Automotive Newsletter

March 2020

This edition…
…we have a case study from Ben Martins about machinery with lack of power. Steve Smith has written an article about CAN decoding on a fuel pump and Ben has also written an article about SENT sensor decoding with PicoScope. Our team has worked hard to update and complete another batch of Guided tests and we have a Best of the web section with two videos featuring PicoScope.

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Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Pico Technology has adopted new working practices. Many of our employees are now working remotely from their homes and we will not be attending any exhibitions in the near future. However, the Pico Technology business is still very much up and running!

Our staff have video conferencing and other tools to support you remotely with:

  • Product demonstrations
  • Training
  • Sales and any other enquiries - tell us what you need!
Our Technical Support team is operating as normal, and product development is continuing uninterrupted.

The manufacture of Pico products in the UK is continuing as normal: we have a good supply of components, accessories and other materials needed to keep production running.

We will have sufficient stock of most Pico Automotive products, but please check with our Sales team before placing any large orders. However, because of reduced air freight capacity at the moment, we anticipate that shipments to some destinations will take longer than normal. Please bear with us as we work through these issues.

Although our industry and the worldwide economy is challenged by the COVID-19 outbreak, we believe we have taken the right steps to safeguard our employees and implement a robust plan to serve our customers around the world with our leading diagnostic oscilloscope equipment.  

We do hope that all our customers, suppliers, distributors and their families remain safe, well, and that their businesses are not too badly affected through these difficult times.



Lack of power - diagnostic process
By Ben Martins

Have you ever been in the position where a customer calls up to say ‘the machine is down on power and we think it’s the hydraulic pumps so can you replace them?’ You respond by saying ‘of course but wouldn’t you rather we look at it first?’ ‘No, just price it up, it needs to be fixed.’

When you look at the price of the part and the cost of the work you inform the customer, ‘Well, just for the parts it’s £30,000. Are you sure you don’t want it looked at first?’ Strangely enough, you find yourself with a new diagnostics job!



SENT sensor decoding with PicoScope
By Ben Martins

The helpdesk, the Automotive Forum, and our FaceBook group have all seen an increase in questions and discussions around the best way to work with these sensors. This has prompted me to look into how PicoScope can be used to get as much information as possible from these sensors.
 


CAN decoding on BMW pump test
by Steve Smith

After following a second forum post regarding the BMW F31 N47 low-pressure Fuel Pump Controller and CAN ID 3 35, it became impossible to ignore the temptation to dig a little deeper into the data field (payload) associated with this ID.
 

 
We are releasing further updated and new Guided tests: 
 
  GT814: Parking sensors
The purpose of this test is to evaluate the operation of ultrasonic proximity sensors (referred to as parking sensors) using an Ultrasonic parking sensor detector.
 
  GT849: Keyless entry
The purpose of this test is to evaluate the keyless entry and keyless starting system operation using a Keyless entry carrier signal detector.
     

 

Automotive Oscilloscopes: What you need to know
 
Alex Muir explains what an oscilloscope is, how it works and how to perform two tests: a relative compression test by measuring current into the starter motor, and a full pressure test using PicoScope's WPS pressure transducer.

 

Failed General Motors fuel pump

GM 3.8l with a failing fuel pump diagnosed through amperage measurement with a Picoscope.
 
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