Equipment

I use a Fluke 190 series oscilloscope which really is a high-performance piece of equipment capable of measuring down to nano-seconds, which is rocket science! This machine offers specifications usually found only on top-end bench instruments.

I also have a 4 channel PICO scope advanced automotive kit which allows me to connect a laptop for a more detailed view. It also gives me access to a whole library of waveforms for all the engine sensors.

I also have a 4 channel PICO scope advanced automotive kit which allows me to connect a laptop for a more detailed view. It also gives me access to a whole library of waveforms for all the engine sensors.

I use a Sykes-Pickavant advanced code reader for serial diagnostics, which allows me to plug into the car’s diagnostic socket to interrogate the ECU for stored codes and live data, and also their top-of-the-range fuel pressure test kit, which can test both single and multipoint injection systems.

I have a multigas exhaust gas analyser by Kane and this is also state-of-the-art. It can test for 4 gases :- Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrocarbons, Oxygen and of course Lambda. This is vital when analysing any engine management problem as well as checking for an MOT emissions test.

For all VW and Audi group vehicles I also have Vag-Com, which is a really good piece of kit to have for anything to do with the Engine, Transmission, ABS, Airbags, Instruments or even the Radio.

To back all this up you need serious vehicle specific data and for this I use Caps computer software. This gives vital information on all engine management systems.

As well as the Caps software I also have a huge library of Autodata books on Engine Management, Fuel Injection, ABS and Airbags.

If you’ve got one of those intermittent problems that only appears every few days I’ve also got the answer ! I’ve got the CRecorder by Launch. It’s like a flight recorder for cars, I just plug it into your diagnostic socket and you run around in the car for a day or two until the problem recurrs, then I simply connect it to my laptop and read back all the data it’s collected to find out what’s wrong.

Derek Warwick

Auto Diagnostics, 8 Sundew Close, Eaton Ford, St Neots, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE19 7GN

Telephone 01480 385200, Mobile: 07973 765220, Fax 01480 374205, Email d.warwick@ntlworld.com