august2022 - 9

" Fleets and shops must realize this will be a part
of standard maintenance; it cannot be overlooked, "
noted Fabio Mazzon, technical manager at TEXA
USA, a provider of ADAS diagnostic and calibration
solutions. " Soon most trucks will be equipped
with ADAS systems as a standard. This means that
technicians in the shop, whether they like it or not,
will have to get familiar with the ADAS systems,
and how to do calibrations and diagnostics. "
Some basic tips Mazzon offered include physically
inspecting the systems and making sure the
radar is clean and the truck is properly aligned.
Spare parts should also be stored away from dust
or humidity.
Being unprepared when an ADAS component
isn't working properly will lead to " significant
downtime, " Mazzon warned.
Failure to do so will not only lead to more downtime
but possibly accidents as well.
Mazzon noted that a malfunctioning lane
departure system can cause the truck to drift into
other lanes, while an uncalibrated or improperly
installed radar connected to the emergency
braking system can prevent it from sensing the
vehicle up ahead and may not mitigate a potential
collision in time.
It's all connected
One thing to first note is that the more advanced
ADAS technologies become, the more interconnected
they are with each other. That can
create a challenge for maintenance operations,
noted Chuck Brodie, field service team leader,
Commercial Vehicle Systems, ZF Group.
For example, an issue with an antilock braking
system (ABS) wheel speed sensor can affect a
collision mitigation system.
" A failed sensor can trigger a fault code, but
it may not be an issue with that system, " Brodie
explained further. " To accurately diagnose a
problem, technicians can use software to follow
a very logical step-by-step procedure. They can
determine the description of the problem and, in
our diagnostic software, double-click on fault code
readings to see recommendations about what to
check and in what order. "
While there are not recommended maintenance
procedures for many of these systems, Brodie did
say that fleets should be asking how they can make
sure things are working properly. The answer often
has to do with when and where modifications are
made. For example, certain procedures could
misalign the radar system, and replacing a windshield
could move a camera out of position.
Brodie also stressed that while fault codes
vary from system to system, drivers should
report all codes.
" Drivers are not inclined to report issues if the
truck is running correctly, but in the case of things
like cruise control not working, it will get their
attention, " Brodie said. " Drivers may also notice
a service need when the issue is simply blocked
radar caused by the buildup of sticky snow or ice. "
» TEXA's ADAS Truck Kit includes a calibration
frame and target, along with software, to ensure
the correct alignment and calibration of ADAS.
Photo: TEXA USA, 25787622 | Andrey Burmakin,
67907909 | Geerati | Dreamstime
Training up technicians
Brodie added that technicians need to have a
strong understanding of the electrical and data
» Interconnected ADAS technologies can create
a challenge for maintenance operations.
Photo: ZF
Those issues can arise when aftermarket components
are added to vehicles. For example, Denton
related that an aftermarket bumper might impact
the operation of a forward-facing radar.
" We had a vehicle in with an intermittent problem
that was hard to diagnose, " Denton continued.
" It turned out that when a camera was added to
the windshield, the wiring wasn't run through
a grommet and the bare metal edge of the hole
rubbed through the insulation. In that case, we
had to start at the frame and didn't find it until we
reached the headliner. It took all that labor time
for a problem that could have been avoided with
a small, inexpensive part. "
For Denton, the biggest obstacle to effective
ADAS diagnostics is learning how OEM and
August 2022 | FleetMaintenance.com
9
" Drivers are not inclined to
report issues if the truck
is running correctly, but
in the case of things like
cruise control not working,
it will get their attention. "
Chuck Brodie, field service team leader,
Commercial Vehicle Systems, ZF Group
link aspects of ADAS technologies. " With that
basic training, they are able to use diagnostic
software and check simple things like power,
ground, and data link connections. Not having
that knowledge can lead to higher costs and not
fixing the system. "
Main ADAS issues that are seen in the shop at
Fyda Freightliner Columbus in Ohio are related
to wiring, noted Jamie Denton, assistant service
manager at the 30-bay shop, one of seven service
department locations operated by the Elite
Support Certified dealership network.
" Basic electrical is one of the skills we need
to work on, " Denton said. " Training technicians
to load test a wire to make sure it will carry
the necessary current or to see if it fails goes a
long way. We tell our technicians that a simple
voltmeter is their best friend. "
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august2022

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