august2021 - 34

DIAGNOS TIC S
» CanDo's HD Pro Tab wireless Bluetooth
diagnostics performs a VGT calibration.
Photo courtesy of CanDo
gone. " There are so many ECUs and sensors
on a truck that a tool with guided diagnostic
features and troubleshooting assistance is now
a requirement for all shops, " he said.
Repairing a truck today is a matter of
signals, said Bruno Gattamorta, vice president
of sales and marketing, Cojali USA Inc.,
which manufacturers the Jaltest Diagnostics
tool. " If you can't read a signal, you can't get
the results. You can't read the signal without
a computer, " he said.
Now, a seemingly simple task, such as an oil
change, might necessitate a technician use a
scan tool with service capabilities to connect
with the vehicle and reset the engine service
light, Whitney said.
Even if a repair entails physically wrenchHow
sensors impact
heavy-duty scan tools
Complex electronic components, sensors, and ECUs
demand more from advanced diagnostic scan tools.
By Mindy Long
Truck technology is increasingly complex,
and significant growth in component electrification,
sensors, and electronic control units
(ECUs) has made diagnostic scan tools essential
to repairing and servicing vehicles.
" Electronic components and sensors have
seen a dramatic growth since the 1980s, when a
few sensors started to be used on the vehicles, "
said Allison Whitney, a spokesperson for Autel,
a developer of intelligent diagnostics, detection,
and analysis systems. " Today, most vehicles
have in excess of 80 sensors and a myriad of
components, including those used in advanced
driver assistance systems, such as cameras,
radar, ultrasound, and lidar devices. "
Duane Watson, technical trainer for Bosch
Aftermarket Service Solutions, said there
has also been exponential growth in vehicle
comfort features and solutions designed to
improve fuel mileage, such as variable flow AC
compressors or electronically controlled radiator
shutter vents that streamline aerodynamics.
These components have added
even more electronics and sensors.
Thomas Kotenko, general manag»
Use of advanced
driver assistance
systems is on the
rise, and the Autel
MaxiSys ADAS
provides the original
complete diagnostic
functionality as well
as comprehensive
and precise ADAS
calibration.
Image courtesy of Autel
er for NEXIQ Technologies, said the
number of electronic sensors on
equipment will continue to increase.
" We've all heard about the move to
electric vehicles, " he said, adding
that vehicles are essentially becoming
moving computers.
Jason Hedman, product manager
at Noregon, a diagnostic, repair,
and data analytic solutions provider,
said the days of fixing a truck with
a basic scan tool and a wrench are
34 Fleet Maintenance | August 2021
ing on a part, more often than not the truck's
computer has to be told that the repair has been
done, followed by clearing the corresponding
code. Plus, replacing certain parts requires a
recalibration of the part, which involves using
a diagnostic tool, said Victor Rivilla, marketing
director for CanDo International.
" One typical example is chasing a misfire
and finding that it is caused by a faulty injector.
In most cases, the injector cannot simply
be swapped in and the truck driven, " Rivilla
said. " Trim file codes need to be programmed
into the injector, which entails the use of a diagnostic
program or scan tool. "
CanDo's Pro Tab and HD Pro III cover Classes
4 to 8 commercial vehicles and off-highway
equipment. " Engines, brakes, transmissions,
body controls, and basically everything that
has a sensor or module can be scanned and
diagnosed. Both tools also offer full bi-directional
testing of components and special
functions, such as relearns, calibrations, and
parameter changes, " Rivilla said.
Demanding more
from scan tools
Scan tools have advanced significantly.
" Originally, there were simple engine code
readers that were essentially used to detect
emissions issues and resolve issues preventing
vehicles from passing state inspections. Next
came four systems readers to detect faults in
engines, transmissions, ABS (braking systems),
and SRS (airbags), " Autel's Whitney said.
" Today, technicians need all-systems scanners
that can detect faults in every available system
on that vehicle. "
With more electric components comes more
information, trouble codes, inputs, and outputs
technicians have to decipher, NEXIQ's Kotenko
said. " When an input or output fails, that's
when you get that trouble code, " he explained,
adding that the code will identify the area or
sensor experiencing a failure. " The trouble code
would state the O2 sensor has trouble. As you
drill down, it could be the wire or something
august2021

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