Vehicle diagnostic tool

• US 7,953,530 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Pederson, Neal R., Thompson, Bernie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US11/811,634
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 701/30, 701/31, 701/32
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/04 Testing internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle'"'"'s power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g, Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing the power plant of a vehicle with diagnostic instrumentation including a microprocessor, the power plant including an engine, a power train control module, sensors and a key for starting the engine, the method including the steps of:

(a) programming the microprocessor to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “

PID data”

) from the power train control module;

(b) programming the microprocessor with values in the form of Break Points;

(c) programming the microprocessor to process extracted PID data to generate values in the form of calculated PIDS (hereinafter “

CPIDS”

);

(d) with the key in the on position and the engine off (“

KOEO”

), extracting PID data from the power train control module with the diagnostic instrumentation and, with the microprocessor, generating from such KOEO extracted PID data at least one CPID, and checking at least some of such KOEO extracted PID data against at least one value selected from the group including Break Points and CPIDS;

(e) with the key in the on position and the engine cranking (“

KOEC”

), extracting PID data from the power train control module with the diagnostic instrumentation and, with the microprocessor, generating from such KOEC extracted PID data at least one CPID, and checking at least some of such KOEC extracted PID data against at least one value selected from the group including Break Points and PIDS; and

(f) with the key in the on position and the engine running (“

KOER”

), extracting PID data from the power train control module with the diagnostic instrumentation and, with the microprocessor, generating from such KOER extracted PID data at least one CPID, and checking at least some of such KOER extracted PID data against at least one value selected from the group including Break Points and CPIDS.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of acquiring battery charging voltage and wherein step (d) further includes the step of checking one or more of KOEO extracted PID data, Break Points and CPIDS for one or more parameters selected from the group including:

open circuit battery voltage;

barometric pressure;

throttle position sensor;

engine coolant temperature;

intake air temperature;

O2 bias voltage;

diagnostic trouble codes;

pending codes; and

Mode 6 data.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (e) further includes the step of checking one or more of KOEC extracted PID data, Break Points and CPIDS for one or more parameters selected from the group including:

battery voltage;

cranking vacuum; and

cranking RPM.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes the step of checking one or more of KOER extracted PID data, Break Points and CPIDS for one or more parameters selected from the group including:

battery charging voltage;

engine running vacuum, volumetric efficiency;

catalyst efficiency;

fuel control;

fuel trim;

time to engine temperature;

engine coolant sensor and cooling system;

intake air temperature;

mass air flow sensor;

oxygen sensors;

throttle position sensor;

pending codes; and

Mode 6 data.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further including the step of acquiring battery charging voltage when there is no PID data for battery charging voltage.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

(g) providing the diagnostic instrumentation with a first series of alert lights;

(h) programming the microprocessor with a plurality of algorithms each of which analyzes PID data;

(i) associating each algorithm with one of the alert lights of the first series;

(j) each algorithm analyzing PID data selected from the group including KOEO extracted PID data, KOEC extracted PID data and KOER extracted PID data (hereinafter “

selected PID data”

) to determine the illumination condition of its associated first series alert light, and

(k) utilizing the associated first series alert light to visually indicate the determined illumination condition.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the illumination condition of step (k) of claim 6 is selected from the group including:

not illuminated;

illuminated; and

flashing illuminated.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the power plant further includes a fuel control system and a fuel delivery system, and wherein the steps of providing alert lights and associated algorithms includes the step of providing such first series of alert light-algorithm combinations that signal one or more of the following conditions:

the fuel control system of the power plant has good delivery;

the fuel control system of the power plant does not have good delivery;

the fuel delivery system has proper air/fuel ratio;

the fuel delivery system has failed to control proper air/fuel ratio;

engine coolant temperature has properly reached a preselected point within a preselected time; and

the engine coolant temperature has not reached a preselected point within a preselected time.

9. The method as set forth in claim 6, further including the steps of:

(l) providing the diagnostic instrumentation with a second series of alert lights;

(m) associating each Break Point with one of the alert lights of the second series;

(n) for each Break Point analyzing the selected PID data to determine the illumination condition of the associated second series alert light; and

(o) utilizing the associated second series alert light to visually indicate the determined illumination condition.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the illumination condition of step (o) of claim 9 is selected from the group including:

not illuminated;

illuminated; and

flashing illuminated.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the steps of providing the second series of alert lights and associated Break Points includes the step of providing such alert light-Break Point combinations that signal one or more of the following conditions:

if the air/fuel ratio of the engine is less than 14.7 to 1 or “

rich”

;

if the air/fuel ratio of the engine is greater than 14.7 to 1 or “

lean”

;

the relation of measured fuel trim to “

0”

fuel trim;

the relationship between bank one fuel trim to bank two fuel trim;

engine vacuum;

the open circuit battery voltage; and

whether or not all the monitors have run.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the illumination condition of an alert light selected from the group including a first series of alert lights and a second series of alert lights is a first color if there are no current problems with the selected PID data and the analysis of such data.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first color is green.

14. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the illumination condition of an alert light selected from the group including a first series of alert lights and a second series of alert lights is a second color if the analysis of the selected PID data indicates that one or more parameters have been exceeded.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second color is yellow.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the illumination condition of an alert light selected from the group including a first series of alert lights and a second series of alert lights is a third color if the analysis of the selected PID data indicates a system failure.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the third color is orange.

18. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the illumination condition of an alert light selected from the group including a first series of alert lights and a second series of alert lights is a fourth color if the analysis of the selected PID data indicates a system failure that needs immediate attention.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the fourth color is red.

20. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of programming the microprocessor to generate values for one or more of the following calculated PIDS:

bank 1 total trim;

bank 2 total trim;

cross counts B1S1;

cross counts B2S1;

cross counts B1S2;

cross counts B2S2;

engine vacuum;

engine running time;

B1 fuel control monitor;

B2 fuel control monitor;

bank 1 to bank 2 fuel trim;

catalyst efficiency;

theoretical air flow; and

volumetric efficiency percent.

21. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

(p) programming the microprocessor with one or more charts, each chart being divided into a number of cells; and

(q) for each chart, filling a plurality of cells.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the step of programming further includes, for at least one chart, the step of providing such chart with a first axis representing increasing values of a first parameter selected from a first group of power plant parameters and a second axis representing increasing values of a second parameter selected from a second group of power plant parameters, whereby each cell in such chart represents different ranges of ranges of both the first parameter and the second parameter.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

the first group of power plant parameters includes air flow, absolute throttle position, and temperature; and

the second group of power plant parameters includes revolutions per minute and time.