N.J. Admin. Code § 7:27B-5.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:27B-5.6 - Procedure for the on-board diagnostics inspection

(a) The procedure for the OBD inspection, to be used to determine a motor vehicle's compliance with the OBD inspection requirements at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.5, is as follows:

1. Turn off the motor vehicle's engine and connect the analyzer to the motor vehicle computer via the DLC located on the motor vehicle;

2. If the DLC is damaged, missing or obstructed, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

3. Determine if the MIL is functional by briefly turning the motor vehicle ignition system to the KOEO position;

4. If the MIL is not functional, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

5. Start the motor vehicle and leave the engine running. Determine if the MIL remains illuminated while the engine is running;

6. If the MIL is illuminated with the engine running, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

7. The analyzer will attempt to communicate with the motor vehicle's OBD system;

8. If the analyzer cannot successfully communicate with the motor vehicle's OBD system, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

9. If the analyzer successfully communicates with the motor vehicle OBD system, it will then retrieve stored information relating to the identification of the motor vehicle and any malfunctions recorded by the OBD system;

10. If the analyzer determines that the OBD system or the motor vehicle is malfunctioning, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

11. If the analyzer indicates that the motor vehicle does not meet the EPA's criteria for "readiness," that is, if the vehicle's OBD system does not indicate that the critical number of supported readiness monitors have been set, the motor vehicle is deemed "not ready" for an OBD inspection and has failed the OBD inspection;

12. If the analyzer indicates that the motor vehicle is deemed "ready" and determines that all components of the OBD system are functioning properly, and the OBD system is not indicating any malfunctions of the motor vehicle, then the motor vehicle has passed the OBD inspection;

13. A motor vehicle that failed an initial OBD inspection for not having a properly functioning catalyst must, on reinspection, have its catalyst monitor set to ready and must meet all other criteria required to pass the OBD inspection.

(b) The OBD inspection procedure is largely a process whereby the motor vehicle testing equipment and the motor vehicle's OBD system interface and exchange information. As such, the description of the on-board diagnostics inspection procedure at (a) above is a brief, simplified description that does not contain explicit technical details. A more detailed flow chart version, reflecting the logic flow of pass and fail determinations within the procedure, as well as the Department's OBD equipment specifications, which contain additional technical details, are available electronically by contacting the Department's Bureau of Mobile Sources at (609) 292-7953.

(c) In the case of a motor vehicle that is equipped with an OBD system but that is not OBD-eligible, as determined by the Department in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.5(j), the procedure to be used to determine compliance with the OBD inspection requirements at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.5, is as follows:

1. Determine if the MIL is functional by briefly turning the motor vehicle ignition system to the KOEO position;

2. If the MIL is not functional, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

3. Start the motor vehicle and leave the engine running. Determine if the MIL remains illuminated while the engine is running;

4. If the MIL is illuminated with the engine running, the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection;

5. If the motor vehicle has failed the OBD inspection described in (c)1 through 4 above, the reinspection of the motor vehicle shall include a repeat of the procedure described in (c)1 through 4 above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:27B-5.6

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 2049(a), effective 10/3/2016