First introduced in 1996, U.S. legislation requires all cars and light trucks since then to be compliant with the second-generation On-Board Diagnostic system that provides vehicle self-diagnosis and reporting capabilities for repair technicians. OBD 2 is a standard protocol that gives technicians access to vehicle electronic subsystem information to monitor engine performance and analyze repair needs. Starting in 2008, the requirements were updated to implement OBD 2 through a Controller Area Network (CAN) as specified by ISO 15765-4. The next update is scheduled to happen in 2027 and that’s good news for diagnostic technicians and something CTE instructors need to be aware of when training current and future technicians.

One of the best OBD trainers in the industry is Rick Escalambre and he shared his extensive knowledge of existing OBD diagnostics and outlined the changes coming soon at the 2024 ASE Education Foundation Instructor Conference. It’s the kind of cutting-edge training available to CTE instructors nationwide every year in July. In this episode, we talk with Rick about the upcoming changes to OBD 2 and the readiness monitor training he provided if you couldn’t make the conference this year. 

Hear all about it as Rick explains:

·         How he enjoys giving back by sharing his knowledge and information with working technicians and CTE instructors, even in retirement.

·         What his class on OBD 2 monitor testing involved and how he researches “OBD 2 between the lines” to help everyone keep up with the changes.

·         Why diagnostic and repair of a Check Engine light is the same for those in non-emission states as it is for those who require periodic emission inspections.

·         Why there is still much to learn on the OBD 2 system by working technicians and teachers.

·         What he covered in his readiness monitor diagnostic class.

·         The new Global OBD on UDS system and how it works.

·         How the new system organizes diagnostic information into convenient “packets” to provide more precise information for emission technicians.

·         The new ISO 14229 protocol scan tool manufacturers will build the necessary software updates to take advantage of the new protocol.

·         What the 14229 protocol means in terms of diagnostic information.

·         What to look forward to for his class plans for next year at the Instructor Conference.

For more information on ASE and automotive careers, visit the website at www.ase.com