Outlander's needed for data collection.

My name is Chris Witkowski and I work for Boshart Engineering (BE) headquartered in Ontario, California. www.boshartengineering.com

Boshart Engineering is an automobile testing facility that provides services for the major OEM's. Aside from over-the-road durability, competitive vehicle testing, ADP testing, OBDII testing, brake testing, remote site testing and mileage accumulation, BE often provides vehicle procurement and in-use services for regulatory compliance purposes.

Boshart Engineering has been contracted by Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America (MRDA) to collect specific OBDII data from in-use vehicles in order to comply with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation. This regulation can be found in Title 13, California Code Regulations (CCR), Section 1968.2(j)(3). All manufacturers that sell light or medium-duty vehicles in California must comply with this regulation. Only 15 vehicles are needed from each test group and not all test groups are eligible since full phase-in of the regulation doesn't occur until model year 2007. Therefore, participation is extremely limited.

What we are looking for?

We are looking for: Vehicle Description Test Group

`06 Outlander (NQZ) 2.4L 2WD 6MTXV02.4GBB

`06 Outlander (NQZ) 2.4L 2WD 6MTXV02.4G2G

`06 Outlander (NQZ) 2.4L 4WD 6MTXV02.4GBG

The vehicles must have their original ECM and a factory calibration. Vehicles must also have at least 500 miles.

The data being collected will be retrieved through the vehicle's OBD-II port using Mitsubishi scan tool software. The vehicle will not be driven, nor will the engine be started, but the key will have to be in the ON position in order to collect the data, and the hood will have to be briefly opened to verify that the car is in fact part of the defined test group. The procedure normally takes less than 15 minutes.

The data collection can be done at your home, work or other prearranged location as long as it is within a 50 mile radius of our Ontario, CA office. Participants are also welcome to bring their vehicle to Boshart Engineering headquarters in Ontario to have the data collected here.

The data being collected will not be used in any way to void warranties or deny service claims. The data is simply being used to identify how frequently the OBD monitors are running under real-world, in-use driving conditions. I will be happy to email anyone a FAQ sheet explaining this in further detail.

What do the participants get?

MRDA greatly appreciates your participation in this program. To show this appreciation, each participant will receive a check payable to the participant for $50. The $50 check will be handed to the participant immediately after the data collection is complete.

Please post any questions here, or send me a PM. You may also call or email our main office with any questions that you may have.

To schedule an appointment please call or email our Ontario, CA office using the information presented below. We look forward to your participation.

(Project Coordinator) Lena Borrowman phone: 909-466-1602 ext. 109 email: lborrowman@boshartengineering.com

(Project Engineer) John Eini phone: 909-466-1602 ext. 111 email: jeini@boshartengineering.com

WOW!

Damn me any my 04. Oh well, I was half way there, Ontario is 20 miles away.

Dirt...go anyway and see what's up with this. WOO!

Maybe I can trick them....lol.
No really, it's an 06, I just liked the older crap headlights and taillights better

hahha

id go but seeing how im on the east coast, i dont think they'd reimburse my travel expense.

hmm i wonder what else could be learned from this research...

I am just wondering why they are needing to see how often the car is running diagnostics. If it is not functioning properly, shouldn't that throw a code? AArrrrggh Mitsubishi.

anyone w/ 500 mi.??

quote:

ORIGINAL: wicked_outlander

anyone w/ 500 mi.??

huh? Do you mean anyone within 50 miles? I think there's only one guy here with an 06, that's an SE, but not sure where he lives.
I'm within 50 miles, but an 04, I'm old news.

I hate replying to myself....but....
Jeff_SE has an 06, but lives in Savannah GA. I knew I wasn't crazy, much

Well...if anybody goes...get some info.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dirtwagon


I am just wondering why they are needing to see how often the car is running diagnostics. If it is not functioning properly, shouldn't that throw a code? AArrrrggh Mitsubishi.

If a failure occurs that would cause emissions to increase beyond the applicable standards, the operator of the vehicle needs to be made aware of the failure (through illumination of the check engine light) in the shortest time possible, so that repairs can be made and the vehicle will stop emitting excessive amounts of harmful gases. The more frequent a diagnostic runs, the less emissions will be emitted before the operator is made aware of the failure. Frequent monitoring also helps the the service industry too, since it is much quicker to verify emission related repairs. Frequent running of the diagnostics also gives consumers peace of mind in knowing that when they take their vehicle in for a smog check they can be nearly certain that their vehicle will pass tailpipe emissions and I/M readiness.

To answer the second part of your question, let me begin by saying that the OBDII system is very complex. So complex in fact, that 50% of the information inside the ECM is dedicated to OBDII functions, and that percentage will only grow as the regulations become even more stringent. With that said, no manufacturer has found a way to ensure that every diagnostic will run under every possible variable. Therefore, lighting the MIL for infrequent monitoring would punish the consumer for his/her unique driving style, patterns or conditions. Fortunately, CARB doesn't expect every diagnostic to meet a minimum frequency on 100% of the new vehicles sold in California. They realize that some drivers, conditions and/or other variables simply will not allow certain diagnostics to run with ample frequency. However, they do expect most of the vehicles to meet a minimum frequency for most of the diagnostics. This program simply lets CARB know that most of the vehicles sold in California are meeting the requirements. Please keep in mind that this is not something that only Mitsubishi is required to do, but all manufacturers who sell vehicles in California.

quote:

huh? Do you mean anyone within 50 miles?

The vehicle must be a 2006 and must have at least 500 miles. The owner must be within a 50 mile radius of our facility or be willing to meet with one of our technicians within a 50 mile radius.

Please feel free to call or email our main office with any questions that you may have. I will also respond to any further questions here on the forum.

Thank you for your interest.

hmmm, this is a new 2006 regualtion? It sounds like we may or may not get a CEL depending on the root of the problem. Is this a test that is required to be outsourced to maintain integrity or is it simply easier to handle it with specialized companies such as yours? Do not misconstrue these questions as challenging your expertise or anything of the sort, I just like to know what's new on the horizon when an opportunity presents itself.

quote:

It sounds like we may or may not get a CEL depending on the root of the problem.

Lack of diagnostic frequency will not set the CEL under any circumstances.

quote:


hmmm, this is a new 2006 regualtion?

This regulation began in MY2005 with approximately a third of all vehicles having to comply with this regulation. For MY2006 two-thirds of a manufacturers vehicles must comply. Full compliance across all vehicle lines begins in MY07.

quote:


Is this a test that is required to be outsourced to maintain integrity or is it simply easier to handle it with specialized companies such as yours?

Compliance for this regulation is not required to be completed by an outside contractor, however several manufacturers have chosen to do so for a variety of reasons.

quote:

Do not misconstrue these questions as challenging your expertise or anything of the sort, I just like to know what's new on the horizon when an opportunity presents itself.

Please feel free to ask any and all questions that you wish. I will be happy to answer them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris BE

quote:

It sounds like we may or may not get a CEL depending on the root of the problem.

quote:

Lack of diagnostic frequency will not set the CEL under any circumstances.

I was implying that if a problem exists and a diagnostic is not running on an appropriate schedule, we may not get the CEL. This is the scope of your study, correct? To identify that the diagnostics are being done in accordance with regulations. Sooo, the older vehicles may not be throwing a CEL when indeed needed due to an infrequent diagnostic as preset by the manufacturer.

quote:

Sooo, the older vehicles may not be throwing a CEL when indeed needed due to an infrequent diagnostic as preset by the manufacturer.

That is correct.

Good news. Are you aware if the results are to be made public? Doesn't really seem like something they would want the general population to know about, but I'm interested to know the frequency of the diagnostic checks and if they are actually happening per schedule.