Inspection station cannot connect to OBD2, but I can... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

eikeland · 11-01-2011, 02:21 PM

So, I went to get my '97 Camry (V6 XLE) inspected today. Everything passed, EXCEPT they could not connect to the OBD2 module. They said they couldn't even connect. I tried connecting with my Acton and I was able to connect as well as view live data... Since they couldn't connect, they didn't pass my inspection... I called the state (Rhode Island) to explain that I didn't think it was a problem with my vehicle. They said that the scan tools sometimes get power from a different pin and that I have a blown fuse. I checked the fuse that says OBD on it, and it looks fine to me (sometimes they can be a little hard to see if they are blown, but I don't know if there is another one. Any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks

Chris Crash · 11-01-2011, 02:43 PM

Try a different shop.

***Zembonez*** · 11-01-2011, 02:44 PM

No joke. That really bites. It sounds like their reader was faulty...

TedL · 11-01-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eikeland

So, I went to get my '97 Camry (V6 XLE) inspected today. Everything passed, EXCEPT they could not connect to the OBD2 module. They said they couldn't even connect. I tried connecting with my Acton and I was able to connect as well as view live data... Since they couldn't connect, they didn't pass my inspection... I called the state (Rhode Island) to explain that I didn't think it was a problem with my vehicle. They said that the scan tools sometimes get power from a different pin and that I have a blown fuse. I checked the fuse that says OBD on it, and it looks fine to me (sometimes they can be a little hard to see if they are blown, but I don't know if there is another one. Any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks

Assuming you didn't just get the car, I would suggest you go wherever you went last year for the same inspection.

eikeland · 11-01-2011, 07:14 PM

Thanks for all the responses. No, I didn't just get the car, I have had it for 10 years. I wanted to go to the mechanic I usually go to since I took the day off from work since I had a dentist appointment and wanted to get a few other things done (such as get it inspected). However, he needed at least 1 day notice, so I figured I'd go somewhere else and went to Midas instead.

I didn't argue (too much) with him since it was possible that I had a blown fuse. The fuse visually looked good to me, but I bought one of those little devices that checks fuses, and sure enough it gave a green light.

Midas said they had used their tool on 30 cars that day and that the problem wasn't on their end and told me to get it fixed. Well, as far as I am concerned there is nothing to fix.... I could go somewhere else, but then I got to pay the $39 again...

Chris Crash · 11-01-2011, 07:29 PM

Then bring it back and tell them to do it again. I don't know about your laws, but here, once you pay a shop the inspection fee, they have to keep re-testing at your discretion until it passes without charge.

eikeland · 11-01-2011, 09:07 PM

I can do one free re-inspection per RI law.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statute...31-47.1-11.HTM

I didn't want to go back to the same place before I had at least checked a few things and seen if anyone else has had the same problem since it would probably fail again.

eikeland · 11-01-2011, 09:28 PM

My Actron scanner/reader can read codes both when the car is running and when the ignition is just turned on. I am wondering if the pin they get their power of is only on when the car is running and they only tried when the ignition was on and therefore didn't have power... You would think they would have known that, but you never know...

88 LE · 11-02-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eikeland

I called the state (Rhode Island) to explain that I didn't think it was a problem with my vehicle. They said that the scan tools sometimes get power from a different pin and that I have a blown fuse.

Thats a bunch of bullshit. The connector for OBD-II is standardized.

Pin 16 = power
Pin 4 = chassis ground
Pin 5 = signal ground

Some scan tools require adapters or cards depending on manufacturer of vehicle, but I've only seen this on high end scan tools.

Scan tools do malfunction. Sometimes you have to unplug and plug back in, turn ignition on/off, turn scan tool on/off, etc...

If you get it tested at the same place, I'd bring your scan tool along and show them that you can connect just fine.

eikeland · 11-02-2011, 08:52 AM

It didn't make sense to me either what he said, but I am not mechanic. However, I think my Actron has a battery in it where it might get the power from. I will remove it and plug it in and see I get the same problem.

I have done an inspection there years ago and I don't think they need a special adapter for my car (I didn't get anything special for my Actron). I told him that I could show on that I was able to connect, but he wasn't interested in that. He said his computer was connected directly to the State Inspection division so he couldn't use mine anyway. The state said I could come to their head quarter and try it there, but that means taking time off from work and it shouldn't be this difficult to get this done....

I agree that scan tools sometimes fails, but they said they tried it three times.

eikeland · 11-15-2011, 05:59 PM

I checked the fuse, and it looked fine (I bought a fuse test kit), but I replaced it anyway to be on the safe side. I went back again yesterday, and now they were able to get a connection... I don't think the fuse was bad, but it's possible there was a bad connection. I guess I won't know, but I don't care since I finally got my inspection sticker and don't have to worry about it for another two years :-) I got 238k miles on it, so I probably don't have to get it inspected too many more times.