A common misconception amongst motorists is that vehicle diagnostics is easy. Many think it’s as simple as connecting a tool that tells the technician exactly what’s wrong.
Of course, it’s not that straightforward! Trouble codes derived from the onboard diagnostics (OBD) only indicate the problem area and further diagnosis must always be carried out to isolate the actual cause.
Despite this, diagnostic trouble codes remain an important starting point and are required by many tools to start the fault-finding process. But what happens if you have no trouble codes – where do you start then?
For example, a five-year-old vehicle that had covered 60,000 km is brought into the workshop with an unusual unstable/erratic idle – the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) was not illuminated and no driveability issues were evident.
With the vehicle in the workshop and connected to an exhaust emission analyser, the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) readings were found to be higher than specified, indicating a rich mixture. As this commonly indicates an engine misfire, high fuel pressure or leaking injectors, the misfire counter data was checked first using diagnostic equipment, then oxygen sensors.
The oxygen sensor signal upstream of the catalytic converter was fluctuating correctly within the 0,2-0,9 V range and the oxygen sensor signal downstream of the catalytic converter was steady at approximately 0,4 V. Values showed no signs for concern and were well within specified parameters. Next the fuel pressure and fuel holding pressure were checked; again, all values were well inside specifications. While in the vicinity and as a precautionary measure the intake system was also checked to rule out any potential future issues.
After analysing all the data presented and having been reassured by the absence of trouble codes, technicians now needed to explore other potential mechanical issues. The spark plugs were removed and showed no obvious signs of wear. The engine compression was then checked as low cylinder compression should not be ruled out as a source of incorrect emissions. This revealed that each cylinder was producing approximately 130 psi (8,9 bar) of pressure – but would this test be sufficient to rule out any internal engine problems?
The engine cylinder leakage test is an excellent option to see how well a cylinder is sealing and pinpoint any problems. It is performed on a static engine by first positioning the piston of the cylinder to be tested at top dead centre (TDC) and then filling the cylinder with compressed air to measure any potential air loss.
An acceptable air loss of five to ten percent indicates an engine in good working order, but the engine can still run fine with a reading of between ten and twenty percent. Anything above twenty percent of air loss, however, indicates that it’s time to investigate. The percentage of air loss should also be consistent across the cylinders, with any great differences indicating a problem in that cylinder.
Illustration key: 1. Inlet valve, 2. Exhaust valve, 3. Head gasket, 4. Piston rings, 5. PCV valve, 6. Air inlet
As a guide:
The cylinder leakage test, in this case, showed one cylinder to have sixty percent air loss, whilst the remaining three showed readings well below twenty percent. When the cylinder head was removed and disassembled it was clear leakage had occurred past the valve seats and cylinder head repair was implemented. Once reassembled, a stable idle returned with all readings well within the parameters.
These simple basic tests identified a mechanical fault and ruled out components unnecessarily being replaced. In this case, the technician possessed the expertise to follow the correct path without fault codes to guide them – but access to an accurate, OE-manufacturer verified, and industry-trusted database of vehicle issues and known-fixes would have substantially reduced the time and cost spent on the repair.
As always, the quality of a workshop’s diagnostic tools is crucial. In addition to verified trouble codes, Autodata’s diagnostics assistant, Assist Me, provides workshops with systematic guidance as they carry out daily diagnostics. If a solution to a specific problem has already been identified and tested, this will immediately be suggested to the technician. If there is no known solution to the problem, the technician is able to use Autodata’s technical information to test the possibilities, identify the fault, and fix it.
Autodata’s workshop application for professionals has thousands of verified diagnostic trouble codes and explanations.