I wonder if anyone can either confirm or refute a rumor I've heard about ODB II. Supposedly, the computer not only monitors sensors and adjusts settings, but also records operating parameters for the most recent five hours of operation. And that investigators and police have the capability to access this information to determine the car's speed and performance prior to an accident.

Has anyone ever heard of this? If so, how can this information be accessed?

Robert

The airbag system will record a small amount of data when you hit the brakes and the bag pops.

Just wait until OBD-III, or as I prefer to call it, OBD-1984.
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Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 80K mi, 89 300SE, '96 965 >120Kmi, near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Dear Warren,

May this find you well. You're quite right to be concerned. Surely the computer-savvy will find a way to erase these data. Until now, no one has been much concerned.

If recorded operating parameters are to be used for purposes other than expediting repairs, then finding out how to delete these data is important.

If they can be extracted and read, it is likely they can be over-written.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to delete these data?

With every warm best wish for Happy Holidays for you and yours, I remain,

Yours faithfully,

spook

It depends on the system, OBD2 compatible systems are not all alike, some of the computers using the format have a lot more abilities than others, but yes, some can store that black box type of info, including speed, revs, and other things that could show you were doing 100kph drifting when you crashed.

Legaly though, it's debatable wether it could be used against you, after all the car and it's contents are your property, and if you want to take out the computer and hit it with a very large hammer there is probally little anyone could do about it.
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My 85 760Ti, and her name is Veronica...

Can you name a particular year and model that does what you say? Long and short term fuel trim averages are in memory but that has nothing to do with nor can it reveal speed or engine rpm's
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David Hunter

I have read on a BMW bulletin board similar to this board that BMW computers can record engine speed for warranty purposes. There have been some who had their engine warranty voided because of over reving their engines.

I think it was the tv show Primetime that did a story about some computers on GM cars have been used against drivers under certain conditions ie. multiple deaths, accidents with deaths where speed may have been the cause. This was a year or two ago.

DanR 94 964 239,000 miles
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DanR

And calling it an Urban Myth?

Have you not seen all the ODB 2 interface software around now?, do you have any idea just how many things new car computers now monitor?
Cars have had fault logging for years now, I think it's wishfull thinking to think it's an Urban Myth.
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My 85 760Ti, and her name is Veronica...

Well yes I am quite familiar with that softare, I own a copy and have used it frequently. And yes I am quite familiar with what is monitored. Are you? Many parmeters are monitored in the power train management computer to keep the engine and transmission running at peak performance. However nothing is logged except DTC's, fuel trim data and number of trips since a DTC was set. Makes diagnosing real easy.

I was in Sears the other day. They are selling a neat little product that does log data for you. Have a look at it at WWW.sears.com do a search for item 947097. I guess this means Sears themselves are in on the sinister plot.

Commercial data loggers have been around for years, very useful. If an employee of my business prangs up my vehicle I certainly would want to know what the heck he was doing. Then I may decide if he will be given that responsibilty again.


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David Hunter

Year and model of what? I have no idea which does what, but I do know there are car sout there that do record that sort of info.
And while many don't record speed or revs, simple things like injector pulse width with a combined rich or lean reading etc can tell if you had your foot to the floor when you crashed, often simple info can be a give away to what was going on at the time of a crash.

Getting to the info is very easy now that you can buy software and a cable for any laptop computer or palm computer.
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My 85 760Ti, and her name is Veronica...

How do you "know" there are cars out there recording all "that sort of info". Exactly what are you saying, be precise.

Perhaps you would advocate skidless tires so that our skidmarks can't be measured, these tires may not stop as fast but dammit they must never know how dangerous I am. Or maybe skidmark eraser fluid so that we can rush out after the accident and rub out the evidence.
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David Hunter

Skidmark eraser fluid?! My wife would like to have some of that on laundry day!
I do agree with your premise (assumed) that people who may worry about possible guilt from info like this could be damaging. However, the post that referred to '1984' has merit also. In the USA, we are supposedly free to do what we like when we like, up until the point we infringe on the rights of others. If automakers are putting capabilities in our cars and keeping it quiet, well, it seems to me we're getting into a gray area. Gov't and big business knowing, and John Q. Public unawares?
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'94 940 Wagon, '84 240 turbo sedan

I had heard several (3-5) years ago that some Cadillac products were using the ECM to store highest RPM, speed, and a few other stats on their cars. Supposedly, the info would be downloaded whenever a Cadillac tech hooked up the dealers computer. This would then give Cadillac engineers real world data on how their cars are driven in almost real time. At least, so the story goes.....

DEWFPO
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1998 S90 066,800 and 1995 964 150,200