KAR Global unit Adesa recently added OBD2 emissions codes to the condition reports of vehicles inspected at its locations, and is streamlining the scans through its new inspection process.
The company said the codes will now be directly added from the scan at the point of inspection and displayed on its condition reports, appearing as text in a clean and simple table format. This addition is also being applied to the Canadian market.
“We’re constantly improving our inspection process and condition reports to ensure our customers are getting the clear, accurate and actionable data they need to be successful,” said John Hammer, Chief Commercial Officer of KAR Global and President of Adesa.
Hammer said the OBD2 scans and the data they provide are not new to the industry, but the speed, delivery, and clarity of how they are displaying the codes is what will make a “significant” impact.
“We’re ensuring both our buyers and sellers have a faster and clearer path to the key information they need to make smart decisions,” said Hammer.
Adesa’s inspectors will now use Bluetooth devices to integrate the results directly into the vehicle’s condition report. For example, If the “Check Engine Light” is on, the report will show the active emissions codes that relate to that issue. And if the “Check Engine Light” is off and no codes are displayed, the report will display “no diagnostic codes were reported.”
Overall, the scans offer more detailed diagnostic information on vehicle lights, or for issues already disclosed in standard inspections. The information is meant to help buyers and sellers understand the root cause(s) and depth of the vehicle’s issues. However, the company said the codes from the OBD scan will not impact the vehicle’s AutoGrade.
“Armed with OBD2 information at the point of inspection, sellers can easily make pre-sale reconditioning decisions to repair the cause and clear codes prior to sale, adding value to their vehicle,” said Srisu Subrahmanyam, COO of Adesa.
If no action is taken, he said buyers that are reviewing the condition report will have more confidence in the listing’s accuracy, which in turn will potentially lead to more bidding activity.
