february2023 - 28

DIAGNOSTIC TECH
Top Diagnostic
Tools for 2023
Training will help you gain the most value
out of any tool or piece of equipment.
By Scott Brown, PTEN Technical Editor
A
s a diagnostic tech myself, I'm always on the lookout
for new tools that can help me do my job more
efficiently. I usually find this to be an extremely challenging
task because many of the tools I've been using
for years are highly effective at carrying out diagnostic
or investigative tasks I come across. However, there are
tools I acquire that don't get used very often, but in certain
situations, the tool can provide extremely valuable information
that enables our shop to proceed toward the goal of
finding the cause of the problem.
In most cases, a new tool will require new knowledge. For
example, if you were to acquire a multi-channel lab scope
and wanted to use it to identify engine valve to piston timing
problems, then you, of course, would not only need to have
good foundational knowledge around engine mechanicals,
but you would also need to know how to set up and scale
a pressure transducer and any other inputs you wanted to
monitor. You would then need to know what data to collect
and analyze, and document your findings to support your
diagnostics. So, my suggestion is that with any new tool
that you add to your arsenal, you will need to attain the
necessary knowledge for achieving success.
The following is a list of the top tools that I admire -
consisting of some tools that I currently use and find highly
valuable and some I may be acquiring in the future. Some
are new, and some have been around for a while and may
be hard to obtain. However, all are highly effective, in my
humble opinion, so please stay with me, and let's check these
out. Additionally, with more electrified vehicles entering the
marketplace, we'll also explore some new tools to consider
adding to your arsenal.
VISUAL TOOLS - INSPECTION CAMERAS
Sometimes you need to do a visual inspection that is nearly
impossible to do without major disassembly. I've used
multiple borescopes over the years, which I usually find
extremely challenging. We've probably all seen the ultrahigh-end
scopes used in the medical field and wondered
why we couldn't get that level of quality. Well, we all know
28 Professional Distributor I February 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com
FLIR VS80
the obvious reasons for this. One caution I'd like to mention
here is that you want to avoid sticking the camera into a
hot environment since this can result in destruction! Here
are a couple of cameras whose specifications impress me.
FLIR VS80 - HIGH-PERFORMANCE VIDEOSCOPE
In addition to their specialty with forward-looking Infrared,
FLIR has brought to market a new videoscope called
the VS80.
The FLIR VS80 is outfitted with 1024 by 600 highresolution
7 " touchscreen display and is available in seven
different kits with the option to purchase waterproof, ultraslim
probes that can be easily swapped in and out. Probe
options include a 4.5mm diameter two-way articulating
probe; a four-way articulating probe; a plumbing spool probe
with a 25m cable; single HD and dual HD visible camera
probes; a standard definition probe; and a general-purpose
thermal camera probe.
VIVIDIA ME-610I - OASIS SCIENTIFIC
The ME-610i or ME-620 works with either an Android or
Apple smartphone or tablet to view or record high-resolution
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february2023

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