Patent ID: 8239093

Claim:
A diagnostic method for an automotive power plant implemented with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor; the power plant including an engine, a powertrain control module and one or more sensors; the microprocessor being programmed to acquire parameter identification (hereinafter “PID”) data from the powertrain control module; the microprocessor also being programmed with one or more algorithms which permit the analysis of extracted PID data, the transformation of PID data, or both, for the purpose of enabling at least two tests for diagnosing one or more problems associated with the power plant the diagnostic method including the steps of: a. acquiring PID data from the powertrain control module with the microprocessor, which acquired PID data can be utilized by the one or more algorithms to perform a plurality of diagnostic tests; b. utilizing data acquired from at least one PID to run a second test for the purpose of diagnosing at least one problem associated with the power plant; and c. utilizing data acquired from at least a second PID to run a second test for the purpose of diagnosing at least one problem associated with the power plant.