Problems with the engine, that can be detected by the OBD2 app

The on-board diagnostic system of the car notifies the driver about the malfunction. This process occurs by generating the appropriate diagnostic trouble codes. As a rule, a warning lamp or other indicator on the dashboard informs the driver. The fault code is indicated by the acronym DTC.

Let's analyze the term DTC and what does it mean?

The term "DTC", known to all motorists, stands for Diagnostic Trouble Codes. This is a series of codes used by the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system (OBD2). OBD-II system provides fully control over the car engine and allows Promonitoring of body parts and additional devices. In this standard, manufacturers use various connection protocols with the car. DTCs indicate specific problems in the vehicle.

How does OBD2 inCarDoc work?

As a rule, the OBD2 system generates a specific DTC code and transmits a warning to the dashboard when a car problem is detected. inCarDoc is an excellent application for reading data from the central control unit of the car through the OBD2 protocol. The program is easy to use and has an intuitive interface. With inCarDoc, users scan data about the main engine and other mechanisms online, read and clean bugs, monitor fuel and oil consumption, can use GPS connectivity. The application allows you to identify problems at the earliest stages. The key feature is to clean DTCs up or correct them.

What are DTC codes for? And which groups does OBD2 inCarDoc read?

These codes were developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). They are designed to help vehicles comply with emission standards, monitor technical conditions, and notify the motorist if an error occurs. 

The DTC code contains five characters. It starts with a letter and continues with seven digitals. 

The letter stands for the technical group: P for Powertrain, C for Chassis, B for Body, U for Network & Vehicle Integration.

• Therefore, the P indicates problems with engine, transmission, and associated accessories.
• C indicates problems with mechanical systems and functions: steering, suspension, and braking.
• B indicates a problem with parts mainly found in the passenger compartment area.
• U indicates a problem with functions managed by the on-board computer system.

The second character in DTC is usually 0 (standardized (SAE) code, global) or 1 (enhanced, manufacturer code). The third character with "P" latter shows which vehicle subsystem has a fault. 

Drivers should know the groups of errors that may occur

Let's analyze several basic diagnostic errors that occur more often:

• Codes from P0000 to P0299 are the group to show errors in fuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls and injector circuit. Drivers often encounter the error codes of this group. For example, P0101 notifies of a malfunction of the circuit or the mass airflow sensor (MAF). DTC P0110stands for errors in intake air temperature sensor circuit.
• Codes from P0300 to P0399 are responsible for ignition system control. DTC of this nature are found in cars that are in long-term operation.
• Codes from P0400 to P0499 - auxiliary emissions control. Also, they indicate malfunctions of the exhaust gas recirculation system.
• Codes from P0500 to P0599 - indicate a malfunction of the vehicle's speed sensor or idling control system. They include an indication of problems with the power steering and defects affecting cruise control, too.
• Codes from P0600 to P0699 - indicate that one of the control modules has a software error. P0606 can cause engine problems such as rough idling, stopping, and poor acceleration. This DTC indicates a malfunction in the memory of the vehicle's internal system.
• DTCs P0700 to P0999. The error of this code is in the transmission of the car. They are often found during prolonged operations or improper driving on the road.

The ELM 327 is a scanner in the form of a microcontroller (adapter) that connects to the car’s OBD2 computer via a universal connector. You can unite a PC or smartphone to the scanner to read diagnostic information.

The inCarDoc app is available for Android and iOS, allowing you to more comfortably perform self-diagnostics via Bluetooth or WiFi.

Order the original inCarDoc adapter, designed and tested by professional application developers.