Equus 3130 - Scan Tool – OBD2 - Manual (Page 3)

Introduction
WHAT IS OBD?
OBD2 1
E
WHAT IS OBD?
The OBD2 Scan Tool is designed to work on all OBD 2 compliant
vehicles. All 1996 and newer vehicles (cars, light trucks and
SUVs) sold in the United States are OBD 2 compliant.
One of the most exciting improvements
in the automobile industry was the addition
of on-board diagnostics (OBD) on vehicles,
or in more basic terms, the computer that
activates the vehicle’s “CHECK ENGINE”
light. OBD 1 was designed to monitor manu-
facturer-specific systems on vehicles built
from 1981 to 1995. Then came the develop-
ment of OBD 2, which is on all 1996 cars and light trucks sold in the
U.S. Like its predecessor, OBD 2 was adopted as part of a government
mandate to lower vehicle emissions. But what makes OBD 2 unique is
its universal application for all late model cars and trucks - domestic
and import. This sophisticated program in the vehicle’s main computer
system is designed to detect failures in a range of systems, and can
be accessed through a universal OBD 2 port, which is usually found
under the dashboard. For all OBD systems, if a problem is found, the
computer turns on the “CHECK ENGINE” light to warn the driver, and
sets a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) to identify where the problem
occurred. A special diagnostic tool, such as the OBD2 Scan Tool, is
required to retrieve these codes, which consumers and professionals
use as a starting point for repairs.