What is the reason for the OBD not connecting during vehicle inspection?
2 Answers
The reason for the OBD not connecting during vehicle inspection is that the vehicle's OBD interface may contain dust, which needs to be cleaned before reconnecting. Contents of regular annual inspection: Check whether the engine, chassis, body, and their ancillary equipment are clean, complete, and effective; whether the paint surface is uniform and aesthetically pleasing; whether the main assemblies have been replaced and match the initial inspection records; and verify whether the vehicle's braking performance, steering control, lighting, exhaust, and other safety performance meet the requirements of the "Technical Conditions for Safe Operation of Motor Vehicles". Conditions for regular annual vehicle inspection: Vehicles whose condition does not match the records on the driving license or archives; vehicles with damaged, incomplete, or illegible license plates or driving licenses, or those with self-made license plates; vehicles that have been modified, remodeled, or undergone technical transformations without completing the necessary approval and modification procedures.
Last year during my vehicle inspection, I also encountered the issue of OBD not connecting. Later, I found out it's quite common. The first reason is a dirty interface—dust and debris blocking the port can prevent the device from reading data. Secondly, poor contact in the connector is another issue; daily vibrations in many cars can loosen the port, requiring a firm press to establish a connection. Another key point is to turn the key to the ignition position without starting the engine—the dashboard lights should come on to indicate readiness. If none of these are the problem, it might be a blown fuse or a frozen body control module. In my case, it was an interface issue, and the 4S shop technician fixed it by blowing compressed air into the port. It's advisable to regularly clean the OBD port to prevent dust buildup.
