Magazine for the auto service professional
Issue link: http://asp.epubxp.com/i/780462
12 | ASP February 2017 Technical Thermal imaging Affordable technology lets you see a new light By Jacques Gordon B efore cars had electronic controls, all their malfunctions were something we could see, hear, smell, feel or sometimes even taste (ever sipped coffee next to a car with a coolant leak?). Sometimes we used a test light or a vacuum gauge to pinpoint problems, and for really advanced diagnostics we had an engine analyzer with an analog 'scope as big as a roll away toolbox that would actually let us see secondary ignition patterns. Today's diagnostic tools are made for today's vehicles, and using them effectively requires knowledge and skills that our grandfathers never imagined. We still pay attention to sound and vibration, but most troubleshoot- ing clues are gathered electronically and we see them as data on a display screen. Imagine how much easier and more accurate your diagnosis could be if you could actually see excess current draw or a plugged catalytic converter or a stuck EGR valve. Recent advances in optical and thermal imaging technology have made this possible. e technologies themselves are not new but the prices are. Today you can buy truly useful inspection cameras and thermal imaging cameras for about half the price of a profes- sional-grade scan tool. ey won't replace knowledge or skill, but they will improve We've all heard the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words." As it relates to vehicle diag- nostics, this phrase can now be updated to "A thermal image is worth time, money and increased credibility with your customers." Let's say a circuit remains active when it shouldn't be. A thermal image quickly shows the problem and confirms the repair, and you can show it to your customer. It's quick, efficient and credible.