What does OBD mean in vehicle inspection?
2 Answers
The OBD in vehicle inspection refers to the On-Board Diagnostics system in emissions. The On-Board Diagnostics system continuously monitors whether the vehicle's exhaust exceeds standards through the engine's operating conditions. Once the standards are exceeded, it will immediately issue a warning. The On-Board Diagnostics system can also automatically monitor the operating status of the engine and diagnose the working conditions of other components on the vehicle. When a fault occurs in a certain system of the vehicle, the fault light will sound an alarm. The OBD device can simultaneously detect multiple systems and components on the vehicle, mainly including: the engine, catalytic converter, particulate trap, oxygen sensor, emission control system, and fuel system.
I've been driving a used car for several years, and it's the first time I encountered an inspection that checks the OBD. I asked my mechanic friend to understand it. OBD, called On-Board Diagnostics in Chinese, is that small square interface in the car, usually near the dashboard. During the inspection, the staff will plug in a special device to read data, checking if the engine emissions exceed standards, such as too many exhaust pollutants or hidden fault codes that haven't been fixed. This is much more accurate than just checking exhaust emissions, as it can read real-time oxygen sensor data. I remember during my last inspection, the OBD showed a P0420 code, meaning the catalytic converter wasn't working properly, and I had to fix it to pass. I suggest car owners use an inexpensive OBD scanner to check their cars before the inspection to avoid wasting time on rework. This thing is quite convenient—you can even download an app on your phone to connect and monitor your car's condition, preventing small issues from becoming big problems, ensuring safety and saving fuel.
