June_2022 - 34

TOOL BRIEFING
p Figure 4A- Plumb bob for thrust line
reflectors, and accessories depending on the
vehicle and system being calibrated. These
are too numerous to go into detail in this
article. These tools will be purchased based
on the level of work being performed. No
one will ever argue that you can perform all
calibrations properly with just a small tool
kit bought from the local hardware store, but
you may have the foundation of an ADAS
calibration kit already in your toolbox.
Every shop that is keeping up to date
with technological advances will have a
capable and updated scan tool, which is a
solid entry into performing some dynamic
calibrations such as Ford lane keep assist
(LKA) calibrations on certain models
p Figure 4B- Milwaukee Tool 3632-21 three-plane laser
after alignment. These calibrations are
capable of being performed through the
use of a factory vehicle communication
interface (VCI), J2534 device, and OEM
software (Figure 5), or aftermarket tools
such as the Autel Ultra, Snap-on Verus
Edge, or equivalent tools.
That covers basic dynamic calibrations
but are there tools for static calibrations
that you already have? A plumb bob is an
inexpensive tool that many likely have
stashed away in their toolbox at work or
home. A combination square with a spirit
level is a common tool for those who may
do some machining or fabrication work
and allows one to perform jobs such as
the cruise control module
(CCM) radar alignment
on a 2018 Ford Explorer in
conjunction with a capable
scan tool.
Depending
on
is
the
vehicle type entering your
shop, investing in certain
calibration tools
far
p Figure 5- No single VCI can handle every job
from cost-prohibitive. For
instance, many Toyota/
Lexus Millimeter Wave
Radar systems can be calibrated
correctly utilizing a
few things: A properly sized
34 PTEN JUNE 2022 www.VehicleServicePros.com
bay with approximately 20 " by 17 " clear
space in front of the vehicle, a capable
scan tool, a spirit level, a plumb bob, and
special tools 09870-60040-02 (reflector
assembly) and 09870-60000 (reflector
stand). The additional tooling investment
is relatively small and opens up a profitable
revenue stream for the shop while
getting the technicians comfortable with
best practices and procedures for ensuring
proper set-up, measurements, and repair
verification.
Personally, late model Toyota/Lexus
vehicles equipped with Millimeter Wave
radar account for 10 percent of our total
vehicle count, so a sub $1,000 investment
to keep repairs in-house just makes good
financial sense. The profits from these
calibration jobs can then be re-directed
into investments in more equipment, thus
increasing the shop's calibration capabilities
as needed.
ONE BLIND SPOT LEADS TO
BLIND SPOT RADAR WOES
I got a call from a body shop asking if I
had the " right scanner " to clear some codes
on a 2020 Hyundai Venue as their scanner
" couldn't make the codes go away " . I
spent a few minutes explaining that there
is generally a reason that a fault won't go
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June_2022

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