February_2022 - 45

faults and perform proper repairs. There are
well-known aftermarket SI providers such
as ALLDATA, Mitchell, and Motologic,
and OEM information systems available
through subscription-based models, most
extremely affordable, especially if your
shop does a high volume in specific brands.
These sources will walk you through proper
high voltage (HV) disconnect and isolation
procedures, along with the theory of operation
and repair procedures.
Now that we've got a handle on education
and SI and where to access it, let's focus
on one of the essential tools in a modern
repair shop: a digital multimeter and a lab
scope, depending on the measurements
being taken.
p Figure 2 - Autel, Launch,
Snap-on scan tools and
J2534 Pass-Thru devices
p Figure 3 - Tesla service and diagnostics portal
and the proper selection and utilization
of tooling.
EDUCATION AND SERVICE
INFORMATION
Those currently on the dealership side
have access to OE training, which provides
in-depth product-specific training
not generally available to those on the
independent side. Some manufacturers,
including Toyota, Honda, and Ford, allow
the aftermarket to access online training as
part of service information subscriptions or
at an affordable price. This is a significant
first step in building your knowledge base,
but continuing education is needed regardless
of being a dealership or independent
technician. This is where aftermarket training
comes in, be it national training events
such as the Vision Hi-Tech Training event,
smaller state, or local events such as our own
Super Saturday here in Pennsylvania, along
with classes presented by companies such
as CarQuest Technical Institute (CTI),
WorldPAC Technical Institute (WTI) and
the Automotive Training Group (ATG).
The information gleaned from these classes,
books, and instructors are invaluable.
Once you have a strong understanding
of the basics needed, you are in a much
more suitable position to search and analyze
service information (SI) to diagnose
DIGITAL MULTIMETER
AND LAB SCOPE
What do we need to know about the multimeter
(Figure 1) we use on hybrids and
EVs? The most critical baseline for choosing
a meter is its rating. Meters are rated for
different voltages on a scale from CAT I to
CAT IV. When working with HV systems
(generally defined as anything over 50V),
there are a couple of rules to remember,
with the most important being having a
meter, leads, and rubber insulating gloves,
which must all have a voltage rating over
the highest voltage contained within a system.
This requires a CAT III or CAT IV
meter rated for at least 600V input. Keep
in mind that any accessory kits, such as
back probes or alligator clips, should also
be rated appropriately for the voltage they
will be used to measure. These accessories
will have a stamping or marking indicating
their CAT rating. Alligator clips are
especially useful in HV work as a means
of adherence to the " one-hand rule, " which
states that only one hand at a time should
be in contact with a lead or a ground point
while working on HV systems to prevent
potential electrocution. Depending on the
level of diagnosis being undertaken, a milliohm
meter and insulation tester will also
be required.
A quick reminder: Always check your
meter and leads before verifying the
www.VehicleServicePros.com FEBRUARY 2022 PROFESSIONAL TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEWS 45
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February_2022

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