INSTANT EXPERT OSCILLOSCOPES THE POWER OF A WAVE

Just as the hand wave is one of the most powerful means of communication and the ocean wave is one of the most powerful forces in nature, the oscilloscope’s wave is one of the most powerful tools in automotive diagnosis. Yet, why are not just DIYers but also many professionals guilty of following fault codes blindly and replacingperfectly serviceable parts needlessly?

Perhaps it is human nature to take the easiest route out of a problem. Should a fault code point to a particular component, your repair might be successful if you take the information at face value. Yet, the gamble may not pay off, resulting in you squandering both time and money, especially as many suppliers do not provide refunds for serviceable electrical components that were pre-installed. How do you know, for example, that the fault code arose from faulty wiring, a deteriorated connector, a failing ECU, or even from another component? The answer is that you do not, unless you have investigated further.

Regular readers appreciate our emphasis on taking data from your car as it is running in real-time. You can obtain this by several means. Hand-held serial diagnostic tools, which plug into the car’s 16-pin On Board Diagnostic (OBD) socket, can