The Trainer #165: Component Performance Evaluation Part #6 (MRE sensors)
Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler is back again for another installment of The Trainer. This time, it’s all about magneto resistive element sensors.
Steckler gets into the discussion about the benefits automotive manufacturers gained by implementing the MRE sensor into system design and construction. This sensor makes the systems that are dependent on knowing speed and direction possible to exist safely on the automobile.
But simply configuring systems to incorporate MREs is only half of the equation. Technicians need to know how the MREs function when it comes to troubleshooting a system encountering an issue. And because most manufactures use these MREs to determine rotational speed and direction, techs are likely to encounter faulted systems sooner than they think.
To evaluate these devices properly means having a capable tool to do so: a digital storage oscilloscope. In The Trainer, Steckler demonstrates how the Pico 4425 shows what needs to be seen, but also has some unique features that make diagnosing these modern components far more efficient. These include:
- Four proprietary, BNC+ self-identifying scope inputs
- 4-way measuring cursors
- Superior filtering capabilities
- Impressive scope sample rate
- A huge data storage buffer for large scope files
- Clever math channels to reveal hidden characteristics embedded in signals
If you want to know more about the construction and operation of the magneto resistive element sensors and how to troubleshoot them accurately and efficiently, you don’t want to miss this episode of The Trainer.
Other videos on this subject:
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.