October_2021 - 38

Leveraging service
information resources
Both aftermarket and OEM service information systems have their
advantages and disadvantages. Find out when to use one over the other.
By Scott Brown, Technical Editor
S
ervice information is a
valuable commodity and
can come in a variety of
flavors. Specifications, component
locations, wiring diagrams,
description and operation,
training literature, TSBs,
recalls, and service history are
just a few examples of information
that can assist a technician
in achieving a positive outcome.
Without it, one doesn't have a
chance at properly addressing
most challenges presented on
today's sophisticated vehicles.
To deliver proper service, one
needs access to accurate and
timely information.
Now, more than ever, one really needs
to explicitly pay attention to the fine
print, which is not always an easy discipline
to follow. I know first-hand how
challenging and expensive it is to fail to
read the fine print when you find yourself
under time-pressure. It is extremely
easy to get an hour or so into a problem
without a resolution only to find
out that the fine print had everything
you needed to get you headed in the
right direction.
With the increasing layers of technology
being applied to the vehicle, service
providers need to be able to access crucial
information where and when it makes
sense. Oftentimes we find ourselves digp
Figure 1 - Toyota TIS
ging into two to three different resources
to find the information we need to continue
with a particular task.
Today's modern shop management systems
are integrating some of the service
information that we commonly need right
within the work order so that the service
technician can seamlessly work through
their tasks without having to jump
through those other information resources.
However, there may be times where
service information may be incomplete
and having access to multiple providers is
essential so that the service technician can
assemble the eclectic information needed
to continue the repair processes in a
timely manner.
38 PTEN OCTOBER 2021 www.VehicleServicePros.com
FINDING THE INFORMATION
Thinking back to the early '80s when I first
started working in this industry, service
information was printed and each year
we would receive updated books for our
various libraries. These books would often
migrate throughout the shop and sometimes
pages would suffer damage or end
up missing. When there was an update to
that printed material, the update was at
risk of never being seen which of course
could introduce several challenges. Fast
forward to today and we're living in a new
dimension of service information. This
is absolutely a wonderful thing that I
embrace. However, some may find it

http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

October_2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October_2021

Editor's Note
New Products
Diagnostic Tech
Tool Briefing
Tool Reviews
People's Choice Winners
Category Spotlight
Bit-Time Boxes
October_2021 - 1
October_2021 - 2
October_2021 - 3
October_2021 - 4
October_2021 - 5
October_2021 - 6
October_2021 - 7
October_2021 - Editor's Note
October_2021 - 9
October_2021 - New Products
October_2021 - 11
October_2021 - 12
October_2021 - 13
October_2021 - 14
October_2021 - 15
October_2021 - 16
October_2021 - 17
October_2021 - 18
October_2021 - 19
October_2021 - 20
October_2021 - 21
October_2021 - 22
October_2021 - RSC1
October_2021 - RSC2
October_2021 - 23
October_2021 - 24
October_2021 - 25
October_2021 - 26
October_2021 - 27
October_2021 - 28
October_2021 - 29
October_2021 - 30
October_2021 - 31
October_2021 - 32
October_2021 - 33
October_2021 - 34
October_2021 - 35
October_2021 - 36
October_2021 - 37
October_2021 - Diagnostic Tech
October_2021 - 39
October_2021 - 40
October_2021 - 41
October_2021 - Tool Briefing
October_2021 - 43
October_2021 - 44
October_2021 - 45
October_2021 - 46
October_2021 - 47
October_2021 - Tool Reviews
October_2021 - 49
October_2021 - 50
October_2021 - 51
October_2021 - People's Choice Winners
October_2021 - 53
October_2021 - 54
October_2021 - 55
October_2021 - 56
October_2021 - 57
October_2021 - 58
October_2021 - 59
October_2021 - Category Spotlight
October_2021 - 61
October_2021 - 62
October_2021 - 63
October_2021 - 64
October_2021 - 65
October_2021 - 66
October_2021 - 67
October_2021 - 68
October_2021 - 69
October_2021 - 70
October_2021 - 71
October_2021 - 72
October_2021 - 73
October_2021 - Bit-Time Boxes
October_2021 - 75
October_2021 - 76
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