Diagnosis system for a motor vehicle

Claim 1

A diagnosing system for diagnosing an automotive engine which is mounted on a motor vehicle and controlled by an electronic control system, the system having diagnosis means including a diagnosis device and a cartridge detachably connected to said diagnosis device, connecting means for transmitting signals between the electronic control system and the diagnosis device, a keyboard provided in said diagnosis device for inputting keyboard signals, and said diagnosis means being responsive to said keyboard signal for monitoring an operating condition of the engine, the diagnosing system comprising: a first storing means provided in said cartridge for storing programs to diagnose the engine; a second storing means in said cartridge for storing programs for providing a plurality of data formats representing a plurality of transmitting patterns for transmitting data between the electronic control system and the diagnosis device and for selecting one of the data formats; select means responsive to respective of said keyboard signals for selecting a program corresponding to an input format; and demand means responsive to said keyboard signals for transmitting a data demand signal to the electronic control system so as to apply data from the electronic control system to the diagnosis device through the selected data format.