This is where we collect some of the best material we have for new users to reference and learn how to use their Automotive PicoScope.
Pico automotive diagnostic training courses are held at various locations, across the UK, Germany and in the USA.
Designed for customers who have purchased, or are considering purchasing the Pico Automotive Diagnostics Kit each course will help you get the best from the PicoScope software and diagnostic kit.
Starting from Step 1, we've created a 5 step training programme to guide those new to PicoScope along their journey of scope diagnostics from the very beginning.
As you progress through the training programme, you will learn PicoScope from our basic tests through to our more advanced tests and accessories. The Steps are designed to progress your learning at a steady rate, teaching PicoScope from the ground up.
| Scope School Part 1 - Introduction to PicoScope by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Scope School Part 2 - The next step by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Step 1 - A PicoScope Guide to Oscilloscope Diagnostics by Pico Technology A pdf packed with great information about PicoScope and how to use oscilloscopes for testing vehicle systems and components. Includes Top 10 tests. |
PDF tutorial |
| PicoScope basics video - Part I by Paul 'Scanner' Danner |
Video training |
| PicoScope basics video - Part II by Paul 'Scanner' Danner |
Video training |
| PicoScope 6 Automotive: Introductory training notes by Pico Technology |
PDF tutorial |
| Compression testing by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Parasitic drain testing by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Phil’s 5 Favourite Pico Accessories by Phil Rutt |
Written tutorial |
| Testing times - preparing for the end of lockdown by Barney Donohew Barney has written a short article about how to prepare for an increase in faults related to vehicles sitting idle for longer periods of time, now that we are starting to see more and more countries and areas return towards normal after the Covid-19 lockdown. |
Written tutorial |
| Probe Mismatch in PicoScope 7 by Steve Smith Steve talks us through the new Probe Mismatch feature in PicoScope 7, explaining why how it works and why it is useful. |
Written tutorial |
| The importance of the right tools and training by Steve Smith Steve has written about the future of technicians and the need for the profession to evolve alongside the new technologies. There will always be a need for technicians in the ongoing work to maintain and diagnose the vehicles of the past, present, and future, but using the right tools and training has never been more important. |
Written tutorial |
| Using PicoScope’s filtering functions by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Pressure School Part 1 – introduction to the Pressure Transducer by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| ConnectDetect® by Steve Smith After completing a presentation at Autoinform Harrogate and a conversation with Pete Melville (HEVRA), I wanted to qualify the suggestion of using PicoScope ConnectDetect® to determine the cause of specific sensor faults. |
Written tutorial |
| SENT sensor decoding with PicoScope by Ben Martins Working at Pico, I have the opportunity to look closer at some of the latest sensor technology that is out there on modern vehicles. While this particular sensor has been out there for a while now, SENT is cropping up in more and more vehicles. The help desk, 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. |
Written tutorial |
| 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. |
Written tutorial |
| Data over Pulse Width Modulation? by Steve Smith Steve has investigated the possibility of “data” being transmitted along on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal wire when fault conditions occur. |
Written tutorial |
| Scope School Part 3 - Tips and tricks by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Scope School Extra: Bonus Class by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Inlet metering valve (IMV) duty cycle with math channel by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Voltage drop techniques: Introducing floating inputs by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Audi A8 Fusebox diagnostics by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Parasitic drain by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Testing the Bosch LSU 4.2 broadband oxygen sensor by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Electronic Throttle Control (Drive By Wire) by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Using PicoScope’s filtering functions by Steve Smith - Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Pressure School Part 1 – introduction to the Pressure Transducer by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Pressure School Part 2 – A running diagnosis by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Individual cylinder valve timing errors by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Back-leakage testing (spill testing) by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Hydraulic waveform examples and analysis by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 1 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. The series covers why the math channels in PicoScope are so useful and how to use them for applications like calculating resistance, power, rpm, torque, voltage drop, etc. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - Part 2 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into using Ohm's law to obtain current by dividing voltage by resistance. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - Part 3 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into how to graph road speed via the ABS speed sensor signal. |
Written tutorial |
| Practical Pico: CAN bus diagnostics and serial decoding Q&A – follow-up by Steve Smith Many thanks to all who viewed and contributed to the Practical Pico: CAN bus diagnostics and serial decoding Q&A live stream at the end of March. A number of questions were raised during the live stream that we could not answer clearly during the event, and so I wanted to cover them in the following article. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool – part 4 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into how to determine RPM using an ignition trigger signal from Coil-on-Plug unit number 1. |
Written tutorial |
| Belt tension by Barney Donohew |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 5 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into the invert math channel in PicoScope. |
Written tutorial |
| Practical Pico - Non-invasive engine condition testing Q&A follow-up by Steve Smith Many thanks once again to those who could attend this Practical Pico session and for the questions raised on the night. In this article, I will go through the outstanding questions and hopefully clarify any outstanding queries. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 6 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into the maths involved when dealing with compensation when measuring the peak cylinder pressure captured with the WPS500X and PicoScope. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - Part 7 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into ignition theory. |
Written tutorial |
| Practical Pico: Non-invasive engine condition testing Q&A – follow-up part 2 by Steve Smith We still have more unanswered questions from this session, and Steve is working hard to provide the answers for them. Here is the second part of his follow-up. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 8 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into a case study where they experienced a fluctuation in dwell angle during the transition from idle to higher speeds. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 9 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into calculating the theoretical MAF. |
Written tutorial |
| BMW Valvetronic evaluation by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 10 by Ben Martins The Maths is cool series continues. This time Ben Martins has contributed with some maths for hydraulic testing. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 11 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into RMS values of AC signals. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 12 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into the benefits of 48 V MHEV in comparison to 12 V systems. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 13 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into relevant formulas to calculate airflow where turbochargers are installed. |
Written tutorial |
| Noise cancellation with Audacity by Steve Smith Following on from Ben’s excellent forum post about listening to .psdata files, I want to share the noise-cancelling feature in another audio software suite called Audacity |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 14 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he is looking into how to display the effective voltage applied to a component when it is being controlled by a negative PWM. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 15 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he has looked into measuring resistance with PicoScope 4425. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 16 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he has looked into the operation and diagnosis of an electronically Commutated (EC) fuel pump. |
Written tutorial |
| Maths is cool - part 17 by Steve Smith In this educational series, Steve Smith shares his knowledge about using math channels in PicoScope. In this part, he has looked into DPF back-pressure and a Toyota formula used for checking DPF breathing efficiency. |
Written tutorial |
| The alternator by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Turbochargers by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Bosch LSU 4.2 broadband oxygen sensor by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |
| Cam and crank correlation by Steve Smith |
Written tutorial |
| Pico Automotive Diagnostic Training: Secondary ignition by Pico Technology |
Written tutorial |