Aftermarket March 2023

BY Frank Massey W elcome to a new series, where I will look at typical issues experienced by techs. To make this series informative and interesting I am going to discuss the problems that get thrown at you in workshops like the latest jewel in the ADS crown, Eldon Street Garage. Having spent the past few months as a general dogsbody in the latest ADS workshop acquisition, it was inevitable that my occasional words of wisdom to the young techs would lead to hands-on diagnostics and repairs. I had made the very deliberate decision from the outset not to bring my personal tools or diagnostic tools into the workshop. The business has sufficient tools for basic repairs. It has been a lifelong policy not to lend tools. They are an extension of my hands, unique, personal, and expensive. To see an example of my tools, please refer to Fig.1 This left me with an interesting challenge, to diagnose vehicle faults with a multimeter granted a very advanced one, two scan tools, a Snap-on Apollo D9 and TOPDON. Most of my career has been accustomed to using ¼ and three-eighths drive. You might imagine I am not popular with most workshop tool inventory. As part of my dogsbody duties, I had created a degree of 28 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2023 TECHNICAL www.aftermarketonline.net A MONTH IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE TECHNICIAN Frank begins a new series with a look at battery issues seen on a Ford Focus discipline and organisation with regards to workshop sundries, vacuum, very fuel hose, quality worm clips, electrical repair connectors and so forth. The next and most interesting variable in this mix was me. It would be fair to say that I have enjoyed many years of my career existing within an ivory tower, with access to the very best tools, VM software, and workshop environment. Fortunately, my initial training and varied engineering experiences has given me a sound foundation. Well-chosen In a past life, I trained within the engine re-manufacturing industry. My employer owned several vintage cars, including a Bentley 4.5 blower, Bugatti Type 43, Brooklands Riley, and more. Overall my skills span technology over a long period, from the early 1930s to more recent times as an airframe technician on the tornado IDS/ADV, with 35 years vehicle diagnostics and training. So, with a resume like that I should be ok, right? To give me a fighting chance I put together a simple but well-chosen tool kit. Please refer to Fig.2. It is fair to say that most vehicles that come through the workshop are in poor condition with minimal investment in service and repair. This stands in direct contrast with my no compromise attitude to any task I am given. Unfortunately, Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Part One