[miguelbgood]

Man, this is a giant pain in the ass!
Can anyone give me some advice on how to proceed with getting this fixed? Here's the story:

I have a 97 Hyndai Accent GT with only 55k miles on it.

Took it to get it smog checked here in Los Angeles, CA. It passed the emissions tests with flying colors but failed due to the device they connected to the dashboard not communicating with the onboard computer (as I understand it), or as it is described on my repair report, "Failed due to OBD2 Communication".

The smog light has NOT been on, so I don't know why there would be a problem with it. It WAS on a couple weeks ago right after I had a tune up. I didn't know why it came on so I took it back to them and they discovered that they somehow accidentally disconnected the connector for the air flow sensor, reconnected it using plastic straps because something or other was broken to hold it in place, and then the check engine light went back off and has stayed off ever since, and the car has been running fine. Is it possible this connector not being tight enough could cause the problem? Or not? I mean, it's running fine...

My question is how to most efficiently deal with this problem? Should I take it ONLY to a high priced Hyundai dealer to fix it because they have the know-how, or can any good mechanic trace it down? The guy who did the tune up, I like and trust, but his expertise is Mazda, and I don't know how much he knows about smog check/engine light stuff. Once a couple years ago I had an oxygen sensor problem and took it to a Goodyear garage and it was a nightmare, as they kept futzing with it and I had to take it in like 5 times before they finally got it right. So I'm wary of these "computer"/smog related problems...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially if anyone can recommend a reliable fair mechanic in the L.A. area who could work on this for me.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[LilTimmy]

That is a tough call the Mazda mechanic can problaby figure somethin gout if it is that one sensor but if it isn't that sensor then Hyundai will probably be able to troubleshoot it a little better and quicker.
My thoughts I could be wrong.

 

[imcastock]

Sounds like they can't get their scan tester to communicate with the ECM. The Mazda guy should be able to tell you if this is true by hooking up a scan tool to the connector under the dash. Then just figuring out if why or why not it isn't communicating.

 

[Jefo]

Resplice the wires they broke. Or it not get a harness from dealer. The tune up guys broke the connection, no read out to ECU any more it has got to be those wires.

 

[Jed118]

times like these im glad I have no O2 Sensor on my car.

The ford motherfuckers at Dixie Ford actually broke my EEC IV connectors for my escort back in the day (like 1999) and tried to bill me for it. Assholes. Watch yourself.

In any case, check the wiring for the MAF, and the O2 (i have had a couple Old's and Ford's fail because of this). Also very frequenty, the ground wires to the engine get corroded, causing a faulty (or delayed) signal from the O2/MAF to OBD2.

Simply taking out your fuses and replacing them can remove the layer of corrosion that has taken place on your circuit This made my X2 Excel pass emissions (with over 350,000 Km on it) right on the spot.

If the scantool can't communicate with the on board computer, that's certainly not your fault. take it to another shop. Or fix a ground lead, that's all it was for me.

 

[bizzare]

Get the wiring from the obd II data link connector (where the scantool gets hooked up) checked out. If its not communicating with the ecm it is quite possible the ground wires on that terminal, or communication line got damaged. There is a very slim possiblily that a circuit in the computer has gotten fried, and the ecm cannot communitace correctly because of it. This may or may not have happened anytime sensors were being replaced.

Has there ever been test lights used to check circuits?
Has there been any weird electrical issues in the past?

 

[elantrax]

when I originally had my speed sensor disconnected behind the dash so I could have no speed limiter on the car, I went through and they said the same exact thing that they couldnt establish a connection with OB2, so after I put the sensor back and went through I passed but.... when I checked the paper they somehow put down that I had a RWD Elantra?????? lmao, and I noticed that when they were inspecting it the guy went to put the rear tires on the spinner, I dont know if he did this by mistake or what, but they ended just shooting it through after that.. lol

[Edited by elantrax on Dec 22, 2005 4:31 PM]

 

[Jed118]

Oh they're idiots at the emissions places... apparently my catalytic converter passed a visual inspection and was present (aboard a catalyst-exempt car)