Aftermarket December/January 2023

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 AFTERMARKET 51 the team at TOPDON said: “Solenoids, sensors and actuators come in various shapes and sizes, with different connecting interfaces. When something doesn’t work as expected, it is these elements that can provide actionable data on what malfunctioned. In order to read this information, there are a variety of automotive diagnostic tools that can connect to a vehicle. One of the more efficient and in-depth devices is the oscilloscope. Many times, electric signals from circuits, sensors or power sources fluctuate too fast for a multimeter. In particular cases, no errors are stored in the ECU for troubleshooting purposes. If a sensor gets stuck in a mid-position, chances are, the ECU won’t store an error code to aid troubleshooting. This is where an automotive oscilloscope comes into play.” He continued: “Frequently, garages deal with hard-to- diagnose, intermittent issues that can quickly burn out technicians, and cost both time and money. Automotive oscilloscopes excel at identifying these exact kinds of issues, reducing the time needed for troubleshooting and repair, offering the end client a quick turnaround. Similar to standard oscilloscopes, automotive oscilloscopes are optimised for the automotive sector. Many base oscilloscopes feature only one channel. While this may help diagnose one issue at a time, being able to compare multiple flows of sensor data is critical for any self- respecting car technician. Comparing multiple data flows comes in handy when diagnosing crankshaft angle issues, comparing valve lift and camshaft positions, examining exhaust pressures according to RPM, checking oil pressure against engine load and checking data from inductive sensors.” Simon added: “The TOPDON Phoenix Max is a cutting- edge automotive diagnostic scanner. It encapsulates the Phoenix Scope 4-channel oscilloscope which can take on four data inputs and display them side-by-side, allowing for a better perspective of vehicle data flows. Channels are color-coded, making it easier to know which data flow comes from which sensor. This allows for a better grip on ignition component troubleshooting and faults pertaining to vacuum or pressure elements, as well as high-accuracy defect analysis.” For more information, visit: www.topdon.com Efficiently and confidently And finally, Snap-on’s newest diagnostic tool, the TRITON- D10, has been released. Deployed with Fast-Track Intelligent Diagnostics, verified parts replacement records and real fixes via SureTrack and Smart Data for relevant vehicle and code-specific PIDs, the new TRITON-D10 has a 10-inch touchscreen display, and includes graphing features and a guided CTM/scope for verifying component failures. Commenting on the TRITON-D10, Mark Ost, General Manager of Snap-on Diagnostics UK said: “With the growing complexity of vehicles on our roads comes more and more data points to process. Technicians need to be able to access verified tests, comparative data, and intuitive scope functionalities to save time on troubleshooting. Using Fast-Track Intelligent Diagnostics, the TRITON-D10 filters data, delivers smart shortcuts, and provides a route to the answers technicians need to complete the repair efficiently and confidently the first time. Only Snap-on software provides this.” For more information, visit: www.snapon.com/EN/UK