Reviews and usage guides for OBD-II scanners, multimeters, oscilloscopes, current clamps, and professional diagnostic equipment.
14 articles in this category
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In-depth comparison of Fluke 88V, Brymen BM869s, and Klein MM700 multimeters for automotive use. Covers True RMS accuracy, CAT III/IV safety ratings, and must-have features like RPM measurement, dwell angle, pulse width, and temperature probe capabilities.
Practical oscilloscope setup guide for PicoScope 4425A and Hantek 1008C. Covers voltage scale and time base configuration, edge and pulse-width trigger settings, and interpretation of key waveforms — fuel injector pintle hump, crankshaft sensor, and CAN bus high/low signals.
Comprehensive OBD2 scan tool comparison across five tiers. Launch CRP919X and Autel MK808 provide bidirectional control; BlueDriver offers mobile convenience; Foxwell NT710 and Topdon ArtiDiag500 cover coding functions. Covers protocol support, live data graphing, and manufacturer-specific PIDs.
Master low-amp and high-amp current probe techniques. Covers Fluke i1010 AC/DC current clamp and Pico TA018 low-amp probe for parasitic draw measurement, starter current profiling with 600A clamps, and the differences between inductive (AC-only) and Hall-effect (AC/DC) clamp designs.
Practical guide to using pressure transducers for engine diagnostics. Covers Pico WPS500X in-cylinder pressure waveform capture, fuel rail pressure transducer measurements, exhaust back pressure testing for restricted catalysts, and cranking compression relative testing without removing spark plugs.
How to use FLIR E8 and Seek ShotPro thermal cameras for electrical fault finding. Identify hot spots in fuse boxes revealing high-resistance connections, scan wiring harnesses for overloaded circuits, detect parasitic draw components by temperature signature, and locate failing relays and modules.
Detailed comparison of professional battery testers. Midtronics MDX-650P provides advanced conductance profiling with temperature compensation; Foxwell BT-705 and Topdon BT200 offer affordable conductance testing. Covers load testing vs conductance testing accuracy and battery registration capabilities for modern vehicles.
Master automotive wiring diagram reading across manufacturers. Covers DIN 72552 terminal designations vs SAE J1128 symbols, German (DIN 47002), Japanese (JIS C 3406), and American (SAE J1128) wire color codes, connector pin numbering conventions, and tracing circuits through multi-page schematics.
Professional connector testing techniques using breakout boxes and back-probing methods. Covers Waekon breakout box selection, Fluke and Pomona back-probe pin selection, safe connector insertion without terminal spreading, test lead best practices, and avoiding ECM connector damage during powered circuit testing.
Complete guide to bidirectional scan tool functions. Covers fuel pump activation, VVT solenoid testing, cooling fan command, and throttle body relearn procedures using VCDS (VW/Audi), Toyota Techstream, BMW INPA/ISTA, and Ford FORScan. Includes DPF regeneration and electronic parking brake service modes.
Using automotive smoke machines for leak detection. Covers the Autool SDT-106 professional EVAP smoke tester, Redline Detection Smoke Pro total-tech operations, and building a DIY smoke machine with a paint can, air regulator, and baby oil. Includes EVAP system leak size classification and smoke test safety procedures.
Complete Power Probe usage guide covering the Power Probe IV and PP3 series. Covers short-to-ground and short-to-voltage circuit tracing, component activation with built-in voltage supply, relay bench testing, fuse box testing with Power Probe, and safe current-limited power application to verify circuit integrity.
Essential J2534 device comparison and ECU programming guide. Covers DrewTech CarDAQ Plus 3, Opus MongoosePro ISO/CAN, and VXDIAG VCX Nano for OEM software access. Details Toyota TIS, GM SPS2, Ford FJDS/FDRS, and VW ODIS flashing procedures, battery voltage requirements, and brick prevention best practices.
Noise, vibration, and harshness diagnostic tool guide. Covers Pico Diagnostics NVH kit with accelerometer-based vibration analysis, Steelman 06600 ChassisEar wireless noise detection for pinpointing drivetrain and suspension noise sources, and electronic stethoscopes for isolating electrical noise from alternators, relays, and fuel injectors.