming of devices will also change. That is when the OBD- 2 device came into the picture. This device has been designed in such a way that one tracker can be used multiple times. Even when a new vehicle is bought, there is no need to buy a new OBD device, because the already purchased one can be used just as well.
LocoNav offers you services for all your business needs, from Vehicle Tracking Systems, Fleet Management Software and Vehicle Telematics, along with FASTag. LocoNav helps you in optimising your operations and business while you focus on the growth of your enterprise!
Quick read: 10 Compelling Reasons Why You Need a Vehicle Tracking System
Quick read: How To Maintain Your Car With a Vehicle Tracking System