Professional Motor Mechanic magazine
April 2005

Oscilloscopes are an invaluable tool for any garage getting involved in diagnostics. In fact, you could go as far as to say that they are indispensable items of equipment.


Automotive training course

PMM attended a two-day training course run by Pico Technology, which covers Engine Management System Testing using an automotive oscilloscope. The course is held at the TRW's excellent facility at Monkspath, near Solihull. As is often the case, the delegates attending this have varying degrees of experience and expertise in diagnostics. The trainer, Bill Phillips, gets everyone to introduce themselves and explain a little about the business they represent. This helps to establish areas that the course should cover, ensuring the delegates' requirements from the course are met.

Day one begins by covering the basics of modern engine management systems. The course looks at ECUs, their functions, inputs (data from sensors) and outputs. Often the delegates know much of what is being discussed but it is very important to establish a basis of understanding. This basic information underpins the structure of the course so that when the course moves on to more in-depth and complex areas, all the delegates understand what is being explained. It's very important that the trainer does not make assumptions about the delegates' levels of understanding. Bill has a great deal of experience and works to keep the course content relevant and useful. He also needs to keep it on track. As you might imagine with a room full of technicians, it’s easy for the discussions to digress as they share information and experiences. The second half of the day is given over to a practical session, with delegates getting to grips with setting up and connecting the oscilloscopes.

The second day begins with a more detailed look at sensors, their different types and the signals they produce, as part of a discussion on engine management systems and components. This involves examining and interpreting waveforms, using the scope correctly to check for faults. Bill answers questions from the delegates and discusses different scenarios. These discussions become focused on type and model specific issues arising from problem vehicles that the delegates have had to deal with. The idea is to bring together the theory and the practical applications of the course, and pooling the experiences of the delegates and the trainer is particularly constructive.

The Finer Points

Pico's Automotive Technical Specialist, Richardo Paloschi, is on hand to run through the finer points of the Pico Automotive Diagnostic Kit. It should be noted that this is not a sales pitch (most of the delegates on the course we attended already owned a Pico automotive kit) but is a technical demonstration of the scope's functionality — important if you are to get the best from it.

Pico automotive diagnostics training

The afternoon session in the workshop involved the delegates putting into practice what they had learned. The facility at Monkspath has a number of engine rigs that allow live tests to be carried out. These rigs feature switches which allow certain sensors and components to be deactivated, mimicking faults which the delegates may come across. Split into working groups, the delegates have to assess the fault, decide a diagnostic procedure and connect the scope to the appropriate component. What's interesting about this section is the transition from classroom theory to workshop practical. It's never easy, and reflects the difficulties that the delegates face and the need for training. Like all modern diagnostic equipment, oscilloscopes need constant use for the technician to become properly proficient in its operation — practice does make perfect.

Verdict

Good, solid course delivered at the right level.
Offers useful, practical training on diagnostics and oscilloscopes.