What might cause the OBD2 sensor to not communicate in my 2001 Kia Rio?
by Monkey Wrench on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 | 4 Comments
We are trying to pass smog and the people told us that our OBD2 sensor failed to communicate with their reader. What could be the cause of this. Someone suggested that it may be a fuse, but all are in working order. We do not have the money to keep paying just to find out that it is our check engine light or something lame, plus the check engine light seems to come on all the time and nothing is wrong with the car. Please help!!!
Take it to a place like Autozone or O’Reilly’s. They will read the OBD2 for free. If they are able to read the OBD2 sensor, then clearly the problem is with the garage’s smog equipment, not your OBD2. Have them read the Check Engine Light code while you’re there. If the CEL is off, the code may be “pending.”
Regardless, if Autozone can read the OBD2, go back to the garage where you got your smog check, demand a refund, and go somewhere else.
yes always good to try a second code reader when it says that. but sounds like you have a bad ecm
A broken wire going to the diagnostic link connector where you hook up the scan tool will make the scan tool unable to communicate with the on-board diagnostics.
First have it checked by a mechanic who is familiar with Kias. With OBD2 most of the codes are generic, they mean the same thing on every car, but different brands of cars use different communication protocols (in a way they speak different languages) and the test reader might not be able to read Kias or the tech might not have the reader set correctly or the tech doesn’t know how to use it.
Your KIA Rio “speaks” ISO 9141.