december2021 - 58

SCAN TOOLS
How sensors impact heavy-duty scan tools
Complex electronic components, sensors, and ECUs demand
more from advanced diagnostic scan tools.
By Mindy Long
T
ruck technology is increasingly complex,
and significant growth in component electrification,
sensors, and electronic control units
(ECUs) has made diagnostic scan tools essential to
repairing and servicing vehicles.
" Electronic components and sensors have seen a
dramatic growth since the 1980s, when a few sensors
started to be used on the vehicles, " said Allison Whitney,
a spokesperson for Autel, a developer of intelligent
diagnostics, detection, and analysis systems. " Today, most
vehicles have in excess of 80 sensors and a myriad of components,
including those used in advanced driver assistance
systems, such as cameras, radar, ultrasound, and
lidar devices. "
Duane Watson, technical trainer for Bosch Aftermarket
Service Solutions, said there has also been exponential
growth in vehicle comfort features and solutions
designed to improve fuel mileage, such as variable flow
A/C compressors or electronically controlled radiator
shutter vents that streamline aerodynamics. This has
added even more electronics and sensors.
Thomas Kotenko, general manager for NEXIQ
Technologies, said the number of electronic sensors on
equipment will continue to increase. " We've all heard
58 Fleet Maintenance | December 2021
about the move to electric vehicles, " he said, adding that
vehicles are essentially becoming moving computers.
Jason Hedman, product manager at Noregon, a diagnostic,
repair, and data analytic solutions provider, said the
days of fixing a truck with a basic scan tool and a wrench
are gone. " There are so many ECUs and sensors on a truck
that a tool with guided diagnostic features and troubleshooting
assistance is now a requirement for all shops. "
Repairing a truck today is a matter of signals, said
Bruno Gattamorta, Vice President of sales and marketing,
Cojali USA, which manufacturers the Jaltest Diagnostics
tool. " If you can't read a signal, you can't get the
results. You can't read the signal without a computer. "
Now, a seemingly simple task, such as an oil change,
might necessitate a technician use a scan tool with service
capabilities to connect with the vehicle and reset
the engine service light, Whitney said.
Even if a repair entails physically wrenching on a part,
more often than not the truck's computer has to be told
that the repair has been done, followed by clearing the
corresponding code. Plus, replacing certain parts requires
a relearn or recalibration of the part, which involves using
a diagnostic tool, said Victor Rivilla, marketing director for
CanDo International.
Increased information from scan tools can help technicians
minimize the risk of making a mistake.
Photo courtesy of CanDo
" One typical example is chasing a misfire and finding
that it is caused by a faulty injector. In most cases,
the injector cannot simply be swapped in and the truck
driven, " Rivilla explained. " Trim file codes need to be
programmed into the injector, which entails the use of
a diagnostic program or scan tool. "
CanDo's Pro Tab and HD Pro III cover Classes 4
to 8 commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment.
" Engines, brakes, transmissions, body controls, and basically
everything that has a sensor or module can be
scanned and diagnosed. Both tools also offer full bidirectional
testing of components and special functions,
such as relearns, calibrations, and parameter changes, "
Rivilla said.
DEMANDING MORE FROM SCAN TOOLS
Scan tools have advanced significantly in recent years.
" Originally, there were simple engine code readers
that were essentially used to detect emissions issues
and resolve issues preventing vehicles from passing
state inspections. Next came four systems readers to
detect faults in engines, transmissions, ABS, and
december2021

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