Apparatus and method for performing on-board self diagnostics for a heavy-duty vehicle

An apparatus for use in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a vehicle interface controller including the memory and being configured to:
• receive first data indicative of one or more failures related to a vehicle operation on a data communication bus from a first controller that controls a vehicle operation and that detects the one or more failures related to the vehicle operation;
• receive a signal corresponding to at least one of vehicle speed or park brake status;
• access the memory to retrieve at least one diagnostic screen that corresponds to the one or more failures indicated on the first data;
• and
• display the at least one diagnostic screen after the signal indicates the at least one of the vehicle speed being equal to a predetermined vehicle speed or the park brake status indicating that a park brake is set in the vehicle,
• wherein the vehicle interface controller is further configured to:
• provide a no distraction screen that identifies first level information including at least one of a distance driven by the vehicle or a duration of time an engine of the vehicle is running to minimize driver distraction;
• monitor for a soot level of the vehicle while the vehicle interface controller provides the no distraction screen;
• and
• remove the no distraction screen and display a warning indicative of a high soot level in response to the soot level exceeding a predetermined limit.

A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer read-able medium that is programmed for providing diagnostics in a vehicle, the computer-program product comprising instructions for:

• receiving first data indicative of one or more failures related to a vehicle operation on a data communication bus from a first controller that controls a vehicle operation and that detects the one or more failures related to the vehicle operation;
• receiving a signal corresponding to at least one of vehicle speed or park brake status;
• accessing a look up table to retrieve at least one diagnostic screen that corresponds to the one or more failures indicated on the first data;
• displaying the at least one diagnostic screen after the signal indicates at least one of the vehicle speed being equal to a predetermined vehicle speed or the park brake status indicating that a park brake is set in the vehicle;
• providing a no distraction screen that identifies first level information including at least one of a distance driven by the vehicle or a duration of time an engine of the vehicle is running to minimize driver distraction;
• monitoring for a soot level of the vehicle while providing the no distraction screen;
• and
• removing the no distraction screen to display a warning indicative of a high soot level in response to the soot level exceeding a predetermined limit.