Today’s vehicles are extremely sophisticated. They have to be in order to support advanced propulsion systems, convenience systems, safety and security systems, and more. When any of these systems encounter a problem, the advanced skills and knowledge applied by a seasoned diagnostic technician will usually result in a positive outcome. If the problem is addressed by a lesser skilled worker, it’s likely the outcome would be the inverse. I’ve personally witnessed this scenario play out over the years on vehicles with fewer complexities. The evolution of a technician’s advanced skills and knowledge can only be supported through dedication and continuing education on the part of the diagnostician.
Entrance minimums and continued education
I believe that the foundational knowledge a technician needs today easily crosses into the engineering world. Although my entry into the industry started in high school in an auto shop class, followed by graduating from a technical school, I continue to find myself lacking certain knowledge I feel I should already have. Take HVAC for example; terms such as “sub-cooling” and “super heat” are performance terms that the commercial HVAC industry has been using for decades. Now with small volume A/C systems and new performance tools available to the technician, knowledge of these performance parameters will need to be understood in order to properly diagnose system performance issues.
And while foundational knowledge is important, I know for a fact that the information and skills gained through continuing education will bear fruit for many years. I strongly believe that the folks who don’t typically attend trainings don’t realize how much of a return on investment those trainings will produce. For myself, after graduating from a technical school in 1983, I began work in an independent service center. I quickly realized that I knew very little about what I really needed to know. If you were working in the industry back in the early 80’s, you will recall the influx of computer controls being applied to operate fuel and emissions systems. My observation at that time was that most of the technicians working alongside me wanted little or nothing to do with this new technology. I saw that as an opportunity and began attending every bit of training I could get my hands on.
Additionally, this was a period way before the internet came around and you could probably say that my version of the internet was filling out reader service cards found in various trade magazines. This resulted in a continuous stream of literature flowing through my mailbox. I can remember my wife complaining at times about how many books and magazines I had piled up in and around the coffee and end tables. I can tell you with certainty that the knowledge gained by reading and attending training has helped me to be successful in my career. And for the new technology mentioned earlier, I am still attending as many trainings today that I can get my hands on; so are all the technicians in my shop.
Access to training
In my early years, getting access to training was not as easy as it is today. However, back then I discovered that through one of our warehouse distributors our shop had access to ACDelco and Motorcraft OEM-level training. I remember asking my boss if I could take a few weekdays off and drive into Los Angeles to attend a two- or three-day session. It took him a bit to realize that the short term hit in production would likely result in a positive for the shop, and ultimately the industry. It was at that time I realized how valuable it was to attend training during the day, in addition to evening classes.
Today’s diagnosticians have many opportunities to advance their skills. Some of the pathways to do so include:
- Instructor-led clinics – most parts suppliers offer these during evenings or weekends
- Online training – self-paced curriculum
- Online webinars – due to COVID-19 many companies have pivoted nicely and are supporting the industry in an outstanding manner. Thank you!
- Video training – online, DVD, etc.
- Diagnostic-based community platforms such as diag.net
- App-based adaptive learning
Case Study
The first kit I acquired was from Automotive Test Solutions out of Albuquerque, New Mexico (see Fig. 1). While it’s still in use today, we have acquired their newer tool called the eSCOPE ELITE4 (see Fig. 2). If you haven't looked into this in-cylinder pressure testing yet, I highly recommend it, especially for times where you suspect camshaft timing issues. One of the early successes for us was on a Mazda Miata. We noticed that the engine wasn't actually running very well; since the vehicle wasn’t visiting the shop for any performance issues, we engaged with the customer about our observation. The customer revealed that the engine ran like that since having the timing belt replaced two years earlier at another service facility.
We received authorization to perform the inspection on the camshaft timing. For reference, this engine is a four cylinder with dual overhead camshafts. The front upper timing cover was not all that difficult to remove, and when the engine was rotated into the appropriate position for inspection, my technician noted that both of the camshaft timing marks appeared to be lined up properly. Normally when one is presented with this level of information, the focus goes elsewhere. However, I wasn’t satisfied; although I wasn’t highly experienced with using this method for diagnostics, I recommended that we collect and measure an in-cylinder running compression test.
We collected the data and made note of the exhaust valve opening (EVO) and intake valve closing (IVC) events. With this info, we needed access to service information. Unfortunately, rarely will one find camshaft timing specifications listed in service information. So, our next step was to do a little searching. What we found next was pretty cool; we came across a website for Mazda Miata Racing which had a rule book listing camshaft specification for the “Stock Class” racers. Armed with these specifications, we found that indeed our camshafts were not in time.
After more investigation, we discovered that the camshaft gears were on backwards (the front and rear of the gears had timing marks). Without the ability to measure these timing events with the in-cylinder pressure tester, we would have likely burned up a ton of time trying to diagnose this issue. You’ll find making comparisons on V engines pretty straightforward for cases where you have camshaft timing failure indicators only on one bank. If one started doing these measurements regularly, they would soon learn where the exhaust valve opening angle is before bottom dead center, and where the intake valve typically closes after bottom dead center. To me, this level of testing is truly revolutionary.
Remote learning with COVID-19
I recently had a conversation with one of my great friends, and colleague, Steve Ford, aka “The car guy.” Ford’s knowledge and dedication to the automotive service industry is truly astonishing. He’s been heavily involved with education throughout his career and possesses a very unique perspective on how our education system works. In a recent conversation, he shared some interesting observations as they relate to the COVID-19 epidemic we're currently in the middle of. Ford commented that remote learning has certain disadvantages, primarily due to the fact that you're removed from the learning “inertia” that a like-minded group of learners would be contributing to. That comment alone is a very powerful observation. Moreover, the community or camaraderie that exists at a training event is one that I find highly contributes to learning. For decades, I have been part of sidebar conversations that take place in the hallways where intimate discussions can help one grow their knowledge base. Sidebar conversations with small groups can be very helpful because it lets you get your ideas off the ground, especially if you're uncomfortable bringing ideas to the surface while in a classroom in front of a larger audience.
Many companies that supply training quickly pivoted and began offering webinar-based training, which is truly awesome. The first few weeks of California’s shelter-in-place mandate left our shop with a lack of work, which allowed us to take advantage of this new daytime training opportunity (see Fig. 3).
Think outside the box
Every diagnostician should consider pushing their limits on new subjects. I trust that most of us are not at the engineering level, but as I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of engineering terms and units of measurement that are (or will soon be) part of our profession. Having a deeper level of knowledge on these subjects will make life a lot easier when you're challenged with a diagnostic dilemma dealing with such items.
One of the books that I've found very useful to have around is the Bosch Automotive Handbook (see Fig. 4). And as I look up on my shelf, I see that I have the fifth edition, which is a little dated. The forward section states the following topics have been newly introduced: natural gas operation for spark ignition engines, fuel cells, automatic roof control, instrumentation, traffic telematics, etc. Clearly, I'm going to have to order a later version, especially with all of the new advanced driver assistance systems that are now in (or entering) the marketplace. But even with an older book like this, there is a lot of really useful information. Everything from steering systems to engine management systems, Lambda sensors and so on … a ton of great reading material for one to draw upon.
Remote diagnostics
A number of companies in the marketplace offer remote diagnostics, primarily because there is a huge shortage of highly skilled diagnosticians. Some of these companies employ top-level talent and have the ability to remotely connect to vehicles in your shop and work towards a solution. Some of these companies can also provide other services, like programming. Additionally, a number of mobile diagnostics companies can come to your facility and provide services. It’s good to know that you can include these options as a backup plan.
Here is a short list of some remote diagnostic companies in the marketplace today:
- OPUS | IVS
- AsTech
- AirPro Diagnostics
Before you reach out for assistance, be sure to always doublecheck your work. One of my colleagues shared with me a good rule he has in place for his technicians who have concluded that an expensive module or computer needs to be replaced. He asks his technician to pretend that he just installed a new unit and found that the same problem persists. I think this is a good rule to live by, and one you might consider implementing.
As you and your team explore new training opportunities, products, and solutions, you will find learning is a constant endeavor. From my perspective, given the complexity of today’s vehicles, the value for a diagnostician will continue to grow well into the future.
