december2021 - 52

ELECTRONICS
or to notice a burned-out light. In some instances, intermittent
faults may hint toward a looming failure and
prompt the fleet to change the bulb or make a repair
before it becomes a safety concern.
" Advanced aftermarket diagnostic tools have not only
made it easier to detect electrical issues by simultaneously
scanning all components, but have also improved
in capabilities that assist the user with the diagnosis, "
Hedman added. " Technicians can use a single application
to scan the truck, locate the affected wiring harness
using suggested troubleshooting steps, view the harness's
wiring diagram, and then chart data points or use relevant
bidirectional commands like a wiggle test to find
the damaged wire. "
Using this new technology, Phillips Connect has
New diagnostic tools and interactive wiring diagrams are
making troubleshooting and repairing electrical issues on trucks
easier and faster than ever before.
Photo courtesy of Noregon
introduced its Light Out system, which Cliff Creech,
director of sales engineering at Phillips Connect, said
continually monitors the lights on a vehicle and stores a
30-day history of faults that are continually reported to
fleet operations.
" When the vehicle is serviced, this information
can be accessed by the technician giving them a clear
indication of what the problem is, which they can then
address and fix, " he noted. " This saves time and more
likely results in the proper lasting repair. "
Just as vital, Creech said, are new data management
and storage capabilities offered as part of
maintenance diagnostic systems today, which can
also cut critical time off electronic troubleshooting
and repairs.
" When fleets have to rely on outsourcing their maintenance,
either as a regular practice or because of on-road
issues including having the vehicle put out of service at
a checkpoint, lighting and electrical issues can become
something of open-check for the provider and resurface
down the road if the right repair is not made, " he noted.
" Without the monitoring documentation new telematics
systems provide, it's unknowable if the service being
provided is appropriate to the problem and can lead to
lost time trying to repair a 'ghost' issue. "
Other telematics solutions like Phillips Connect
Plugs and connectors are a common weak link in vehicle
electronic systems.
Photo courtesy of Optronics International
Smart7 Remote Pre-Check advises a fleet if one of their
trailers has lighting or electrical issues before it is dispatched
to haul freight, Creech added.
" In addition to not wasting the time of the driver to
pull a trailer that is not road-ready, the data can also
suggest to the fleet what is wrong, so when maintenance
is scheduled they know what they need to fix, " he said.
Also important is expediting how technicians access
the complex information required to track down wiring
issues. To help, LaPage said Mitchell 1 is also leveraging
new technologies like its interactive wiring diagrams,
which she said can significantly save time in diagnosing
and repairing electrical problems.
" When viewing one of our wiring diagrams, techniFor
solving electrical issues, it is strongly recommended to invest
in tools that facilitate holistic diagnostics.
Photo courtesy of Power Probe
52 Fleet Maintenance | December 2021
cians can click on any component or wire within the
diagram to see a pop-up menu with selections to learn
more about specifications, component location, connector
views, guided component tests, and more, " she said.
" There is no need to exit the wiring diagram to find
related information needed to diagnose the issue. And if
that examination turns out to be a dead-end, the technician
is automatically returned to the correct diagram to
continue checking for other issues-all without having
to initiate a secondary search. "
Many technicians have struggled with diagnosing
electrical systems on trucks because they either selected
One approach for cutting down on electrical issues is to adopt
a dedicated PM program and swap out older style plugs and
connectors for newer ones that offer greater protection from the
elements.
Photo courtesy of Optronics International
the wrong tool or were never properly trained on essential
tools like a digital multimeter (DMM), Creech said.
" Too often, technicians poke around a wiring harness
until they're able to detect a problem, which can lead
to bigger issues such as damaging the harness or other
wires, " he notes. " Using the tools at their disposal, such
as a diagnostic application and a multimeter, takes much
of the guesswork out of diagnosing electric systems. "
For solving electrical issues, Creech said Phillips
engineers strongly recommend investing in tools that
facilitate holistic diagnosis.
" Because communication issues can affect multiple
systems on a vehicle, the ability to simultaneously diagnose
all truck components helps uncover the root cause
of electric problems, " Hedman said. " That is why we
feel it's best to invest in a diagnostic and repair tool that
provides the user with everything they need in a single
application to complete the job. For example, [Noregon]
JPRO's Fault Guidance feature presents the user with
troubleshooting steps, plus valuable information like fullcolor
wiring diagrams to improve technician efficiency. "
Optronics' O'Dell said that in his experience, the
weakest links in a truck's electrical system are the links
between wiring and vehicle systems-the molded plugs
and hard-shell connectors that often attract dirt and
debris, or allow water inside. He recommended replacing
them with more modern, and better protected connectors
as part of a prescribed preventive maintenance (PM)
regimen for the fleet.
During this electrical PM inspection, O'Dell said
technicians should go through every connector and light
socket on the vehicle and-at the bare minimum-have
them simply pull the plugs apart, inspect them for damage,
clean them, and put new electrical grease in to help
protect them from the elements.
" And that's a good time to swap out any older connections
for newer ones, " he said. " It's a simple, oldschool
approach to dealing with electronic ghosts. "
James Alfred is a freelance journalist with more than
15 years of experience in the trucking industry.
december2021

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