Methods and apparatus for engine diagnostics

• US 6,615,160 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corp (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Motor Coperation of America
• Inventors: Szukala, Lester M., Quinnett, Wilbur V., Koerner, Scott A., Bylsma, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US09/430,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/60, 702/61, 702/62, 702/64, 702/65, 702/80, 702/119, 702/123, 702/124, 702/183, 702/185, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.106, 702/FOR.134, 290/40, 324/399, 324/426, 701/1, 701/115, 123/406, 123/357, 123/361, 123/363
• US Class Current: 702/185
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/30 Circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/12 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/18 Packaging of the electronic circuit in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/00 Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents F02D43/00 takes precedence ; control of engine starters F02N11/08, electrical control of engine ignition timing F02P5/145
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for testing operation and diagnosing faults in an engine including an electronic control unit. A diagnostic computer is coupled to the electronic control unit and displays engine testing and diagnostic text messages in any one of a plurality of selectable languages, energize ignition circuits on demand, display menu screen displays associated with engine testing, diagnostics and service, and generate summary screen displays and reports for later use.

Claims

1. A diagnostic method for an engine including an ECU, the method utilizing a diagnostic computer including a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling the computer to the engine ECU;

operating said computer through a plurality of a screen displays relating to engine diagnostics and testing, said screen displays generated on the display screen, at least one of said display screens requiring selection between

(a) provision of service reports and

(b) provision of an item of engine component information, or

(c) return to a display

displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more displays on the monitor allowing printing of a service report including a printed record of a plurality of switch positions of the engine.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying a service utilities menu screen display, said service utilities menu display facilitating assistance with replacement of a current ECU.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein such assistance includes extracting at least one engine specific piece of information from a memory of the current ECU, storing such extracted piece of information in memory associated with said computer and subsequently transferring such stored piece of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein such assistance includes extracting multiple engine specific pieces of information from a memory of the current ECU, storing all extracted pieces of information in memory associated with said computer and subsequently transferring all stored pieces of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein such assistance includes extracting all engine specific pieces of information from a memory of the current ECU, storing all extracted pieces of information in memory associated with said computer and subsequently transferring all stored pieces of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing, responsive to selection of engine component information, assistance with replacement of a current ECU with a replacement ECU.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said assistance includes extracting multiple engine specific pieces of information from a memory of the current ECU, storing such extracted pieces of information in a memory associated with said computer and subsequently transferring such stored pieces of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said engine assistance includes extracting all engine specific information from a memory of the current ECU, storing all such extracted engine specific information in a memory associated with said computer and subsequently transferring all such stored engine specific information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising conducting a diagnostic test and providing a screen display showing a plurality of service fault codes and including all of said plurality of service fault codes in said service report.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said item of engine component information includes fuel injector serial numbers and said processor is programmed to cause a screen display of said injector serial numbers on said monitor in response to selection of provision of an item of engine component information.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said processor is programmed to cause a screen display of said injector serial numbers on said display screen in response to selection of provision of engine information.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of:

causing, responsive to selection of provision of service reports in response to said screen display requiring selection, a second screen display allowing selection between one or more saved service reports and a current service report.

15. Apparatus A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein operating said computer causes a screen display allowing selection between printing a saved service report, viewing a saved service report, viewing a current service report, printing a current service report and saving a current service report.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a name of an owner of the engine.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a model number of the engine.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a serial number of the engine.

19. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of an ECU program number of the engine.

20. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of ECU version number of the engine.

21. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of switch positions, and said service report includes at least one switch position from said display screen.

22. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing switch positions, said service report including all said switch positions.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of sensor positions, said service report including a plurality of sensor positions from said screen display.

24. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing sensor positions, and said service report includes at least one sensor position from said screen display.

25. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing sensor positions, said service report including all sensor positions from said display screen.

26. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing an engine speed profile and said service report includes said engine speed profile.

27. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing an engine speed and said service report includes a profile which includes said engine speed.

28. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test involving various engine speeds producing a screen display showing an engine speed and said service report includes an engine speed profile showing various engine speed ranges in RPM and the percentage of time during the test that the engine speed was in each engine speed range.

29. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a service fault code and said service report includes said service fault code.

30. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of service fault codes and said service report includes said all of said plurality of service fault codes.

31. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising saving the service report to a memory unit operatively connected to said processor.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of causing, responsive to selection of provision of engine component information a second screen display that facilitates an injector serial number screen display.

12. A method in accordance with claim,wherein said engine is a marine engine.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said engine is an outboard engine.

33. Apparatus for diagnostic operation of an engine including an ECU, said apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to be coupled to the engine ECU;

a display screen coupled to said processor;

said processor is programmed to cause a screen display on said display screen to require selection between;

(a) provision of engine specific service reports,

(b) provision of a specific item of engine component information, and

(c) return to a prior display

said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing an engine profile and said service report includes said engine profile.

34. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a printed record of a plurality of switch positions of the engine.

35. Apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing switch positions, and said plurality of switch positions in said service report includes at least one switch position from said screen display.

36. Apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing switch positions, and said plurality of switch positions in said service report includes all switch positions from said screen display.

37. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a printed record of a plurality of sensor values.

38. Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing sensor positions, and said plurality of sensor positions in said service report includes at least one sensor position from said screen display.

39. Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing sensor positions, and said plurality of sensor positions in said service report includes all sensor positions from said screen display.

40. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said specific item of engine component information includes assistance with replacement of a current ECU with a replacement ECU and said processor is programmed to extract at least one engine specific piece of information from a memory of the current ECU, to store such extracted piece of information in memory associated with said processor and to subsequently transfer such stored piece of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

41. Apparatus in accordance with claim 40 wherein said processor is programmed to extract multiple engine specific pieces of information from a memory of the current ECU, to store such extracted pieces of information in memory associated with said processor and to subsequently transfer such stored pieces of information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

42. Apparatus in accordance with claim 40 wherein said processor is programmed to extract all engine specific information from a memory of the current ECU, to store all such extracted engine specific information in memory associated with said processor and to subsequently transfer all such stored engine specific information to a memory of a replacement ECU.

43. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing a service fault code and said service report includes said service fault code.

44. Apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing a plurality of service fault codes and said service report includes all of said plurality of service fault codes.

45. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said engine is a marine engine.

46. Apparatus in accordance with claim 45 wherein said engine is an outboard engine.

47. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said specific item of engine component information includes fuel injector serial numbers and said processor is programmed to cause a screen display of said injector serial numbers.

48. Apparatus in accordance with claim 47 wherein said processor is programmed to cause storage of nominal service replacement injector settings in said ECU in response to operator entry of data indicative of replacement of an injector.

49. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is further programmed to cause, in response to a selection of provision of engine specific service reports, a screen display allowing selection between a saved service report and a current service report.

50. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is further programmed to cause, in response to a selection of provision of engine specific service reports, a screen display allowing selection between printing a saved service report, viewing a saved service report, viewing a current service report, printing a current service report and saving a current service report.

51. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more screen displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a print of a name of an owner of the engine.

52. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a print of a model number of the engine.

53. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a print of a serial number of the engine.

54. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a print of an ECU program number of the engine.

55. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is programmed to cause, in response to selection of provision of engine specific service reports, one or more displays allowing printing of a service report that includes a print of ECU version number of the engine.

56. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing an engine speed, and said service report includes a profile which includes said engine speed.

57. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a display screen showing an engine speed and said service report includes said engine speed profile showing various engine speed ranges in RPM and the percentage of time during the test that the engine speed was in each engine speed range.

58. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is also programmed to allow saving the service report to a memory unit operatively connected to said processor.

59. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said processor is also programmed to generate said screen display in one of a plurality of selected languages.

60. Apparatus for testing operation of and diagnosing a fault in an outboard engine including an ECU, said apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to be coupled to the outboard engine electronic control unit;

a screen display coupled to said processor;

said processor adapted to cause display of at least a single screen display divided into and having a sensor section, a switch section, a voltage section and an engine results section.

61. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the sensor section comprises an electronic control unit temperature display.

62. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the sensor section comprises an air temperature display.

63. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the sensor section comprises a water temperature display.

64. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the sensor section comprises a calculated throttle position sensor display.

65. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the sensor section comprises an actual throttle position sensor display.

66. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the switch section includes a yes-no display of engine operation being in an automatic reduced speed mode.

67. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the switch section includes a yes-no display of whether or not a water temperature switch or water temperature sensor is indicating the engine is overheating.

68. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the switch section includes a yes-no display whether or not oil pressure is being sensed by an oil pressure switch.

69. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the switch section includes a yes-no display of whether a shift interrupter switch is in an interrupted condition.

70. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the switch section includes a yes-no display of whether or not the ECU indicates detection of water in an engine-mounted fuel canister.

71. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the voltage section includes a display of alternator voltage output.

72. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of engine speed in RPM.

73. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of ignition timing.

74. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of spark duration.

75. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of fuel timing.

76. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of fuel pulse width.

77. Apparatus in accordance with claim 60 wherein the results section includes a display of barometric pressure.

78. A diagnostic method of servicing an engine including an ECU, diagnostic the method utilizing a processor including a memory and a display screen coupled to the processor, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling the processor to the engine ECU;

displaying on said display screen a plurality of screen displays in a user selected language, at least one of said screen displays facilitating;

provision of a service report, at least one screen display facilitating

provision of a first item of engine component information, and at least one screen display facilitating testing of an ignition circuit, said processor energizing said ignition circuit upon receipt of a user predetermined operator command.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein said first item of engine component information is one of information relating to a fuel injector and information relating to an ECU.