Mastering Diagnostics #29: Root Cause Fault Discovery Through Questioning
In this latest episode of Mastering Diagnostics, Motor Age Technical Editor Brandon Steckler is leveraging the X-431 Torque Link scan tool and the TSAP-2 TPM Activation tool, both from Launch Tech USA, to ask the vehicle questions, displaying an effort to discover root-cause faults of TPMS systems when they exist.
Many systems on today’s vehicle platforms function over several networks, communicating and sharing data. A breakdown anywhere in those networks wreaks havoc on system functionality. The real issue is when techs or shops make it a standard operating procedure to sell four sensors, programming and learning to a customer as a basic first step. Not every TPMS system fault is related to the sensors themselves. Many other issues are potential starting points for symptoms to present themselves.
The real challenge for shops is the cost of investing in OE tooling required to complete some jobs. To equip at a level capable of handling all vehicle makes and models would be tens of thousands of dollars, plus tool software and firmware updates. The Launch X-431 and TSAP-2 provide nearly full coverage of the vehicles on the road today.
Couple that with Launch’s new RF sensor, the new programmable universal TPMS sensor that fits virtually every application out there, and the need to stock many SKUs or wait for parts to arrive is eliminated. Steckler talks through that full vehicle coverage along with a professional scan tool that provides a wide range of vehicle coverage up through 2025 and how he sees this being a combination to fix vehicles right the first time.
Join Steckler on the episode of Mastering Diagnostics to find out more or visit https://www.launchtechusa.com/tpms to find out more about the X-431 Torque Link and the TSPA-2 TPM Activation Tool.
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.