New Case Study: Mercedes S-Class Misfire

The Mercedes W140 S-Class V8 engine had developed an intermittent misfiring fault. The misfiring could be observed during idle speed when the engine was warm – however it was not a serious issue. Within a month it became apparent that as the engine coolant temperature reached 60 °C, the ‘intermittent’ fault became permanent. At this stage the car was still drivable, but had significantly less performance than expected and higher fuel consumption than normal. The engine has a Bosch LH-Jetronic (‘Luftmasse-Hitzdraht’) injection control with hot wire air mass meter, 2 ignition coils and 2 distributors. The ignition is controlled by a separate EZL (‘Elektronische Zündanlage’) i.e. ignition control module. There were no DTCs stored…

To read on and see how this tricky automotive problem was handled, see the full article “Mercedes S-Class Misfire” by Andy Cape, Cape Auto Diagnostics, Cape Town, South Africa.

Automotive Forum Launched!

Our Automotive forum has now been launched! The forum is a place for existing customers, new customers, and even those who simply need help to communicate, all in one place. It's a place for you to announce your findings, for hints and tips, for information on using the latest features, and perhaps hearing of features you may not have realised existed. One area in particular we hope you will find interesting and want to contribute to is our case study section. Here, you can post your findings for others to learn from, and spread the knowledge of faults for all makes and models of the cars you may work on. This information may be invaluable to others on the forum, and you may even get a thank you!

View the case study section

To help launch this new forum, and the case study section in particular, we are running a small competition. If you feel you have something to offer the community, and can present it inline with the guidelines listed, you could be in with a chance of winning a first prize of a WPS500X pressure sensor kit, or a one of two runner up prizes of a set of COP probes!

Visit our forum and make your own contribution to the Pico Automotive community.

Drive towards a new career in 2011!

Perhaps 2011 will be the year in which you discover the benefits of working for Pico Technology:

• Design and development of exciting new products
• A culture of constant technical innovation
• Opportunities in test and measurement, and automotive, markets
• A company that’s frequently nominated for awards (some of which we win!)

We currently have the following vacancies, but don’t worry if you don’t fit exactly into any of these categories. We are always looking for design talent.

• Development Engineer - Windows Desktop Application Software
• Development Engineer - Analogue Hardware
• Development Engineer - Hardware
• Technical Specialist - Software
• Creative Coordinator
• Marketing Assistant

Find details of these positions, and an online application form, at http://pico.jobs. You can also send enquiries by email tojobs@picotech.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Training Courses

Diagnostic Solutions, a Pico distributor based in Ireland, delivers PicoScope Oscilloscope Training in Dublin. Please email colin@diagnosticsolutions.ie for further information.

Autonerdz, a Pico distributor based in North America, delivers PicoScope Oscilloscope Training both at their headquarters located in Olympia WA, and online. Please contact Autonerdz for further information.

Engine Management Diagnostics course

If you own, or are thinking of buying, a Pico Automotive Diagnostics Kit, you mustn’t miss ourEngine Management Diagnostics course. This two-day course introduces the basic working principles of engine management systems, component testing and system diagnostics using oscilloscopes. The course is split between class-based theory sessions and practical demonstrations in a workshop using the Pico Automotive Diagnostics Kit, together with plenty of hands-on experience with our kit. The course runs several times a year around the UK, and we currently have the following dates available:

Motherwell College, Motherwell, UK
5-6 April 2011

Brooklands College, Weybridge, UK
19-20 April 2011

Accrington and Rossendale College, Accrington, UK
5-6 July 2011

Places are limited, so please book online or call us to reserve your place.

Please contact your local distributor for information on training events outside the UK.

Forthcoming Exhibitions and Events

Please see our events page for the latest information about forthcoming exhibitions, courses and other events.