96 Taurus puter problem

I live in new york and my car wont pass inspection because when they plug in the car to the thing that sends the information to the state it gets no reading with the car off everything comes up 0, but if you hook up the module box to the car when it is running everything is there. Is there something like a live wire thats suppose to take over when you turn off the car ?

Welcome to the forum!

When you say the car is "off" is the key in the "off" position or the "run" position, but just the engine hasn't been started yet?

The OBD-II diagnostic port will only be active when the key in in the "run" position. If they are expecting data with the key in the "off" position, they maybe shouldn't be in the business.

-Rod

Rod
When the car is running all the info is there, but when you shut the car off then turn the key to the run position all info is lost but when you start the car back up its all there again,and you cant send the info if your car is running

I would expect that the shop performing the inspection is familiar with their equipment. However, I do know that the two scan tools I have will lose the data if the key is turned off from the run position. However, on my scan tools, I can then go back into the I/M readiness/component parameters/datastream mode with the car off but key in Run and access the data again.

-Rod