June 2021

A fter a year of under-use, many cars will be experiencing some unusual problems, making the need for diagnostic tools more vital than before. Fortunately, there is a wide array of kit available to help you find the solution to every problem. Solving today’s conundrum is not the only imperative though. When dealing with diagnostic kit, it pays to think ahead. Vehicle technology is advancing at such a pace that having the right diagnostic tools means choosing equipment that cannot only serve your requirements today, but for years to come. As Julian Goulding, Northern Europe Marketing Manager at Delphi Technologies Aftermarket confirmed, it can make choosing new diagnostics equipment even more involved: “Diagnostics equipment, plus any associated training, represents a significant investment, so it’s imperative to consider its operation across a wide array of criteria, not least of all how it is refreshed with greater applications and what is required to receive any updates. For example, it’s incredibly important for licenses to be renewed if customers are still to receive updates long after their original purchase, and that’s something which can often be overlooked. As a rule, you already need to look for the breadth and depth of existing application coverage, as while certain tools will claim 40 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2021 DIAGNOSTICS TOOLS www.aftermarketonline.net If used correctly, diagnostic tooling can be the path to enlightenment under the bonnet, and provide new opportunities too THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT extensive vehicle coverage, many will in fact only diagnose limited systems within them; but it is also worth asking how often updates occur and how extensive the support is. “The regularity, size of the updates and what is covered will not only determine the longevity of a diagnostic tool but will also increase the value it represents. If solid updates are easily accessible and relatively plentiful, then investing in a more expensive tool may be the more affordable option in the long run.” “As an example, the latest update to the Delphi Technologies DS tool software introduces 15 new car models, 888 new car unique system selections, 12 new heavy-duty models and 111 heavy-duty unique system selections. Amongst those are several applications for electric vehicles, plus extra ADAS diagnostics capability across a variety of models. Additionally, the update strengthens the tool’s ease-of-use adding a clearly visible battery voltage indicator that displays the battery voltage value and battery status.” Thorough investigation As well as taking the long view, you also need to consider the market as it stands. Commenting on prevailing trends, such as the ongoing impact of multiple lockdowns on the Above: Opus IVS Master Technican on a RAP & Remote session