Failed State Inspection/Diagnostics Connector Not Found/Not Communicating
 

I took my 2008 Chevy HHR to inspections and it failed as soon as he plugged it up. There was something wrong with the computer system. The printout (which I left in the car) says something about the OBD failing and it wouldn't communicate or that maybe it isnt there. Is there anything I can do to fix it or help it before taking it to the professional tomorrow? And if it needs to be replaced, can anyone give me a range for the cost if its just the connector? Thanks! I don't know much about cars at all. And there are no lights on in my car at all, no check engine light or anything.

Check the lighter/power outlet fuse. And have them retest. At times the pins in the cable can get bent and it won't read correctly.

But check that fuse first.

That might just be a blown fuse. In the underhood fusebox there is one labelled "front power outlet". It also controls power to the OBDII port.

(solman98 types faster than I do.....)

Your front 12VDC power connector (cig lighter) fuse is blown. There may be some reason like somebody thought that it was a cig lighter, or something is stuck in it.

The power to the OBDII connector is supplied by the same fuse. Look in the fusebox under the hood, there is a layout diagram to point you to the correct fuse on the underside of the cover.

Dam that was fast!

If it is not the fuse mentioned above then check pin 16 (has the ornage 12v power wire) of the DLC. My Ion would not connect to the smog puter last year on the first machine that they had me pull up to. I asked them to retry on the machine just before the exit and when thsy did this I watched the light on the connector. As he pushed it in it lit up but as soon as he took his hand off it the light would go off. He thought it was still not working until I mentioned seeing it light up. He had to hold it in but it worked and I passed.

This was due to the orange power pin not being firmly seated. It had worked its way back a bit. Next time thru it should not be an issue.

Thank you guys so much for the replies!! I will have them check it so I can pass the test. I thought something major was wrong with it. This also explains why my cigarette lighter does not work!

Should be under-hood fuse # 29, this happened on my '08.. And I don't even smoke.. :lol:

Unless you have the Smoker's Package from the factory, you do not have a cig lighter. If there is a rubber cover attached to the receptacle it is a Power Outlet. There is a huge difference, you cannot just plug a cig lighter element into the socket it either will not work or it will cause electrical problems.