Technical
Thermal imaging Affordable technology lets you see a new light We’ve all heard the phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words.” As it relates to vehicle diagnostics, 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.
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 troubleshooting 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. The 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 professional-grade scan tool. They won’t replace knowledge or skill, but they will improve
12 | ASP February 2017
