How does OBD-II help consumers?
OBD-II systems are designed to alert drivers when something in the emission control system begins to deteriorate or fail. Early diagnosis followed by timely repair can often prevent more costly repairs on both emission control systems and other vehicle systems that may affect vehicle performance such as fuel economy. For example, a poorly performing spark plug can cause the engine to misfire, a condition sometimes unnoticed by the driver. This engine misfire can, in turn, quickly degrade the performance of the catalytic converter. With OBD-II detection of the engine misfire, the driver would be faced with a relatively inexpensive spark plug repair. However, without OBD-II detection, the driver could be faced with an expensive catalytic converter repair in addition to the spark plug repair. Furthermore, manufacturers have increased incentive to build higher-quality vehicles with better performance, reduced emissions, and more efficient powertrains to prevent problems that can lead to OB
