Patent ID: 8666588

Claim:
A vehicle testing method for detecting vehicle tampering to circumvent emissions testing, said method comprising: operatively connecting a vehicle testing system with a vehicle computer whereby said vehicle testing system is able to evaluate signals within the vehicle computer, said vehicle testing system including a tamper testing sequence, wherein said vehicle testing method comprises performing said tamper testing sequence comprising: applying a test action to the vehicle, said test action intended to generate a signal in the vehicle computer responsive to said test action; monitoring the signal of the vehicle computer associated with said test action, and determining whether the signal of the vehicle computer associated with said test action meets an expected response corresponding to a non-tampered vehicle; wherein a determination that the signal of the vehicle computer associated with said test action does not meet said expected response indicates that tampering has occurred; wherein said applying a test action to the vehicle comprises resetting vehicle on-board diagnostic monitors of the vehicle computer, wherein said monitoring the signal of the vehicle computer associated with said test action comprises monitoring a non-continuous monitor of the vehicle computer, and wherein said determining whether the signal of the vehicle computer associated with said test action meets said expected response comprises evaluating whether the non-continuous monitor of the vehicle computer obtains a set condition prior to meeting said expected response.