COLLISION REPAIR TOOLS & EQUIPMENT AUGUST 2016 | Collision Repair | 19 to review the types of repairs you’ve done frequently. If you can identify the top few makes of vehicles you repair, and the percentage of work they account for, you’ll be in a much better position to identify the best tool(s) for your repair facility. Yet another important decision before you invest in a tool is to determine which, if any, of your technicians you’re going to lean on for collision repair diagnostics. Ask yourself these questions: • Do you have technicians that are comfortable doing electronic repairs and troubleshooting? • Do any of your technicians have experience with specifi c scan tools and what did they like, or dislike, about that particular tool? • Do you have technicians that are more computer-savvy than others? Communication and comfort with the repair requirements will be key to successfully implementing collision repair diagnostics into your workfl ow. If you determine that you’re going to need to hire a new technician to lead your diagnostic work, you may have to alter your interview process to ensure that the person you’re hiring has the knowledge and skills required for the specifi c types of work you’ll be performing. OEM SCAN TOOLS OEM scan tools are widely available to repair professionals and off er the most comprehensive capabilities for that vehicle make. Th e engineers that design the vehicle systems are the same ones that are involved in the design of the scan tools. OEM scan tools will be compatible with an entire model lineup and can access more vehicle systems than aft ermarket tools will typically be able to. OEM scan tools may be the best option if you primarily work on one or two vehicle makes. If you were armed with a couple of OEM scan tools for the majority of your work, you’d be in a position to sublet other work for those makes that you work on less frequently. One of the drawbacks of an OEM scan tool is that you will need multiple scan tools if you don’t work prominently on a small number of makes. Th is can be a heft y investment and, if not implemented properly (training, staffi ng, etc.), it may not be a wise investment. If you’re leaning towards an OEM scan tool (or a few OEM scan tools), you’ll also want to determine if there is training available from the OEM on using that tool. A quality tool, without proper training, likely will limit the types of work you’re able to perform and likely will lead to frustration for you and your technician. AFTERMARKET SCAN TOOLS Aft ermarket scan tools off er the fl exibility to work on multiple makes and models, while off ering many of the features that OEM scan tools do. Many of the aft ermarket scan tools are designed to read and clear codes, along with allowing technicians to diagnose and troubleshoot engine, driveability and emissions related data. Th ey haven’t, historically, been designed to meet the needs of collision repair professionals and the post-repair calibration that is required with many of today’s advanced safety and driver convenience systems. You’ll want to confi rm with the tool representative that the tool(s) they off er meet your needs. Systems that you’ll want to ensure you can work with include the restraint system, lane-keep/lane-watch, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. I-CAR, through its Repairability Technical Support (RTS) Initiative and its Tool and Equipment Industry Segment Advisory Council (ISAC) are beginning to work with many of the aft ermarket scan tool makers, through the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) in an eff ort to provide more options for the collision repair market. You’ll also want to pay particular attention to the features of the aft ermarket scan tools you’re researching to ensure you don’t ‘buy up’ to something you don’t need. You’ll want to marry the types of work that you’ll be doing to the tool and may not need the most advanced tool the company off ers. For example, if you don’t need a scope, you won’t necessarily need a tool that off ers that feature. Similar to any new piece of equipment, you’ll again want to ensure that training is available for the aft ermarket scan tool in order to fully leverage all of the its capabilities. REMOTE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS A relatively new entry into the scan tool arena is the asTech 2, from Collision Diagnostic Services (CDS). Th e asTech 2 isn’t actually a scan tool, but has the ability to communicate with OEM scan tools, remotely. One unique feature of the asTech 2 is that it is designed specifi cally for the collision repair industry. To use the as- Tech 2, the collision repairer connects one port on the tool to the OBD-II Data Link Connector (DLC) of the vehicle. Another port is connected, via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, to the Internet. Th is allows the asTech 2 to communicate to a similar tool located at the offi ces of CDS where a factory trained technician accesses an OEM scan tool. Th e “remote technician” can scan the vehicle, reset fault codes, reprogram control modules and perform post-repair calibrations. Th e remote technician also will run a full report, outlining any fault codes. Your tech will still have to access the OEM service information to follow the troubleshooting steps for each of the fault codes and to replace any damaged parts. Th is also will require an additional scan to clear any codes, once the system has been repaired. One thing that you likely won’t be able to do with the asTech 2 is any calibration that requires a test drive, as the vehicle will not be able to maintain communication with the CDS remote technician. CONCLUSION Th e advancements in vehicle safety and driver convenience systems will continue to advance, including an agreement between the OEMs, NHTSA and others that by 2022, collision mitigation systems will become standard on vehicles sold in the U.S. While this may reduce the overall number of collisions, it will increase the number of vehicles that qualify for collision repairs, as those vehicles will be involved in slower speed collisions and total losses will be reduced. Investing in tools, equipment and training now will prepare you for the increase in vehicles equipped with this technology. Jason Bartanen is director of industry technical relations at I-CAR and is leading its Repairability Technical Support (RTS) Initiative (www.i-car.com). To read this full article, including additional factors to consider when preparing for collision repair diagnostics, visit VehicleServicePros.com/12212510.
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