Aftermarket September 2022

BY Frank Massey D iagnostics will never be simple. In fact, for many reasons it is getting more difficult. So, in this issue of Aftermarket and the next, I will strip back as much of the complication as possible, focusing on the building blocks that are the very foundation of a successful diagnostic service. I am confident there will be something of interest to those at all levels of knowledge and experience. I am going to begin with the most important decisions you must make. Who have you identified as your target customer base? What level of service do you intend to offer? These two questions are more complex than you may imagine, and the answers will dictate the technical level of competence you or your employees must attain. They also dictate the spectrum of specialist tools you require and to a certain extent the aesthetics and location of your workshop. For many years I practiced diagnostics across every 30 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2022 TECHNICAL www.aftermarketonline.net BUILDING THE BETTER GARAGE In the first instalment of a two-part series, Frank considers how a garage can offer a successful diagnostic service to its customers vehicle make and engine configuration, from carburettors to mechanical and electronic injection systems. This proved phenomenally successful for more than two decades. However it became ever more obvious that we at ADS had to specialise with a brand identity. In the early years, 1985-2010, we could access all the vehicle data and functionality required to conduct and complete a repair. The challenge, then as now, was accessibility to the vehicle software suite. The VMs have always been resistant to independents repairing their vehicles. One by one, the leading serial platform manufacturers were forced to withdraw component programming and other functionality. I am sure you all knew them. They provided us with an excellent living over many years. The king is dead, long live the (VM) king. Due to our reputation and success in vehicle diagnostics it became inevitable that we would take on the franchised Market-leading kit from the past PART ONE