Scan tools are only part of the key to the diagnostic process, knowing when to use them is equally important. If a vehicle comes into your shop with a drivability complaint, should plugging in your scan tool be the first step in diagnosing the problem? Probably not — keep in mind that even though modern engines have sensors and computers that monitor just about every aspect of their operation, deep down they’re still machines that require air, fuel, and oil to run. Remember — a reflash won’t fix everything.

What tools do I need to get into hybrid repair? That is a good question. It all depends on what you have now. What should a technically aware shop have at this time for equipment? A pair of Class O 1000 volt safety gloves with leather protectors, a good digital volt ohm meter (DVOM) rated CAT III @ 1000volts, a lab scope with that same rating, good technical information, and the proper scan tool. There are other hybrid related tools for specific models as well.

This is part two of a Mode $06 series. Last issue covered the intro and terms associated with Mode $06. Now we are going to describe changes to Mode $06 with the advent of CAN communication.

By George Witt. Yellow pages, direct mail, newspaper, coupon book or Newsletter? Many shop owners agonize over the best way to bring business to their shops. Heaven knows, a ton of money can be mowed through in a short period of time seeking the answer.

Fort Myers, FL – March 23, 2009 – As businesses struggle to stay afloat in this tough business climate, AVI has released a management training video series with AMI approved instructor George Witt, to help independent auto repair shops survive. The series How to Survive in Tough Times and Prosper consists of three DVD’s: Critical Components of the Front End, Eat Your Competition Alive, and Secrets of Running a Zoo.

Click below to check out more great EVAP training videos and learn more about your smoke machine.

If you are turning imports away because your techs lack the training and expertise to diagnose and repair these vehicles, then you are missing out on a significant portion of the repair market. Dave Scaler from the Mechanics Education Association (MEA) can help you take on tough problems on the most popular imports on the road today.

By Ryan Kooiman. How many times have you been scrolling through your scan tool, and somehow run across a screen that said something like:
TID $01 CID$11 Min:$01E1 Max:NA Cur Val:$02DC Result:Pass
This was my first experience with Mode $06.

I call it the “bonehead cycle” of the Independent Repair Shop. Workers in the average Independent Auto Repair Shop are sick of being treated like dirt, working in poorly lit and ill-equipped conditions on junk cars that “just need to be fixed so they can get by.” The boss constantly complains that the workers are making more than he is and they ain’t making much.

By Scott Holloway. As a vehicle service and maintenance provider, you are no doubt aware that with the model year 2008 all cars and light trucks sold in the United States have a Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). These systems actually have been in use for better than ten years and have only recently shown up in the repair centers with a resounding thud! We all know that with change comes opportunity, and TPMS represents huge opportunity for the tire service centers and auto repair garages alike.

By Charlie Fewell. Face it; you have no control over the state of the economy or the potential loss of revenue and profits that may occur when times are tough. You do in fact have total control over your behaviors during any economic slowdown. Many companies pull back and reduce overall spending in an attempt to preserve the bottom line.

Beyond the Books – OEM service websites are a valuable resource for much of the information you need to do your job, but only if you know how to use them. AVI can help you easily navigate through these sites to find the information you need quickly. Bill Haas, Vice President of Education and Training for ASA will show you where to find exactly what you need in the shortest amount of time so you can be more profitable with less stress.

Get some quick tips from Dave Hobbs as he shows us how to use a smoke machine and scan tool as a diagnostic dream team. Learn the basics of EVAP systems and how they work so you can better use your scan tool and smoke machine together as a better team for diagnosing EVAP related codes.

By Craig Van Batenburg. In the beginning of hybrid car development the air conditioning systems were R143a systems that shared all the same components as a typical gasoline motor vehicle. The early hybrids were the Honda Insight, Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape, and Classis Prius (2001-2003). All hybrid A/C systems are really climate control. Only the Insight had A/C as an option, and it was a climate control system as well. Every other hybrid to date has factory climate control for some very important reasons.

By Dave Hobbs. Car audio? Been more interested in R.P.M.s than in watts R.M.S.? Better rethink that philosophy with today’s factory car audio and entertainment systems. The technology that used to be a handful of simple circuits like “power, ground, speaker and antenna” and totally independent of other electronic systems has given way to vehicles sprawling with wires and data busses interacting with the audio system.

By Bill Haas. Remember the days when you could open the doors of your shop in the morning and customers would drop off the keys to broken cars all day long? It wasn’t that long ago, but a lot has changed in a short time. Vehicles are built better, last longer and require less maintenance, and more businesses are offering automotive solutions to vehicle owners. Specifically, automobile manufacturers and dealerships are attempting to be a significant influence on when and where vehicle owners have service performed.

Have you spent hours trying to repair a driveability or emission problem and couldn’t resolve the issue? Many of these problems can only be repaired thru flashing. AVI can give you the training you need so you can be prepared when you come across a problem that cannot be fixed without a software update.

Would you like to solve engine performance and misfire issues in 10 minutes? AVI can help you diagnose these problems quickly so you can make more money. This course with Bill Fulton will help you become more profitable by showing you a 10 minute diagnostic strategy using your DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope) and secondary waveforms to resolve these issues.

We all know that look. We get it from customers from time to time.A guy drives up, parks out front and asks, “I’ve got a tail light out, can you put one in for me real quick?” You say, “Sure.” After it’s put in, you tell the guy, “All fixed and we checked all the other lights, too. Everything’s good. That’ll be $13.00.” The guy gives you the “Deer In the Headlights look” (DIH) and says…