Technicians, who’ve seen the inception of Mode 6 in cars in the early 2000s, may have varying views about how helpful it is or how limited its usage may be at some point.
At first look, Mode 6 may look obscure and intimidating most especially to amateur technicians. However, there are actually a lot of valuable diagnostic information for those who are willing to learn.
Here are some useful features of OBDII Mode 6:
Literally acts like a weatherman. Test results in Mode 6 can already tell you if there are some components that are performing below specified standards. This allows you to act quickly so as to avoid a Check Engine Light from coming on. This means technicians wouldn’t have to guess what’s messing up with the car.
A busy car doctor on-the-go. There are cases wherein scan tools won’t detect any problem in the car even if there appears to be an issue that needs attention. This happens when a scan tool thinks the issue is not big enough for a Check Engine Light on the dashboard to be turned on. Mode 6 will most of the time identify a type of problem like this and even show a failing test result.
A non-continuous monitor for PCM. Mode 6 allows technicians to easily find out if the powertrain control module (PCM) of a car has been tested and, whether or not, it has passed the exam.
Let’s take a look at some notable limitations of Mode 6:
A puzzle game that’s sometimes hard to solve. Mode 6 is often hard to interpret. Although it’s helpful for some who know how to decipher, its non-definitive nature may be complicated for most technicians. Check our guide on best jump starter
Confusion may literally lead to failure on emission tests. Mode 6 varies from vehicle to vehicle. One vehicle may use current readings to carry out a test, while the other may utilize voltage readings. Incorrect interpretation of data may lead to undesirable results.
Conclusion
Car diagnostics have gone a long way as more and more options are being made available for technicians and regular drivers to utilize. It’s mainly up to the end users to think what’s suited for their skills and knowledge.
For those who are seriously considering learning more about the benefits of OBDII Mode 6, they’re highly advised to invest on a high-end scan tool that can decode information and see valuable information all at once.
While Mode 6 is capable of identifying components that are failing, there’s no better than using common sense in some cases.