False codes from new diagnostic software wasted my whole morning

We got this updated scanner for the shop. It promised to catch every fault in modern diesels. But it kept flagging non-existent issues on a simple injector job. I learned to cross-reference with manual tests now. Saves so much time and headache.

4 comments

4 Comments

kimfisher3mo ago

Feel your pain. That new software must think it's getting paid by the alarm, not the fix. Sounds less like a diagnostic tool and more like a very anxious rookie making up problems to look busy. Glad you found the old school way still gets you to the real answer faster.

ruby3103mo ago

Heard a buddy ranting about similar diagnostic tools... they overcomplicate everything, @kimfisher. Sometimes the basic approach just works.

corap213mo ago

Ever try the old multimeter trick @kimfisher?

michael_green442mo ago

That "anxious rookie" line is funny but I see it the other way. My scanner throws codes for stuff like a tiny pressure drop or a sensor reading just out of range. It's not making things up, it's showing me data I'd miss. Last week it caught a wiring issue starting on a harness I would've called good. The old ways work, but the new stuff shows you problems before they leave you stranded.