Analogue importance It is easy to overlook hand-held tools, favouring the latest digital diagnostics instead, but Rob Marshall examines why they remain not just relevant but essential It is a little unfair, let alone inaccurate, to refer to analogue tools as 'basic'. 'Fundamental' is a better term. After all, many technicians up and down the country are expected to supply a decent toolset by their employers and, understandably, they can be very protective of them. At Autotechnician, we get it. We understand totally why many technicians welcome mobile tool sales van arrivals with open arms, eager to jump on board and sample the latest products that can make tricky tasks that little bit easier and more comfortable. We also respect the pride on display, when technicians show-off the contents of wellstocked boxes to us, revealing collections that they have grown throughout their careers, almost as a rite of passage. Alistair Mason from Schaeffler reports that both garages and technicians continue to invest in tools, with better than ever availability being thanks, largely, to the Internet. In addition, tool prices are becoming more reasonable for quality items. However, he says: "The two problems I see is that you do not know you need a tool until you need it (this is where job preparation is crucial) and the amount of investment required to have every tool required to work on a modern-day car is significant. This is where we see brand specialists, or system specialists."
EOBD diagnostics cannot identify all faults alone. A correctly setup DTI gauge will allow you to check run-out on a clutch friction disc, which can be distorted by supporting the gearbox's weight via the input shaft.
Getting handy Any technician buying tools must juggle cost against quality and preferences. Even so, most purchasers look for optimum value. While the cheapest spanners and sockets, as examples, are bound to possess compromises in their materials to meet the required price-points, they also may not fit the nut/ bolt head accurately. This situation could increase the risk of slippage, causing not only the fixings' heads to round, thus complicating/lengthening the repair, but it also increases the risk of injury, skinned knuckles included. Many technicians agree that costlier tools tend to be more pleasant to handle, although this is not a universal rule. Yet, consider that the slightly dearer ratchet with more teeth in its mechanism, for example, makes a task considerably easier, when conducted within the typical cramped confines of a modern engine bay.
TOOLING
Do not ignore special tools offered by parts suppliers, many of which are useful and inexpensive. This magnetic detector card (available from Schaeffler) verifies on which side the speed encounter resides, which must be installed facing the speed sensor. It can also diagnose a bearing encoder fault.
Do not forget to have a decent range of tools, either. While Dayco makes timing belt kits, among other OE quality components, it neither manufactures nor sells fitting/ tensioning equipment, currently. Yet, it agrees that every technician should use a good selection of decent quality and well-maintained tools. Of particular relevance is a calibrated torque wrench that works accurately to as low as 4Nm, because certain water pump fixings need to be torqued initially to such lowly settings.
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