We are unable to communicate with the emissions computer

Yes. When the shop plugs its scanner into it, nothing happens. I searched some of your archives and found an incident from 2002 where Art mentioned that VWs with an aftermarket radio can interfere with the data flow. When I mentioned that, my son recalled that the person we bought the car from mentioning that we would have to remove the radio to pass the safety inspection test. So I think I'll unplug the radio and let them plug the scanner back in to see what happens. I'm not sure why the data passes through a radio connector, but I'll take his word for it. In my wiring diagram, there are only two conductors that show being connected to the data link connector, so I'm not sure whether there are other conductors involved here or if they are left off of the diagram for some reason. Either way, intuition tells me that disconnecting the radio from its connectors will restore data communications. And Thanks for helping out! Yes. When the shop plugs its scanner into it, nothing happens. I searched some of your archives and found an incident from 2002 where Art mentioned that VWs with an aftermarket radio can interfere with the data flow. When I mentioned that, my son recalled that the person we bought the car from mentioning that we would have to remove the radio to pass the safety inspection test. So I think I'll unplug the radio and let them plug the scanner back in to see what happens. I'm not sure why the data passes through a radio connector, but I'll take his word for it. In my wiring diagram, there are only two conductors that show being connected to the data link connector, so I'm not sure whether there are other conductors involved here or if they are left off of the diagram for some reason. Either way, intuition tells me that disconnecting the radio from its connectors will restore data communications. And Thanks for helping out!

Disconnecting the radio from the wiring harness allowed the Scanner to connect to the data link with no problem. I tried to determine which conductor did not need to be connected to the aftermarket radio, but did not see the color that was labeled as the data conductor in the bundle. It was dark and the cable was tight, so I couldn't tell much about it.



Regardless, unplugging the radio allowed it to be tested and pass a safety inspection. Thanks for the link to megaupload. The Haynes manual I bought is incomplete and tries to cover too many models with one set of diagrams. Disconnecting the radio from the wiring harness allowed the Scanner to connect to the data link with no problem. I tried to determine which conductor did not need to be connected to the aftermarket radio, but did not see the color that was labeled as the data conductor in the bundle. It was dark and the cable was tight, so I couldn't tell much about it.

Regardless, unplugging the radio allowed it to be tested and pass a safety inspection. Thanks for the link to megaupload. The Haynes manual I bought is incomplete and tries to cover too many models with one set of diagrams.

I tracked the data link on the wiring diagram and noticed that one of the conductors does in fact go to the radio connector. When the aftermarket radio was hooked up, I'm sure the installer didn't know what to do with it and probably connected it to something that screwed up the whole data bus....but only as long as the radio connector was plugged in. I'd bet it just grounds out the line. Anyway, then NC safety inspection process requires an emissions test that needs the data bus to work. Either way, it passed once I unplugged the radio. I tracked the data link on the wiring diagram and noticed that one of the conductors does in fact go to the radio connector. When the aftermarket radio was hooked up, I'm sure the installer didn't know what to do with it and probably connected it to something that screwed up the whole data bus....but only as long as the radio connector was plugged in. I'd bet it just grounds out the line. Anyway, then NC safety inspection process requires an emissions test that needs the data bus to work. Either way, it passed once I unplugged the radio.

My 1998 Dodge Durango will not communicate as well. They checked the fuses, which are fine. I bought the car from a dealership 4 years ago.I am unsure if it has an aftermark radio. The radio has not worked since 2007. My 1998 Dodge Durango will not communicate as well. They checked the fuses, which are fine. I bought the car from a dealership 4 years ago.I am unsure if it has an aftermark radio. The radio has not worked since 2007.