How To Read It
The easy-to-read backlit screen...
The easy-to-read backlit screen on the Innova 3100 displays a wealth of information, including Diagnostic Trouble Codes, emissions test readiness status, and much more.
As an example, we might see the "Diagnostic Trouble Code" or DTC PO141, 02 Heater Circuit, Bank 1 Sensor 2.
Each DTC is made up of five characters. The first character identifies the main system where the fault occurs; B (Body), C (Chassis), P (Powertrain), or U (Network). The second character identifies the type of code; O (or sometimes G), Generic, 1 (or sometimes M), Manufacture Specific, or 2, which includes Generic and Manufacture Specific Codes. The third character identifies the specific system where the problem occurred. The fourth and fifth characters identify the section of the system that is malfunctioning. In the example above, PO141, we have a Generic Heated Oxygen Sensor Code.
There are several informative icons on the screen that provide information. For example, when the MIL icon is on, it confirms that the "Check Engine" light was commanded ON. The "Pending" icon illuminates when one or more diagnostic checks have failed, but were not critical enough to turn on the "Check Engine" light. An example of these might be a loose fuel filler cap, or even a door that did not respond to the remote locking button.
The Innova 3100 diagnostic...
The Innova 3100 diagnostic tool is easy to use, full of features, and affordable. More than 400,000 have been sold.
A useful feature on both the Innova 3100 and the CarMD are the green, yellow, and red LED lights that help make it easy to determine the health of the vehicle. You can use this as part of your normal maintenance service, or perhaps before a long trip. It's also useful to determine if a vehicle is ready for an Emissions Test. A green light means that all engine systems are operating normally, all OBD-II monitors have run, and no DTCs are pending or present. A yellow light indicates that a "Pending Code" is present, or that not all of the diagnostic tests have been completed. A red light warns that there is a problem with one or more of the vehicle's systems, and that a trouble code is present which needs further diagnosis. Buying a used vehicle? Carry one of these in your pocket.
Other features include an erase button to clear codes, turn off the check engine light, and reset all monitor status tests. There is also an "auto relink" program that automatically requests information from the vehicle every 30 seconds, to get the latest information while the vehicle is in operation. This allows you to perform a drive cycle to verify that any repairs were done correctly.
Perhaps the most impressive service provided by Innova is the new MyRepairSolutions portal on the CanOBD2.com website. This VIN-specific, Internet-database repair solutions portal is expected to revolutionize the way do-it-yourselfers and consumers approach automotive repairs. The CanOBD2 website and RepairSolutions database have been under development for more than a decade, and mark a major milestone for Innova and the industry. Through this database, you can get a complete repair solution, including how to fix the problem.
The Innova comes with a detailed...
The Innova comes with a detailed instruction book, software CDs, and all necessary cords.
Anyone can register for free to become a member, where they gain access to interactive content, including the most comprehensive and accurate fixes to diagnostic codes anywhere on the web. This extensive database, until now only available to professional technicians, will allow DIYers to pinpoint why their "Check Engine" light is on; get a better understanding of why the failure occurred; print a free basic report with trouble code definitions, monitor status and freeze frame data; generate a vehicle profile to keep track of vehicle history and complete preliminary diagnosis worksheets; access a full library of diagnostic trouble codes and tech tips; and get ready for a state vehicle emissions "smog" test.
The CanOBD2.com website also features technical service bulletins (TSBs), vehicle recall information, and support from ASE-certified technicians. More importantly, RepairSoutions offers users the opportunity to purchase a comprehensive Advanced Report. This report, which costs less than $10, even provides estimates on parts needed for the repair, labor time required, plus TSBs, recall information, and "how to" info.
Summing Up
The OBD-II diagnostic tool...
The OBD-II diagnostic tool was standardized and made universal and mandatory for '96-and-later vehicles. All vehicles made since then must, by law, test the same systems in the same way. All connectors were standardized with a common 16-pin plug.
OK, so here we are back in camp. Instead of pulling your hair out while your friends are pulling in fish, you plug in your OBD-II diagnostic tool and push a couple of buttons. If you have a scanner, the screen tells you that the left bank of cylinders has a problem. (Option two is to call the CarMD toll-free number on your cell or satellite phone and speak to one of the ASE techs who can walk you through the problem.)
Turns out, the rough washboard roads have caused the wiring harness to come loose. You pull out your toolbox, loosen a few clips, push the harness firmly back into its place, reassemble everything, and delete the "Check Engine" light. Bingo. The engine purrs like a contented cat. Someone just made a fresh pot of coffee. Life is good again.
We can curse all these complicated black boxes. Back in the old days of four-wheeling (not that long ago), we used to say we could gap the points with a matchbook, tweak the timing by ear, and adjust the carburetor with a dime. Then along came HEI ignition, fuel injection, and electronic fuel-monitoring systems. No more points. No need to fiddle with the timing or fuel delivery at high altitudes. No more fiddling with the floats on your four-barrel Holley.
Perhaps with modern engines we have a new set of problems, but at least we now have OBD-II diagnostic tools. Don't leave home without one.