Friday, July 12, 1991 - North Shore News - 27 AUTOMOTIVES New system solves ‘hard-to-find’ problems FROM A motorist’s point of view, few. things are more ir- ritating than a mechanical prob- lem that refuses to go away. Stall- ing, surging. hesitation, intermit- tent systems failures, and strange, recurring noises are the types of problems that are often hard to diagnose. To make matters worse, these types of problems often ‘disappear’ when the car is taken in for servicing, leading to consid- erable hair-pulling by both mechanics and motorists. Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION Today’s sophisticated cars add a new twist to this scenario. Though on-board computer chips and electronic components arc theoret- ically more reliable than mechanical parts, when something does go wrong, computerized diagnostic equipment is needed to find the problem. And as more and more automobile functions come under the control of elec- eoNg 2 _+. Photo submitted The SBDS system consists of a high-powered 386 computer, sixteen-inch color ‘touch-screen’ monitor, a 155-megabyte hard-drive for vehicle service data storage, a compact disc reader for retrieving updated service information from a CD (updated monthly), a printer, and a modem for communicating with Ford's On-Line Automotive Service Information system. storage, a compact disc reader for retrieving updated service infor- mation from a CD (updated mon- thly), a printer, and a modem for e corunicating with Ford’s On- 9 Line Automotive Service Informa- §f tion system. | SBDS focuses on four areas of car maintenance ‘where. intermit Summer Spectacular 46 SBDS focuses on four areas of car maintenance where intermittent and “hard.-to- . find” problems are difficult to pinpoint with Where else can you take advantage of such conventional tools and methods: electronic engine controls, ignition, fuel systems, , and the base engine. 99 GREAT V A | 1D tronic components, diagnostic service computers must keep up by becoming more sophisticated. Ford recently introduced their new Service Bay Diagnostic System (SBDS) and claims that it is able to track down the most stubborn driveability problems. One of its primary functions will be to keep Ford customers happy, says Ford’s general manager of parts and service, Thomas Wagner. ‘‘SBDS is expected to in- crease customer satisfaction by improving the dealership service technician’s ability to fix a vehicle right the first time. The system is also expected to reduce technician repair time and improve service shop productivity,’’ he says. The SBDS system consists of a high-powered 386 computer, six- teen-inch color ‘touch-screen’ monitor, a 155-megabyte hard- drive for vehicle service data vent and “hard-tofind’ problems Only at Pacific Honda of Course Vancouvers Oldest Honda Dealer are difficult to pinpoint with con- J ventional tools and methods: elec- J tronic engine controls, ignition, § fuel systems, and the base engine. To find a problem, a Ford technician hooks up SBDS to the & cee car, enters the car’s VIN number, : and simply enters the appropriate ser 1991 PRELUDES ‘symptom’ in the computer (on a touch screen). The computer will isolate the problem by running through a series of tests. When the problem is detected, SBDS will advise the technician on how to repair it. After the repair is done, the technician can retest the vehi- cle using SBDS to make sure the problem has been corrected. SBDS saves valuable labor time by including shop manuals, service bulletins, recall notices, owner notifications and technical infor- See System page 28 FA-ST COLLISION REPAIRS |} 1991 crvcs CALL THE PROFESSIONALS AT (JAYLORMOTIVE” 1959 tro. | | ACRES OF INVENTORY TO SELECT FROM FREE RENTAL COURTESY CARS . Hurry to... B.C.A.A. APPROVED cor mt “awn 3 Pp; = ia IC 725 MARINE DRIVE, CG Boy \ Se Jz NORTH VANCOUVER. LC.B.C. VENDOR JAY LORMOTIV’ E TRUSTWORTHY SERVICE QUALITY WORKMANSHIP : E © B):-\ 984-0331 neu, i 174 PEMBERTON AVE. NORTH VAN. onaproivtments 985-7455