THE FUTURE FOR AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS

AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION TO DRIVERS AND MECHANICS AND FOR INSTANTANEOUS EVALUATION IN REGULATORY INSPECTION. A COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF ON-THE-ROAD CONDITIONS OF 2500 VEHICLES, SHOWED A WIDE RANGE OF OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITIONS IN THE VEHICLES AIR-FUEL RATIO, FRONT TO REAR BRAKE RATIO, TOE IN, IGNITION TIMING, AND SHOCK ABSORBERS. DIAGNOSTIC SUGGESTIONS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDE: BUILT-IN CONSTANT READING TIRE GUAGES, COOLING SYSTEM LEAK CHECK, DIRECT READOUTS FOR THE AMOUNTS OF TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, AND STEERING FLUIDS, BRAKE LINING DETECTING DEVICES, A SYSTEM FOR QUICK READING OF FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, AND A LIGHT CHECKING DEVICE. A TYPICAL AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT SYSTEM WOULD CONSIST OF TWO STATIONS: THE FIRST WOULD CONSIST PRIMARILY OF MANUAL INSPECTION OF GLASS, WIPERS, SEATBELTS, HORN, HEADRESTS, EXHAUST SYSTEM, LEAKS, TIRE TREAD, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT; THE SECOND STATION WOULD USE SENSORS AND DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TO CHECK EMISSIONS, ENGINE PERFORMANCE, BRAKE SYSTEM, DRIVE TRAIN, NOISE, IGNITION, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE BUILT-IN-TEST EQUIPMENT (BITE) SYSTEM, A PROGRAM DESIGNED BY THE ARMY TO REDUCE FAULTY DIAGNOSIS AND THE TIME TO DIAGNOSE MALFUNCTIONS, IS DISCUSSED. FOUR ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC TOOLS PROPOSED FOR EVALUATING VEHICLE CONDITIONS ARE DESCRIBED: GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR INDICATION LEAKS IN SHOCK ABSORBER AND BREAK LINES; FIBER OPTIC TECHNIQUES FOR INDICATING ROUGHNESS AND SCORING OF BRAKE DRUMS; PULSED LASER HOLOGRAPHY FOR INSPECTING TIRES, BRAKE HOSES AND LINES; AND ULTRASONIC, INFRARED, MICROWAVE AND X-RAY TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING TIRE FLAWS. A CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF MOTOR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC-RELATED LEGISLATION IS ALSO PRESENTED.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/2240909
• Publication Date: 1972-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 21-27
• Serial:
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0098-2571

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Brakes; Diagnosis; Diagnostic tests; Fuel air mixtures; Ignition; Information processing; Innovation; Inspection; Motor vehicles; Shock absorbers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Air fuel ratio; Automated diagnostics; Timing
• Old TRIS Terms: Future concepts
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223959
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 15 1972 12:00AM