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Pico Oscilloscope Diagnostics

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Why do we use a oscilloscope ?

Answer : A scan tool can often point you in the right direction, perhaps indicating a misfire on a specific cylinder but too often the less experienced technician then ends replacing several parts before the problem is solved. Oscilloscopes should be used:

  • To eliminate guesswork and test individual components before they are replaced. This avoids "parts darts" where more and more parts are replaced until the fault goes away.
  • To find intermittent wiring and connector faults.
  • When a vehicle has a problem but no code has been set or when multiple / misleading codes have been set
  • As the best way to find charging and starting problems.
  • To find problems with actuators such as motors and injectors that are not monitored by the ECU.
  • To identify mechanical problems such as compression and slipped / incorrectly fitted timing belts.

For the technician oscilloscopes lead to faster, more efficient diagnostics and a better understanding of how vehicle systems work. For the workshop using a PicoScope encourages a "fix it right" culture by reducing the number of parts changed on guesswork. 

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