3 ways you're using your scan tool wrong

As vehicle diagnostics continue to evolve, it’s crucial that technicians remember new capabilities can come with a slightly different user experience. If your shop is navigating unnecessary downtime and frustration after adopting a new diagnostic scan tool, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with the tool itself – instead, the culprit may be as simple as user error.

By avoiding these three common mistakes, repair professionals can reduce downtime, eliminate diagnostic issues and enjoy their new tool to its fullest potential.

Error #1: Failing to maintain battery

Inadequate battery voltage is a leading cause behind failed ADAS calibrations. I’ve known many technicians who have wasted hours trying and re-trying to calibrate a vehicle after they’ve forgotten to hook up to a battery maintainer, leaving them working with a critically low voltage.

When a battery’s voltage isn’t maintained during a scan, it can drop below 12V – which is over 50 percent discharged. This can cause a vehicle to power down or put certain modules to sleep to save power. When this happens during a 40-second diagnostic scan, the resulting report will be incomplete, prompting a technician to overlook potential issues with modules that simply aren’t up and running.

To avoid this issue, make a battery maintainer like the Bosch BAT6120 an essential component to your ADAS calibration toolkit and your standard vehicle diagnostic process. Keep an eye out for any low-voltage warnings from your scan tool – this can include on-screen voltage indicators or a voltage readout in the VCI cable that will flash “LO” when the battery’s voltage falls below a safe threshold.

Error #2: Overlooking connectivity

This one may sound a bit obvious, but hey, no judgment here. Please do not attempt to complete a diagnostic scan on a vehicle whose ignition is turned off.

Similarly, if you’re having trouble initiating a scan, be sure to double check whether the tablet has disconnected from the Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI). This can happen with scan tools that have been left on for too long, sometimes days, without a restart, which can make it difficult for the tool to establish a local Wi-Fi connection with the VCI.

Luckily, the fix here is usually as quick and easy as a simple reboot. For instance, if your Bosch ADS X scan tool has disconnected from the VCI during use, simply check the green VCI indicator dots on your tablet or swipe down to the VCI Connection Manager and hit "refresh" to quickly re-establish communication.

Always encourage your shop to abide by the most classic form of IT advice: Turn the scan tool off when you aren't using it and turn it back on shortly before you need it. Not only will this ensure a faster connection to the vehicle – it’ll conserve the battery on the tool, keeping your tool ready to go when needed.

Error #3: Neglecting your software

Scan tools have come a long way since the OBD-II became the standard 30 years ago. It’s likely that any new scan tool you bring into the shop may function a lot differently than the one it’s replacing.

If you’re throwing the instructions for your new tool out without a second glance and then running into issues while scanning, it’s likely you may run into issues navigating an unfamiliar tool, or missing out on features you never knew the tool had.

Another thing technicians should not skip out on is downloading new coverage updates or letting tool subscriptions lapse. Neglecting these key updates means missing out on the newest vehicle coverage and valuable supplemental resources that can expedite vehicle repairs.

Modern updates are usually downloaded in the background while the tool is in use, and often take just a few minutes to install. Trust me, the time shops invest into keeping their tool up-to-date is well worth the thousands of added special tests and expanded vehicle coverage each month.

The automotive diagnostic industry is an ever-evolving market, with customers increasingly expecting faster turnaround times and more accurate results. It’s up to shops to ensure they’re doing everything they can to stay ahead of the curve, greeting this evolution with adaptability, patience and a willingness to invest in learning how to utilize their diagnostic tools, all while being humble enough to go back to basics. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as, “turn it off and turn it back on again.”

If you’re already investing in the latest and greatest diagnostic tools, it’s important for your technicians to match their efforts to that investment. Ensuring your vehicle is properly charged, connected and ready to work with the tool before beginning service, learning the tool’s capabilities inside and out, and staying on top of software updates and subscriptions to ensure you’re maximizing your service coverage are all key to avoiding simple headaches and turning vehicles around faster.