July/August 2019

5 – Time takes for fuel delivery to cease (injector closing) Add some additional test points for injector power supply, current and rail pressure (another couple of minutes) and you’ll confirm the integrity of the positive supply to the injector, the injector winding, and a great test for a quick look to ensure the injector is delivering fuel once open. Like I said - It really is one tool to rule them all! Step four - Generic systems knowledge With steps one through three in place you’ll now have the foundation knowledge to explore vehicle systems. This can be a little intimidating as there are so many systems and so much to see, which is why we advise attacking this in bite- size chunks. Your goal here is to become familiar with generic items that broadly apply to a wide cross- section of vehicles. While there’s no substitute for formal training, taking a few minutes on a regular basis to self teach is invaluable. Here’s some things for you to try: 1 – Pick one system to start with. E.g. petrol engine management 2 – Select a book or watch a video for some foundation learning 3 – Focus on one part of a system. E.g. Loads sensors 4 – Inspect serial data for MAF and MAP sensors across various load and speed ranges 5 – Scope MAF and MAP sensors across load and speed ranges 6 – Record your results and repeat on different vehicles on the same components 7 – Repeat points one through six on different components Do this on a range of vehicles and systems and you’ll become incredibly familiar with what good looks like, as well as raising many questions that we’ll answer when you attend our training. Step five – Manufacturer information and tooling There’s one final piece to this part of the puzzle and that’s using the using the best information and serial tools. While I understand that generic information and tooling has its place, I also have too many real-world examples where my blood pressure would have been dramatically raised were it not for O.E. information and diagnostic tooling. My advice here is straightforward; 1 – Select one manufacturer initially 2 – Become intimately familiar with their information system 3 – Learn to use their wiring diagrams 4 – Explore their technical service bulletins 5 – Use their repair procedures 6 – Substitute a generic serial tool for the O.E. tool for a month 7 – Explore all the serial tool has to offer We’ve been training technicians like you to use this equipment for many years. It’s had too much of an impact for those that have grasped the nettle for you not to give it a go. You now know what it takes to begin the road to technical success. All you need to do is start. Taking regular steps, and before you know it you’ll have not only reduced your stress but your time to a first time fix as well. JULY/AUGUST 2019 AFTERMARKET 25 EYEBROW www.aftermarketonline.net If you’d like to learn how to improve your diagnosis skills then call John on 01604 328500. Auto iQ have a complete technician development programme designed to help your technicians be the best they can be. _____________ To join AutoiQ’s online forum go to: autoiq.co.uk/ garageowners