Any vehicle sold new in the USA since 1996 will have an OBD-2 diagnostic connector. This connector looks like a squashed D shape and is located under the steering wheel usually along the lower edge of the dashboard. The connector has 16 pins carrying signals that conform to one of three standards. Generic code readers should be capable of handling any of these standards. The first thing the code reader does is read from the vehicle what systems can be diagnosed via the code reader. This is usually displayed as text such as OBD2-Calif, or OBD2-Federal or EOBD, EOBD OBD2, JOBD, and some others, then usually the type of fuel system is displayed. Something like Oloop NoSat, Cloop O2, or Cloop Fault as well as other possibilities. Then the type of catalyst system is displayed. At a minimum all vehicle systems that are pertinent to emissions standards are accessible and diagnosable from the OBD-2 connector. This does not necessarily include the ABS system. However many vehicle makers are using OBD-2 as a kind of in vehicle network. This network permits the various microprocessor modules within the vehicle to communicate with each other. For instance within GM vehicles, the radio knows how fast the vehicle is going by monitoring the in vehicle network for periodic vehicle speed broadcasts transmitted by the one of the other vehicle modules. Once the radio knows the speed it adds a volume bias to its sound level to compensate for wind and road noise. I don?t know how extensive Land Rovers have become in regards to this kind of technology. Its probably safe to assume that like other vehicle makers, LR has steadily added complexity. So back to the ABS question. The answer is maybe you can diagnose the ABS from the OBD-2 and maybe not. It just depends if the ABS is connected to the OBD-2 and if the DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) codes for the ABS are published. All manufacturers are required to conform to a set of standard codes for emissions related issues but in many cases trouble codes for other vehicle systems are kept confidential. Sadly many carmakers think such confidentiality helps them reserve vehicle repair market share for their dealers. This is why test book is only at the dealership. I believe however such a policy frustrates their customers and tarnishes the vehicle?s reputation, or at least the vehicle maker?s reputation.
