march2023 - 31

DIAGNOS TIC S
tool functions. " For an aftermarket shop, an
aftermarket tool is probably the best option
as it will have the widest coverage, " said
Pete Liebetreu, Hunter Engineering's VP of
marketing.
Shops should look for ADAS tools that
address all ADAS components,
such as
rear-mounted blind spot monitoring, rear collision
warning, front camera, lidar and night
vision, and ultrasound sensors on the front
and rear of the vehicle.
But making a selection is more involved
than coverage alone, Krebs said. " Shops must
research before investing in ADAS equipment
to ensure that the system they purchase does
not alter OEM specifications or the target size
and design, " he said.
Liebetreu said a shop's commitment to
ADAS work can be scaled, but at the very
minimum, it needs a scan tool to communicate
with the vehicle and initiate reset procedures.
" Hunter's ADASLink fits that bill and works
hand in glove with our alignment systems for
other resets as well, " he said.
A vehicle's alignment can be crucial to
proper calibration. " Autel's IA900 incorporates
diagnostics first and incorporates the
alignment into the process with 3D processes
and cameras for the wheels, " Peregrine said.
" We have developed a way to find the center,
capture the alignment, and set up a frame in
under two minutes. "
The biggest challenge is finding a brand that
supports all makes and models in a specified
region. " There are tools that will cover a lot
of vehicles, but not all makes and models, "
Corron said, adding that systems need to be
sophisticated enough to run a full-system
diagnostics scan so technicians can see everything
going on with the vehicle to determine
if there is something wrong that will cause
a calibration to fail or an inaccurate or less
precise calibration.
However, for Mustafa,
the number one
requirement is that tools are user-friendly. " It
is an exceptionally competitive space. Those
aftermarket tools are fighting for a number
one position, " he said. " I look more for features
that level the playing field for a new technician
versus a highly skilled technician. "
Mustafa uses Noregon's JPRO, which he said
offers graphic displays of several different
systems. " We're always trying to find a way to
take a technician with six months or a year of
experience and help him perform like a team
member with ten years of experience, " Mustafa
said. " With a tool, if I'm not familiar with the
system, I can arrive at a more accurate decision
with more knowledge. "
Mustafa said he has turned down tools
with greater functionality because they aren't
user-friendly. " At the end of the day, our goal
is to get the truck repaired and back on the
road as fast as possible and as cost-effective as
possible with no return issues, " he said.
Johnson said that tools differentiate themselves
with the level of instruction they give
to ensure the vehicle is in the right condition
and that the targets are set up correctly.
Insurance companies often require a
pre-scan report that shows anything that could
be wrong before calibration and a calibration
report to show it was a success. " Even if you
aren't dealing with an insurance company,
this is information the customer should have
access to so they can be confident the shop did
it right, " Corron said.
Ongoing support and training are also
essential. " There are tools out there that you
can buy on the internet, " Liebetreu said. " Who
will be your local support to train, upgrade,
repair, and support your equipment once you
buy it? "
Liebetreu added that the quality of the tools
varies widely, but shops can compare features
to price to make their own value decision. " But
no product is a good value if it sits in a corner
because you don't know how to use it or can't
fix it, " he said.
Autel has trainers in the field who know how
to complete calibrations, so they can offer firsthand
guidance. " You can't substitute that real
world [assistance], " Peregrine said.
Even with having the right equipment and
aftermarket tools, there may be cases where
a technician needs to have OEM software. " If
there is damage to radar systems or cameras
and the components have to be replaced, most
have to be programmed before they can be
calibrated, " Corron said.
Staying current
Change is the only constant in the ADAS
market, Krebs said. " Evolving technology and
more advanced features on new vehicles will
pressure the market to continue developing
equipment technology to match the vehicles
being serviced, " he explained.
Because there are such rapid changes in
technology, it is essential to ensure producers
are making tools that can keep up. " Look for
tools that are top of the line that will support
the latest technology and adapt as technology
changes, " Corron said.
Tool providers must be ahead of what is
happening or work in conjunction with the
OEMs. Peregrine said Autel makes multiple
" Who will be your
local support to
train, upgrade,
repair, and
support your
equipment once
you buy it? "
Pete Liebetreu, Vice President of
marketing for Hunter Engineering
updates weekly. " Over a year, there may be 30
GM updates or 12 Toyota updates. It is changing
faster now than it ever has, and I don't see
that trend changing, " he said.
Making space
In addition to having tools, shops have to have
the right amount of space needed to calibrate
systems. Parameters are set by OEMs, and a
good percentage of shops are performing alignments
in the alignment bay, but there could be
obstacles in the way, such as a lift, that may
interfere with the space needed. " We can get
around them, but that is something to consider
when purchasing, " Peregrine said.
Krebs said 30' by 45' is strongly recommended,
with 40' by 60' preferred for optimal
floor capacity. " Only after an OEM changes a
procedure requiring less space should shops
adjust their calibration area appropriately, "
Krebs said.
If shops don't have the space, customers will
find a shop that does, so having calibration
capabilities can become a competitive advantage.
Johnson said he is increasingly seeing
hub-and-spoke relationships where shops
outsource calibrations and bring their vehicles
to a competitor's shop before they put them
back on the road.
Collision shops have a much greater need
for calibrations. " You almost can't have an
accident, no matter how minor it is, without
wanting to make sure that those sensors aren't
getting knocked out a little bit, " Johnson said.
Peregrine recommends general
repair
shops reach out to collision centers and make
arrangements to do their calibrations, which
can get them a faster ROI on their tooling
investments.
Maximizing technicians' time
ADAS tools not only allow shops to do ADAS
work but also make technicians more efficient.
Increased productivity has always been one of
the most compelling factors for shops purchasing
tools and equipment, and a streamlined
process is more critical than ever as the technician
shortage worsens, Krebs said.
Effective tools also help shops attract technicians.
" As a shop, you had best invest in modern
equipment and tools. You are competing for
technicians, and the tools they use make a very
big impact on the day-to-day satisfaction of a
technician, " Liebetreu said.
Technicians are mostly paid at a flat rate, so
time is money. " We actually created an ADAS
quick link in our truck series information
system, " Johnson said, explaining that once
technicians click the ADAS button, they'll
receive information about what the truck is
equipped with and outline conditions that
might require calibration.
" Our hope is that, regardless of whether
they're doing the calibration themselves or
whether they're getting it done, they at least
understand that something's got to be done
before they release the vehicle, " he said.
March 2023 | FleetMaintenance.com
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