Virtual "Dash" Pinpoints Engine Problems

Virtual "Dash" Pinpoints Engine Problems ENGINES Engines 29-6-38 If your car or pickup is less than 10 years old, you can troubleshoot problems with the AutoTap OBDII Diagnostic Scanner. It lets you create a virtual dashboard of function monitors on a PDA (like a Palm Pilot) or a laptop computer. "AutoTap lets you set up a host of graphs and displays for sensors in your power train," explains Mike Fahrion, B&B Electronics, maker of AutoTap. He gives the Check Engine Light as an example. It comes on when an engine sensor goes out of range, but that's all the driver knows. AutoTap reveals one of several trouble codes, such as one that suggests the engine fuel mix is too lean. Then you can look at the sensor while the engine is running to gather more information. "Other diagnostic tools stop at giving you the code," explains Fahrion. "Tell an auto parts store that the code indicates too lean a fuel mix and the first suggestion they'll give you is to replace the oxygen sensors. That can run from $30 to several hundred dollars and might not solve the problem." AutoTap, he says, allows you to graph the oxygen sensor and compare it to a graph of how the sensor should look. If it's okay, then you can go on to the next possibility. "You can go to an auto parts store and choose from a whole lineup of diagnostic tools from $120 to $200, and they will read the code and clear it, but not gather data," suggests Fahrion. "AutoTap starts at $200 and runs up to $500, depending on what features you want. It gathers real time data on about 20 different inputs like temperature, rpm, etc., as well as manufacturer's enhanced or proprietary real time data. We can do color gauges as well as graphs of the data." Fahrion says customers range from "do-it-yourselfers" to people who simply want information before going into a shop. "If you can go in with a printout, codes, graphs and other output, it starts a different level of discussion with a mechanic," he says. Unfortunately, Fahrion adds, "It's hard to tell somebody to buy AutoTap up front as a preventative measure. Too many customers order the tool after blowing $300 and a weekend blindly replacing parts." To fully utilize the scanner, the company recommends the customer buy a diagnostic manual for the vehicle. B&B also sells online software called Sensor Guide. It tells where to find different sensors, how the engine runs and if you use the scanner, how output will look. The company's website is also loaded with documentation and articles on troubleshooting with the scanner as well as a couple of videos. "The bulk of our sales are to people who have never used a scanner before," says Fahrion. "We have a pretty intensive user manual and lots of support material. Service manuals for a vehicle have a troubleshooting tree that gives step-by-step instructions." Although B&B's primary business is data communications, employee interest in automobiles led to development of the scanner. It has also been adapted for use with heavy-duty diesel engines. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, B&B Electronics Mfg. Co., 707 Dayton Road, P.O. Box 1040, Ottawa, Ill. 61350 (ph 815 433-5100; fax 815 433-5105; mfahrion@bb-elec.com; www.autotap.com and www. obdii.com).

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