May_2021 - 40

TOOL BRIEFING

Getting aligned on alignment needs
Use data efficiently for a correct and quick resolution.
By Christopher Groff, Contributing Editor

V

ehicles have never been
more interdependent
than they are these days.
A small hiccup in one system
can have a domino effect on
others, leading to a multitude
of issues that can give even an
experienced technician pause.
Even routine jobs have become
increasingly more complex,
making the need for sound and
consistent processes increasingly important. This holds
true whether we are diagnosing a drivability complaint or an
alignment issue. The more data
we can reference, gather, and
analyze quickly and efficiently,
the more likely we are to have
successful first-time resolution
for our customers, regardless
of the concern.
There are a variety of situations in
which an alignment and/or wheel service may be performed. The customer
may simply request an alignment, at
which point our jobs as data gatherers
begins. There are a few questions to ask
at this point, such as: Why do you want
an alignment? What symptoms are you
experiencing and under what conditions
are you experiencing them? Have you
recently had any collision damage? The
answers to these questions can help us
gather the information we need to address
customer concerns.
Customers often bring vehicles in after
experiencing common symptoms like
pulling, drifting, bump-steer or wander-

40

PTEN

MAY 2021

p Figure 1 - Every vehicle should receive a
full system scan that comes through the bay.
Snap-on's Versus Edge diagnostic tool brings
in-depth coverage and industry expertise.

ing, vibrations, a crooked steering wheel,
noises while turning, or uneven tire wear.
The same questions asked before still
apply in this situation. Our first interaction with the customer is critical to the
information gathering stage that will be
the building block of a proper complaint,
cause, and correction sequence.
Developing and following an organized process is the first step to success. This process is one I have in place
for any customer with an alignment,
noise, vibration, harshness (NVH), or
wheel complaint.

www.VehicleServicePros.com

STEP 1: FULL SYSTEM SCAN
AND COURTESY CHECK
Regardless of what a vehicle has come
in for, each receives a full system code
scan and a courtesy check. Given the
increasing prevalence of advanced driver
assistance systems (ADAS), generating
a comprehensive picture of the vehicle's
health has never been more important.
Alignment angles are a direct value upon
which electronic power steering, stability control, and lane keep assist systems
are built. Just as alignment values out of
specification can negatively impact these
systems, the inverse can happen as well.
The system scan and courtesy check
are performed concurrently. As the



http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

May_2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May_2021

Editor's Note
Featured New Products
2021 Innovation Awards
Tool Reviews
Diagnostic Tech
Category Spotlight
Marketplace
Big-Time Boxes
May_2021 - 1
May_2021 - 2
May_2021 - 3
May_2021 - 4
May_2021 - 5
May_2021 - 6
May_2021 - 7
May_2021 - Editor's Note
May_2021 - 9
May_2021 - Featured New Products
May_2021 - 11
May_2021 - 12
May_2021 - 13
May_2021 - 14
May_2021 - RSC1
May_2021 - RSC2
May_2021 - 15
May_2021 - 16
May_2021 - 17
May_2021 - 18
May_2021 - 19
May_2021 - 20
May_2021 - 21
May_2021 - 22
May_2021 - 23
May_2021 - 24
May_2021 - 25
May_2021 - 26
May_2021 - 27
May_2021 - 28
May_2021 - 29
May_2021 - 2021 Innovation Awards
May_2021 - 31
May_2021 - 32
May_2021 - 33
May_2021 - 34
May_2021 - 35
May_2021 - 36
May_2021 - 37
May_2021 - 38
May_2021 - 39
May_2021 - 40
May_2021 - 41
May_2021 - 42
May_2021 - 43
May_2021 - Tool Reviews
May_2021 - 45
May_2021 - 46
May_2021 - 47
May_2021 - Diagnostic Tech
May_2021 - 49
May_2021 - 50
May_2021 - 51
May_2021 - Category Spotlight
May_2021 - 53
May_2021 - 54
May_2021 - 55
May_2021 - 56
May_2021 - Marketplace
May_2021 - Big-Time Boxes
May_2021 - 59
May_2021 - 60
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