Tech Tips Shorts #2: Leveraging The 'Wiggle' Test to Reveal Intermittent Gremlins
Episode #2 of this new series is here! In this episode of TechTips, Brandon describes how to flush intermittent faults to the surface. Brandon’s belief is that intermittent faults don’t truly exist; so long as we determine the conditions necessary to cause the fault/symptom/concern to surface, we can seemingly reproduce it at will!
One of the most widely implemented techniques used to accomplish this goal is what’s known synonymously throughout the automotive service and repair industry as “the wiggle test.” Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most incorrectly implemented tests as well.
Manipulating the harness violently almost always temporarily fixes the fault, leaving you as the technician stuck with a symptomless, partially-disassemble vehicle that must give issued to the customer with no correction. We know all too well that this fault will return at some point in time, and the customer will not likely be happy. Carrying the wiggle test out correctly means manipulating the harness gently (as this is how it occurs naturally, as the vehicle is driven down the road).
Stick with Brandon and learn how it’s done correctly so seemingly-intermittent faults become a ‘walk in the park’, right here on this episode of TechTips!
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About the Author
Brandon Steckler
Technical Editor | Motor Age
Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.
Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability.
Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.
Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).
He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.