PTEN_0821 - 16
OEM and aftermarket scan tools -
increasing your situational awareness
The different tools on the market all have their strengths and weaknesses,
and technicians need to be aware of each tool's capabilities.
By Scott Brown, Technical Editor
I
remember one of the very first times I used a scan tool. It was on a
1982 GM vehicle equipped with the Computer Command Control
system. At the time, these new layers of technology presented the
dawn of a new era and interesting challenges. I began to imagine how
this was going to change the way the technician would be addressing
certain vehicle anomalies and what the future of automobile
service was going to look like. Although the data stream was very
cool, I had no idea as to how this information was being transmitted
and displayed.
I remember trying to connect the same
tool to another manufacturer and discovering
that this operation required different
adapters and software cartridges. Once I
connected, I was disappointed to find that
the live data stream found on the GM vehicle
was not available on another domestic
OEM. My disappointment, however, was
primarily my own fault for not having the
proper service training on that vehicle
system. At that point in time, I realized
that I needed to acquire and consume as
much training as I possibly could, and to
this day, that hasn't stopped. Reflecting on
16 PTEN AUGUST 2021 www.VehicleServicePros.com
p Figure 1 - Ford diagnostic and repair software.
this I can honestly say that we have come
a long, long way.
SERVICE TECHNICIANS
Service technicians need to have a good
foundational knowledge base around how
a particular scan tool works and what the
limitations are. For example, some tools
may be very quick to connect to a vehicle
and access the specific data the technician
is laser-focused on. However, that specific
tool may not be good at performing other
functions, such as running a full vehicle
scan or health check and produc
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
PTEN_0821
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PTEN_0821
Editor's Note
New Products
Diagnostic Tech
2021 Innovation Awards
Tool Briefing
Tool Reviews
Category Spotlight
Big-Time Boxes
PTEN_0821 - 1
PTEN_0821 - 2
PTEN_0821 - 3
PTEN_0821 - 4
PTEN_0821 - 5
PTEN_0821 - 6
PTEN_0821 - 7
PTEN_0821 - Editor's Note
PTEN_0821 - 9
PTEN_0821 - New Products
PTEN_0821 - RSC1
PTEN_0821 - RSC2
PTEN_0821 - 11
PTEN_0821 - 12
PTEN_0821 - 13
PTEN_0821 - 14
PTEN_0821 - 15
PTEN_0821 - Diagnostic Tech
PTEN_0821 - 17
PTEN_0821 - 18
PTEN_0821 - 19
PTEN_0821 - 2021 Innovation Awards
PTEN_0821 - 21
PTEN_0821 - 22
PTEN_0821 - 23
PTEN_0821 - 24
PTEN_0821 - 25
PTEN_0821 - 26
PTEN_0821 - 27
PTEN_0821 - 28
PTEN_0821 - 29
PTEN_0821 - 30
PTEN_0821 - 31
PTEN_0821 - 32
PTEN_0821 - 33
PTEN_0821 - Tool Briefing
PTEN_0821 - 35
PTEN_0821 - 36
PTEN_0821 - 37
PTEN_0821 - 38
PTEN_0821 - 39
PTEN_0821 - 40
PTEN_0821 - 41
PTEN_0821 - 42
PTEN_0821 - 43
PTEN_0821 - 44
PTEN_0821 - 45
PTEN_0821 - 46
PTEN_0821 - 47
PTEN_0821 - Tool Reviews
PTEN_0821 - 49
PTEN_0821 - 50
PTEN_0821 - 51
PTEN_0821 - Category Spotlight
PTEN_0821 - 53
PTEN_0821 - 54
PTEN_0821 - 55
PTEN_0821 - 56
PTEN_0821 - 57
PTEN_0821 - Big-Time Boxes
PTEN_0821 - 59
PTEN_0821 - 60
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