Patent ID: 8612091

Claim:
A diagnostic method for an automotive Power Plant implemented with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor; the Power Plant including components selected from the group including an engine of known displacement, a powertrain control module, an air induction system, an exhaust system and at least one sensor; the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (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 method including the steps of: a. acquiring at lease some PID data from the powertrain control module with the instrumentation; b. determining the actual air flow through the engine with at least some of the acquired PID data; c. determining the calculated air flow through the engine (hereinafter “Calculated VE”) with at least one of the one or more algorithms; and d. using actual air flow and Calculated VE in determining if there is a problem with one or more components of the Power Plant.