What are some must have diagnostic tools?

[Fedwrench]

Your list is impressive. Some things you would refine with training and experience. I would skip the back pressure tester because, vacuum gauge readings would tell you if your exhaust was restricted.
Instead of getting a set of noid lights, I would get the universal one from Lisle.http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/LIS-27800.html
I would skip the hydrometer, sensor tester, and wide band O2 tester. Mastering your DVOM and interpeting scan tool data will eliminate the need for these items. These are just my thoughts if I was buying stuff again and your results may vary.

 

[stioc]

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

This link may help you with the vacuum gauge reading.

Awesome thanks. Senario 5 is what I had with my old volvo 240 with 230k miles on it, though the oscillation was much faster. However, look at senarios 5 through 8 and they're almost the same but mean different things.

 

[Danglerb]

Good thread with lots of good ideas.

I have a few DVM's, but I want two accessories, some really good test leads with probes and clips, and a amp shunt to hook in series with the battery ground strap when tracing drains.

Sometimes the best way to fix a problem isn't to identify it, many old cars have a bunch of things wrong anyway, just start replacing bad parts and refreshing the car area by area. WYAIT, while your already in there, is a mantra for my old Porsche.

 

[stioc]

Speaking of learning to use the DVOM properly, download the user manual from Actron for one of their DVOMs http://actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16155 and it'll tell you how to test sensors etc. The link to download the manual is at the bottom of the page. Very cool!

In fact, despite the fact I have 3 DVOMs I'll buy that one on their website just for the fact that they make their manuals available for free and their tools are well with the DIYer range (Amazon has good prices).

Fedwrench, you're right I probably listed too many things on my list...which is a good thing around here but I get your point. They hydrometer/refractometer was for testing the anti-freeze not the battery...like we really need to test the anti-freeze in SoCal

 

[vc-onthepc]

russell i never saw a response to the actron multimeter. well i used actrons former model of that type of meter and it worked great for about two years ...but in its defense it was dropped zillions fo times got wet etc etc etc . and when tested against a snap on meter they both read the same voltage and ohms . . so id say they are a good entry level meter for the price . i now use a fluke 88 whch hasnt failed me in 10 years still works flawlessley .

buy pomona or fluke multimeter leads they are expensive but well worth it especially the kits which include backprobing needles , clamping ends and straight ends .

also in one post i saw you have an e36 im assuming a bmw , if you check with snap on they sell radiator cap adaptors which allow you to hook the cooling system pressure gauge to your screw on cap . its been awhile since ive bought them but they were in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 dollars a piece then .

also no one ever said a long screwdriver to isolate the mechanical "knocks" under valvecovers or inside engine blocks .

AND MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL.... DRUMROLL PLEASE ...ME BECAUSE WITHOUT ME ALL THOSE TOOLS ARE ABSOLUTLY USELESS ...

 

[stioc]

vc, thanks for the feedback on the multimeters. I'd love to own a Fluke but for the cost of a Fluke 88 I could buy several middle-of-the-road diagnostic tools. Since they won't see as much use and abuse in a home garage they'll suffice.

You're spot on, it's a BMW. My only concern is there's no 'radiator cap' per se the cap is on the coolant recovery tank so I'll be pressurizing the recovery tank not the radiator right?

A long screwdriver or a mechanic's stehescope, either one should work for detecting noises. The only bad thing about the screwdriver is...well you already have one so where's the fun, we're tool junkies afterall.

As for you being the number one tool...hey you said it!!

So what's a good place to buy test leads and those aligator clip attachments?

 

[speed bump]

vc, thanks for the feedback on the multimeters. I'd love to own a Fluke but for the cost of a Fluke 88 I could buy several middle-of-the-road diagnostic tools. Since they won't see as much use and abuse in a home garage they'll suffice.

Unless you want to use all the special features that might be somewhat more accurate on the Fluke automotive type meter generally you are just as well off with a decent cheapy for DC stuff. If you are working on AC stuff then investing in a good meter is worth its weight in gold. I have a $40-50 Radioshack model that did everything the Fluke 116 does and the only difference is you can beat the **** out of the Flukes for a much longer time than you can almost anything else.

My list is more biased to mechanical/pipe/electrical trades

Refrigeration stub gauges: It doesn't matter so much in cars because you can pull almost refrigerent out of the gauges but in small refrigerators and such its critical (as well as less of a pain to use).

Borescope/snake camera: Never know what you can find until you look.

IR/Thermal Imager camera: Very pricey peice of equipment but once you learn how to use one you can: 1.) sell a whole lot of HVAC systems upgrades 2.) Trace wires/pipes/vent leaks and such in minutes rather hours. This is something I think you will probably see employed much more in Automotive tech work here soon.

Good Analog meter: There are applications where a DVM will lie to you because it filters out certain things like true negative voltage feed back, and the accuracy of the Ammeters seems to be better on analog meter as well. I reccomend owning one like a Simpson 260.

Some more that I can't think of because I lost my train of thought.

 

[vc-onthepc]

russell

and yes the actron meters will be fine for you use wasnt trying to sell you on another style was only speaking of my own progression thru multimeters . hope there was no confusion .

for leads
try ebay ... use pomona and fluke as your subject for search

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fluke-TL223-Tes...ryZ58277QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

that is an example of the fluke style basic lead set .

you can try also granger ...toolweb etc

http://www.toolweb.com/keySearchdev.cfm?kws=1 this was a search on toolweb for examples of leads.

as for the pressure test on the recovery tank . yes in fact you would be pressurizing the recovery tank as well as the entire cooling system since the tank is only part of the system ..so the entire system would be checked ...

 

[Hawk321]

What is with a short circuit finder???Had anyone used one? Does it work or is it wasted money?

 

[eschoendorff]

My favorite diagnostic tool is my subscription to Alldata. Most of the work that I do in the garage begins with research at the computer.

 

[komobu]

I really like the Power Probe III. I have seen a lot of techs say it is unneeded until they actually use it and then they fall in love with it. To buy off the truck it is about 200. You can find them on eBay for 90 bucks. Since purchasing it, I very rarely use my dvom.

You hook the black clip to neg, and red to positive. If you touch something that is grounded, a green light will illuminate. If you touch something that is hot, a red light will illuminate. It will also show you the amount of volts so you will know if something has 12 volts or 5 for a reference wire. There is also a rocker switch on it so you can pas a ground or 12 volts through the tip. This is great for testing a component or light bulb. You simply touch one side of the bulb with the tip and push the rocker switch, if the light illuminates, then you know the bulb is good and start checking elsewhere.

You can check out some short clips here on its capabilities:http://web.mac.com/powerprobe/iWeb/PowerProbeforum/Hot Tip!.html

Pat

 

[GYOGI65]

short finder worth every penny just takes time and patiance to get used to sure beats the paper clip and look for the magic smoke done both until a co worker tried to do it and smoked the dash harness of a superduty and i got the honor of replacing the whole dash harness

 

[rhandwor]

http://www.ntxtools.com/ search WAE-76200,WAE-76540,Wae-76400
A cheaper tool is a logic probe computer safe tells if hot or ground.