self diagnosis

all right...i have completed my course...and am now a certified sensor technician, lol! AS IF. all right now, so far from what i have learned from the course is a lot on self diagnosis and understanding fault codes. in this blog i will be talking more about understanding and self diagnosis. so shall we begin.
since the mid 1980's an increasing number european and japanese market vehicle have been equipped with some form of self diagnosis system integrated in that particular vehicle.self diagnosis systems have in fact been used much earlier on some mainly american cars i think, lol.
self diagnosis systems is generally fitted to the fuel and ignition systems and has become more popular increased fitment of the integrated engine management systems. even now from in my extended knowledge is already being used in some bikes or should i say more to superbikes to ascertain that much torque and power coming from that four carburettors. back to cars, in addition self diagnosis systems have is now even found on other vehicles such as ABS, automatic gearboxes. self diagnosis is a function of the system computer called the ECM or some people call it ECU. this ECM has the ability to recognise fault codes on the same system that is controlling.
self diagnosis is used to overcome a number of potential problems. one aim is to help overcome the problem of working and diagnosing faults associated with the 'new technology'. this is very important for the manufacturer dealer . it is also certainly an aid to diagnosis when faults occur, which of course should reduce diagnostic time for the franchised dealer workshop. fast and accurate diagnostics should therefore reduce warranty costs but additionally help retain customer loyalty and satisfaction. this self diagnosis system can also help with the vehicle assembly process to ensure that the vehicle leaves the assembly plant without detectable faults.
very importantly, modern engine management systems and emission control systems are fitted to ensure that the emission levels remain low and within legislated limits. there can be many faults or problems that can remain undetected by the driver and only detected by the emissions. by providing a self diagnostic systems it helps and is now possible to provide the driver, workshop or technician a warning by giving out an MIL(malfunction indicator light) of what type of problem or fault exists. so, by providing the self diagnostic system it reduces trouble shooting time or fault detecting time shorter.
in fact the self diagnosis system. forms only a small part of the total facility. my next blog i will further explain on how this system can help the system computer to further assist in other sorts of things like reducing emmision levels when faults occur.

ECM- electronic control module

hmmm, let me see. just came back from class. we did a hands on practical job on a mercedez e 200, 210 model, 111 engine. learning abt diff control modules. well...what i'm gonna say next will make me sound like a total idiot or a bloody noob on cars. i never knew that cars nowadays have more then 1 control module. during lesson time, my instructor touched on this topic. he asked the whole class how to tell him how many control modules were there in that particular car. the whole class went blur and blank. isshhh! to call ourselves mechanics....what lies. even the instructor was surprised. then he said that in that car has more then 10 ECM'S. one for every damn thing. for engine one, transmission one, aircon, traction control, differentila gearbox, air bags, abs, they even had one for each door and its was for the power window, and the locks. sshiisshh...i worked on that car before and i never knew...i did see 3 ecm's near the engine dept but all the while i thot that was for the engine only and some other stuff like the abs and air bag, shit like that. lol! i was so wrong. however, i did asked him abt the vehicles immobilizer, on how we can, if possible, override the damn system. he said that there was no way! even if there was a way he would never teach us such things, haha.

ok now, today i learned that for the mercedez, when the engine has some probs or the car has some other probs, it doesnt immediately give us the MIL(malfunction indicator light). unlike other japanese cars. it stores em up intil something very serious pops out then only will it light up. so thats why for the mercedez, we always have to scan thru its system whenever we do service and maintenance for the car. that is why for a mercedez, if the car is more then three years old, and we plug the scanner in, we have so many diagnostic trouble codes. and just erase em. if it cant be erased thats when we have to start gettin our hands dirty.

so i guess thats all i can say rite now for this post. till next time when i can think of something else or learned something useful at work.

back with avengence...

soon will be uploading this blog again...am currently workin in a small company doin cars and stuff..been around a few cars like the toyota mr-s, rx-8, jaguars, audi, lots more...even got a chance to handle one of my all time favourite...the TRUENO!thats a beauty, an experience i'll never forget. also been around the singapore drifting scene, stunnin also entertaining. learned a great deal about drifting. its nt just about havin a cool ride, its also how u drive the baby is what makes u a real drifter. damn! i thot that it was all about yanking on the damn handbrakes..its more to that. it wasnt anything like what u'll see in tokyo drift. much much more. i am also undergoin a short course on automotive sensor technology. its a short course but its gd. in this automotive ind..we need upgrading to catch up with their technology. gettin more and more advanced. sooooo...looks like i got nothing else to say...till my nxt post...i most likely might put up something that i learned in the course i'm takin. adios...........