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218 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Your vehicle has a simple ignition actuated test, which you
can use prior to going to the test station. To check if your
vehicle's OBD II system is ready, you must do the following:
1. Cycle the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not
crank o
r start the engine.
NOTE:
If you crank or start the engine, you will have to start this test
o
ver.
2. A
s soon as you cycle the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion,
you will see the “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)”
symbol c
ome on as part of a normal bulb check.
3. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two things will
happen
:
• The MIL will flash for about ten seconds and then return to
being
fully illuminated until you turn OFF the ignition or
start the engine. This means that your vehicle's OBD II
system is not ready and you should not proceed to the I/M
station.
• The MIL will not flash at all and will remain fully illu-
minate
d until you place the ignition in the off position
or star
t the engine. This means that your vehicle's OBD
II system is ready and you can proceed to the I/M
station.
If your OBD II system is not read
y, you should see an autho-
rized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle was recently
service
d or had a battery failure or replacement, you may
need to do nothing more than drive your vehicle as you
normally would in order for your OBD II system to update.
A recheck with the above test routine may then indicate that
the system is now ready.
Regardless of whether your vehicle's OBD II system is ready
or not,
if the MIL is illuminated during normal vehicle oper-
ation you should have your vehicle serviced before going to
t
he I/M
station. The I/M station can fail your vehicle
because the MIL is on with the engine running.
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