Aftermarket December/January 2023

J ulian Goulding, Northern Europe Marketing Manager at Delphi Technologies Aftermarket, said: “Having a diagnostic tool that facilitates frequent updates allows garages to explore new business opportunities, but also cater for loyal customers who may have upgraded to a newer vehicle and would otherwise have gone elsewhere for their servicing requirements. “Today’s diagnostic tools operate across a wide array of criteria – including how it is refreshed with greater applications and what is required to receive any updates. Which is why it’s never been so important for users to ensure licenses of diagnostic tools have been renewed if they are still to receive updates long after their original purchase. An expensive tool may be more affordable in the long run as an investment.” Julian added: “A combination of both the correct tool and receiving regular updates really does pay dividends for garages when dealing with today’s rapidly evolving vehicle parc. For example, we have just released the latest 2022.12 DS Software update, which notably includes greater EV and ADAS coverage, allowing garages to evolve their service offering in these essential, fast-growing areas. It is worth garages remembering that updates can also enhance usability, too. Together with increased coverage, this latest update also includes the introduction of a more user-friendly graphic interface, plus the ability to conveniently export the flight-recorder data from the DS BlueTech tool to an Excel document.” For independents, access is a growing issue. “One of the major challenges facing independent workshops is cyber security management (CSM),” explained Head of Hella Gutmann UK, Neil Hilton. “Among other features, the latest vehicle models have electric, or partially electric, drivetrains, extensive connectivity and a wide range of ADAS functions. These developments go hand-in-hand with expanding data volumes and new on-board network architectures, which vehicle manufacturers (VMs) are increasingly securing against unwanted access, by means of CSM. To support independent workshops to communicate with these and future vehicles, Hella Gutmann implemented the CSM function in its mega macs range of diagnostic devices in 2020. This allows verified users with a single Hella Gutmann registration to diagnose secured vehicles without accessing the VMs portal, and is a genuine multi-brand function that is being successively expanded. Without official access to CSM many current diagnostic tools in the market will have less and less capabilities. We have also just released our Smart Component Help, an additional function within our software to further assist a technician in identifying the correct part to replace on the vehicle to complete a repair, which also improves efficiencies for factors in terms of unwanted returns. Neil added: “Our recent introduction of the macsRemote, 50 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS www.aftermarketonline.net Having the right diagnostic tools, with the right back-up, can lead to you fixing cars more quickly and efficiently which is a remote services product, enables aftermarket workshops to complete work previously reserved for franchised dealers, as they can now compete with these dealers with the level of service they can offer their customers.” For more information, visit: www.hella-gutmann.co.uk Informed Looking at specific areas, Pro-Align CEO Clive Seabrook noted that diagnostic kit can be a boon when working with tyres: “Quick Tread Edge is a revolutionary wheel diagnostic drive-over health check system that automatically measures the tread depth and wear of each tyre from edge to edge in 3 – 7 seconds. This not only helps workshops to sell more tyres but also keep their customers informed about the health of their tyres and when they might need to look at a replacement. Furthermore, the advanced system helps technicians highlight any excess tyre wear – a common issue caused with misalignment.” Clive added: “Hunter’s revolutionary drive-thru wheel alignment inspection system, Quick Check Drive, is capable of automatically conducting an alignment check in just 3 to 5 seconds. And, when situated at the front of your workshop alongside the Quick Tread Edge, your business has the power to diagnose a whole host of vehicle health issues for your customers. In fact, figures from Hunter show that workshops already using these systems are finding upwards of 70%of the vehicles they check have some form of wheel alignment issue, while at least half of the vehicles scanned showed excessive tyre wear or other tyre related problems.” For more information, visit: www.pro-align.co.uk Cutting-edge Commenting on the importance of having a good oscilloscope in your diagnostic armoury, Simon Zhong from Above: TRITON-D10 from Snap-on LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION