Diagnostic Tools Report

Automotive service and repairexploded into a whole newdimension in the mid-1990s with

the birth of OBD-II. Today onboarddiagnostics, the biggest innovation in theindustry since the middle of the 90s, is ateenager getting more and more sophisti-cated. And so are the tools. Better keepup with the Joneses.

Take as an example the Audi A8L —the luxury sports car as no fewer than 36onboard software controllers that cangenerate as many as 1,600 individualtrouble codes. If you’re still using an oldscan tool, you probably aren’t wellequipped. The newest scan tools are wellequipped for Controller Area Network(CAN) support. The old ISO9141 sys-tem used a single K-line to communicatewith the vehicle and retrieve diagnosticinformation. CAN uses a bus system andis significantly faster — but it requires thatyou have the most up-to-date hardwareand software with the latest capabilitiesfor vehicle diagnostics.

“The tools need to provide more thandiagnostic trouble codes,” says Bruce A.Ruhf, director of operations for Ross-Tech, LLC in Lansdale, Pa. “They need

to have graphing capabilities and testingcapabilities to both display what’s hap-pening in the systems and to allow thetechnician to exercise pieces of the systemso that the problem can be narrowed tofewer and fewer possibilities. Theseactions need to be taken quickly to keepthe cost of repair within reason. Time ismoney.”

Hardware vs. softwareWhether it’s the hardware or the soft-

ware that’s advancing in capabilities andsophistication more rapidly is the ques-tion. A 2005 study by Global Informa-tion Inc. found that the market for diag-nostic software and constant updates “willremain quite strong” because the hard-ware is getting more sophisticated. Thestudy found that in the U.S., demand fordiagnostic tools, software, informationand services would grow 6.6 per cent ayear, reaching US$1.1 billion in 2009.

Ross-Tech’s VAG-COM product runson standard PC-based platforms, notesRuhf, so the capabilities of Ross-Tech’sdiagnostics tools are fuelled by advancesin PC hardware. “Software advances veryquickly to meet the needs of the market.

It’s hard to say in this environment whichis leading and advancing more rapidly,”says Ruhf.

Adds Patrick Dubois, the Mississauga-based Canadian sales manager for RobertBosch: “It’s hard to say — there seems tobe overlaps in both departments.”

What does it all mean? You’ve got tobe updating your software frequently.“You’ve got to update at least once a yearor as bugs are identified and fixed,” saysJohn Mills, a spokesperson for SPX Ser-vice Solutions in Warren, Mich.

Dubois notes that software updatesvary by manufacturer and platform.Bosch’s TECH 2 product, for example,updates “almost monthly,” whereas thecompany has other products that areupdated four to six times a year.

Diagnostics and common sense

These days, you can’t just have onediagnostic tool in your toolbox. Whenscan tools really came on the scene in themid-1990s after the introduction ofOBD-II, you were well equipped if youhad one. Now you’ve got to have several.

“You can’t get away with just one toolanymore if you’re serious about diagnos-tics,” says Dubois, who was a technicianfor 10 years. “Aftermarket tools all have a certain weakness in their coverage, soyou need other tools to complement thecoverage.”

Adds Ross-Tech’s Ruhf: “The techni-cian can’t just use a generic OBD-II scantool to repair a car today. He has to havea factory-level tool that allows access toall of the electronic modules. As an exam-ple, Volkswagen released the new Passatwith an electronic parking brake whichrequires a factory-level scan tool to openthe caliper so the brake pads can bechanged. A generic OBD-II scan toolcan’t do that job.”

But just because you’ve got to haveall of these diagnostic tools doesn’t meanyou should be overly reliant on them to the point that you no longer rely on common sense or years of experiencetoo.

Keeping up to date with diagnosticsKeeping up to date with diagnostics By Dean Askin

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Diagnostic Tools Report

“Tools don’t replace logic and sense ofidentifying problems,” says Bruce A.Ruhf. “The tool just gives the technicianmore information so he’s able to make aninformed decision about the possiblecause of the problem being addressed. Askilled technician knows where to lookand what to look at. The wisdom andknowledge gained over the years can’t bereplaced by electronic technology andinformation systems.”

“Common sense and experience areinvaluable in this trade. Sometimes thesetwo attributes save the day,” adds Mills ofSPX, although he continues for somecomplex diagnostic routines, techniciansmust rely more on their tools.

There’s a paradox happening. Theadvances in OBD-II and diagnostic toolsand software are making motorists’ liveseasier and technicians’ work more chal-lenging at the same time.

“I believe the vehicle manufacturersare adding more computers and electron-ics because we as consumers are demand-ing these items,” says Ruhf. “The techni-cian has no choice but to learn these sys-tems because the driving population inNorth America wants the features andbenefits the computer systems offer.”

“Modern electronic vehicle systemsare designed to make diagnostics simplerand more precise. Training, information

and tools are three keys for technicians tobe efficient,” says Mills of SPX ServiceSolutions.

This all means you’ve got to be takingtraining courses to go along with the up-to-date hardware you need.

“Technicians are able to keep up withthe technology as long as the OEMsrelease the information and the techni-cians attend training classes on a regularbasis,” says Ruhf. “The changes in auto-motive technology require technicians toconstantly upgrade their knowledge, andthis is best done through structuredtraining.”

Patrick Dubois says it’s important thatshop owners view diagnostics training fortechnicians as business investment, not anexpense. “Those owners who’ve figuredthis out — and I see more and more,thankfully — are growing their businessesprofitably… They invest in the propercapital equipment; have higher doorrates; better employee retention andhigher quality clientele. The benefits faroutweigh the cost.”

So if you’re investing in the latest diag-nostic tools and training, what aboutthose old-fashioned printed repair manu-als? They’re not quite obsolete, says Millsof SPX. “They’re an absolute necessity inorder to repair vehicles effectively. Tech-nicians need to use a wide variety of tools

and test equipment as part of theirdiagnostic routines.”

“It’s a matter of personal prefer-ence,” adds Dubois. “Personally, Iprefer a Web-based information sys-tem because by its very nature, it’llbe more up to date than any papermanual ever will be.”

Upgrade . . . wiselyData logging and live data meas-

urement; graphing and display tech-niques. They’re all new and extreme-ly valuable. And you won’t find thesecapabilities in an older scan tool. Ifyou’re still using an older tool andhaven’t upgraded yet for cost orother reasons, here’s some advice: doit — now.

“The old tools take time to use,”says Ruhf. “Profits in the business areall about time and part cost. Thefaster good diagnosis is performed,the more money the shop will make.

Why use an older scan tool if a newer onecan give advantages to make the techni-cian more productive?”

But you’ve got to do your homework— determine what you need your scan

tool to do, and then invest in the rightup-to-date product. It’s a hefty invest-ment and turning to eBay instead of yourtool supplier could be tempting. A quickkeyword search of “automotive diagnos-tic tools” on eBay, for example, broughtup 177 diagnostic tool items for sale onthe online site. But it’s buyer beware, andgoing for a cheap deal or a second-handunit on eBay isn’t recommended by diag-nostic tool manufacturers. This isbecause technicians need to think aboutservice and support, not just purchasecost of the tool.

“The customer who buys from eBaybetter know what he’s getting into. Notto knock eBay, but I mean who’s going tosupport the tool, who’ll train the cus-tomer...It’s not all about getting the bet-ter price, just like installing white-boxbrake pads might not be the answer,” saysPatrick Dubois of Robert Bosch LLC.

Diagnostics down the roadIt’s probably a good idea to stick with

buying your diagnostic tools from yourprimary tool supplier, because OBD andtools are going to keep getting moresophisticated.

The OBD-III specification, whichcould include the capability for vehicles totransmit emissions violations, will be thenext turning point in onboard diagnos-tics, but it’s still in regulatory develop-ment.

Basically, technicians have a lot to lookforward to in terms of new capabilitiesand new challenges when it comes toonboard diagnostics, and the next gener-ation of diagnostic tools.

“By the nature of the industry and thefact that the explosion of electronics inthe auto industry will continue, the diag-nostic tools will evolve to be more andmore sophisticated. The vehicle manufac-turers will continue to add diagnosticcapability into the control modules. Theinformation available to technicians willincrease. New tools will evolve, and Ihope that the OEMs will allow moreopen information about the systemsthey’re designing,” says Bruce A. Ruhf.

SSGM

The VAG-COM Pro Kit from Ross-Tech is a soft-ware program that can turn a PC into a VW/Audifactor diagnostic tool, covering models from1990 to 2007. It provides 12 different measure-ment parameters.

Robert Bosch www.bosch.com

Ross-Tech www.ross-tech.com

SPX/OTC www.otctools.com

REFERENCE LIST

32 SSGM April 2007