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REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS

Data from a distance

Remote diagnostics provides fleets with actionable intelligence on
vehicle system status even before the vehicle pulls into a service station.
by Tyler Fussner, Assistant Editor
shotbydave/Getty Images

emote diagnostics offers fleets
the capability to monitor a
vehicle in real time as it is on the
road. Fault codes, along with other
vehicle information, can be recorded
and transmitted to the appropriate
parties in order to inform fleet
managers, maintenance managers,
and technicians of vehicle data,
status, and events. With diagnostic
information being transmitted in
real time, fleets can work in tandem
with remote diagnostics providers to
decide the best course of action for
that vehicle and, in turn, expedite the
diagnostic process before the vehicle
pulls into the bay.

ACCESS TO REAL-TIME DATA
" In its simplest form, remote diagnostics
means having the ability to receive realtime diagnostic data from the vehicle
without being in its vicinity, " says Scott
Bolt, vice president of product management, Noregon. " Effective remote diagnostics give the user the tools to diagnose
the truck rather than a stream of SAE
fault data. Remote diagnostic applications should describe the vehicle's state
in simple terms and provide actionable
plans because there is a far greater chance
the user does not have a comprehensive
maintenance background compared to
those using in-shop tools. "
Bolt adds that remote diagnostic tools
should offer enhanced OE-level fault
codes, effect-on-vehicle descriptions,
action plans for managing the vehicle
based on its current state, and bidirectional tools to correct problems and avoid
costly tow jobs or mobile repairs that lead

8 I Diagnostic Process I December 2020

to avoidable downtime.
In order to effectively diagnose a
vehicle remotely, sufficient data and
information must be provided across all
accessible systems on the vehicle.
" The information that is programmed
can be extracted, " says Bruno Gattamorta,
vice president of sales and marketing,
Cojali USA. " Since there are thousands
and thousands of data inputs, you can
program the most relevant and then
extract the rest at a later time. Anything
that goes on the CAN lines or is governed
by an ECM can be extracted, and in our
case, modified. "
The live data, load capacity, consumption, speed, throttle level, and more can
be monitored, Gattamorta says. If the
truck measures it, it can be extracted
via telematics.
Beyond monitoring systems and
diagnosing issues, a remote diagnostics
integration can also help fleets manage
operations. Insight into vehicle performance provided through a remote diagnostic and telematic solution can lead to

improving safety, decreasing liability, and
optimizing fuel economy, Bolt says.
Remote diagnostic systems come in
many shapes and sizes, from OE integrations to aftermarket options. Understanding what different remote diagnostic systems have to offer and how they provide
such offerings can help fleets navigate
the decision-making process of how to
best implement remote diagnostics into
their operations and which option is best
suited for their needs.
One example of an OE remote diagnostic solution is Mack Trucks' Mack
GuardDog Connect.
" Mack GuardDog Connect hardware
is comprised of our proprietary telematics
gateway and hundreds of sensors located
throughout the truck working together to
monitor data from each truck for fault
codes that are triggered when something
goes wrong with one of a vehicle's major
systems, such as the engine or transmission, " says David Pardue, vice president
of connected vehicle and contract services, Mack Trucks. " The gateway is

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