Magazine for the auto service professional
Issue link: http://asp.epubxp.com/i/780462
17 | ASP February 2017 Circle 106 on Reader Service Card Technical problem without removing the headliner to access the control unit itself. at's an example of looking for heat energy in places where it should not be. e other obvious technique is to look for heat where it should be, like the exhaust manifold (which cylinder is misfiring?), seat heaters and rear window defog- gers (which wire is open?) and even more subtle places like the Mass Airflow Sensor. Technicians have successfully used a thermal imager to find a dead cell in a battery, a bad idler bearing, slipping drive belt, a clogged A/C condenser or evaporator or radiator or heater core, a dragging brake caliper, and even to verify wheel alignment (by checking tire tread temperature variations). ermal images are also being used as an effective sales tool. Not only is this a classic case of a picture being worth a thousand words, but the impressive technology also gives customers confidence in their choice of repair shop. Learning curve While the tool itself is simple to use, getting a useful image takes a little practice. ermal sensors work in real time, but it takes a few milliseconds for the software to convert the signal into an image. Most tools auto-range the temperature/color display based on a single point in the center of the field of view. Combined with the time lag, it can be a chal- lenge to hold the tool still long enough to get a stable image, especially with the smartphone tools. A crosshair on the display screen helps you keep the image focused on one point. With the key on but engine off, it's easy to see the mass airflow sensor is getting power.