December 2021 - 34

ELECTRONICS
systems, they can send fault codes to the
user, so fleets don't have to wait for the
driver or to notice a burned-out light. In
some instances, intermittent faults may
hint toward a looming failure and prompt
the fleet to change the bulb or make a
repair before it becomes a safety concern.
" Advanced aftermarket diagnostic
tools have not only made it easier to
detect electrical issues by simultaneously
scanning all components, but have also
improved in capabilities that assist the
user with the diagnosis, " Hedman adds.
" Technicians can use a single application
to scan the truck, locate the affected
wiring harness using suggested troubleshooting
steps, view the harness's wiring
diagram, and then chart data points or
use relevant bidirectional commands like
a wiggle test to find the damaged wire. "
Using this new technology, Phillips
Connect has introduced its Light Out
system, which Cliff Creech, director of
sales engineering at Phillips Connect,
says continually monitors the lights on
a vehicle and stores a 30-day history of
faults that are continually reported to
fleet operations.
" When the vehicle is serviced, this
information can be accessed by the technician
giving him/her a clear indication
of what the problem is, which they can
then address and fix, " he notes. " This
saves time and more likely results in the
proper lasting repair. "
Just as vital, Creech says, are new
data management and storage capabilities
offered as part of maintenance diagnostic
systems today, which can also cut
critical time off electronic troubleshooting
and repairs.
" When fleets have to rely on outsourcing
their maintenance, either as a
regular practice or because of on-road
issues including having the vehicle put
out of service at a checkpoint, lighting and
electrical issues can become something of
open-check for the provider and resurface
down the road if the right repair is not
made, " he notes. " Without the monitoring
documentation new telematics systems
provide, it's unknowable if the service
being provided is appropriate to the
problem and can lead to lost time trying
to repair a 'ghost' issue. "
Other telematics solutions like Phillips
Connect Smart7 Remote Pre-Check
advises a fleet if one of their trailers has
lighting or electrical issues before it is
dispatched to haul freight, Creech adds.
" In addition to not wasting the time of
the driver to pull a trailer that is not roadready,
the data can also suggest to the fleet
what is wrong, so when maintenance is
scheduled they know what they need to
fix, " he notes.
Just as important is expediting how
technicians access the complex information
required to track down wiring
issues. To help, LaPage says Mitchell 1 is
also leveraging new technologies like its
interactive wiring diagrams, which she
says can significantly save time in diagnosing
and repairing electrical problems.
" When viewing one of our wiring diagrams,
technicians can click on any component
or wire within the diagram to see
a pop-up menu with selections to learn
more about specifications, component
location, connector views, guided component
tests, and more, " she says. " There
is no need to exit the wiring diagram to
find related information needed to diagnose
the issue. And if that examination
turns out to be a dead-end, the technician
is automatically returned to the correct
diagram to continue checking for other
issues - all without having to initiate a
secondary search. "
Many technicians have struggled with
diagnosing electrical systems on trucks
because they either selected the wrong
tool or were never properly trained on
essential tools like a digital multimeter
(DMM), Creech adds. " Too often, technicians
poke around a wiring harness until
they're able to detect a problem, which can
lead to bigger issues such as damaging the
34 PTEN DECEMBER 2021 VehicleServicePros.com
harness or other wires, " he notes. " Using
the tools at their disposal, such as a diagnostic
application and a multimeter, takes
much of the guesswork out of diagnosing
electric systems. "
For solving electrical issues, Creech
says Phillips engineers strongly recommend
investing in tools that facilitate
holistic diagnosis.
" Because communication issues can
affect multiple systems on a vehicle, the
ability to simultaneously diagnose all
truck components helps uncover the root
cause of electric problems, " Hedman says.
" That why we feel it's best to invest in a
diagnostic and repair tool that provides
the user with everything they need in a
single application to complete the job.
For example, [Noregon] JPRO's Fault
Guidance feature presents the user with
troubleshooting steps, plus valuable information
like full-color wiring diagrams to
improve technician efficiency. "
Optronics' O'Dell says that in his
experience, the weakest links in a truck's
electrical system are the links between
wiring and vehicle systems - the molded
plugs and hard-shell connectors that
often attract dirt and debris, or allow
water inside. He recommends replacing
them with more modern, and better protected
connectors as part of a prescribed
preventive maintenance (PM) regimen for
the fleet.
During this electrical PM inspection,
O'Dell says technicians should go through
every connector and light socket on the
vehicle and - at the bare minimum - have
them simply pull the plugs apart, inspect
them for damage, clean them, and put
new electrical grease in to help protect
them from the elements.
" And that's a good time to swap out
any older connections for newer ones, " he
adds. " It's a simple, old-school approach
to dealing with electronic ghosts. "
James Alfred is a freelance journalist
with more than 15 years of experience in
the trucking industry.
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2021
