Getting in touch with specialists in automotive technology, learning and sharing knowledge. That, for me, Marco van Wijk, the owner and author of the website you are currently visiting, is the reason to seek cooperation with AMT more and more often. Over the past two years, I have written several articles for the so‑called “Back to Basics” section. Because the topics are closely related to diagnostic and repair work in daily practice, I was asked to provide an explanation of the B2B sections at AMT Live. In front of a large audience, I have given several knowledge sessions as a speaker.
The overview below shows the published Back to Basics articles and the knowledge sessions I have given at AMT Live.
AMT July – August 2020: measuring sensors (part 2):
Where part 1 of “measuring sensors” focused on theoretical knowledge, part 2 is about practical applicability in the workshop. With knowledge about how sensors work, several examples of possible faults, and measurement techniques for making a proper diagnosis, theory and practice are well combined in these two articles.
AMT June 2020: measuring sensors:
Faults in sensor wiring can lead to interesting measurement values that may cause confusion. This became clear from the responses I received to my knowledge session at AMT Live 2020. That called for additional clarification! For that reason, I wrote a two‑part article about sensors: the operation of the sensors (issue: July 2020) and signal transmission and processing (issue: August / September 2020).
AMT Prof – AMT Live 2020: reading wiring diagrams, know what you measure!
Articles about reading wiring diagrams are in great demand. This has become apparent from earlier editions written by other instructors in the B2B section, and from the recent article about PWM control. It was my task to give an interesting and practically applicable lecture on reading wiring diagrams. No dry, abstract teaching material, but a recognizable case in which diagnostics, reading diagrams and measuring sensors were central.
AMT May 2019: diagnostics gives (fuel) food for thought:
Reading wiring diagrams and measuring with the oscilloscope is one of the competencies a diagnostic technician must master. This article described a deviation in a PWM control of a solenoid valve. The scope pattern showed a transition resistance in the PWM signal. How the transition resistance could be determined, and why no inductive voltage from the coil was visible, was extensively described by means of several partial diagrams and a component overview in the ECU.
AMT Prof – AMT Live 2019: fuel trims help with diagnostics
In a knowledge session at AMT Live in January 2019, I explained the article. The knowledge session was attended by a large audience. In the three sessions (one per evening), the map fields were discussed using the TunerStudio program to show which factors actually determine the base injection quantity. This was followed by a discussion of the fuel trims: these form a correction factor on the standard value from the map fields, including factors influenced by driving conditions. With the fuel trims, it is possible to see whether there is a surplus (or shortage) of fuel or air, resulting in faults or reduced engine performance.
AMT September 2018: fuel trims help with diagnostics:
On the AMT garage forum, when dealing with faults, people often ask for the trims: a positive or negative fuel trim indicates whether there is a shortage or surplus of air and/or fuel. The values in the fuel trims can guide the direction of the diagnosis. In the article we look at how the amount of injected fuel is determined, and how the fuel trims serve as a correction factor for this.
AMT January 2018: troubleshooting LIN bus:
The first article I was allowed to write for the Back to Basics section in AMT. The reason for writing this article is actually quite comical: in Electude I came across several images that originated from my website. I was afraid this was the beginning of a copy‑and‑paste activity. Fortunately, it turned out to be a mistake and it was resolved. Through the Electude staff member, I ended up at Stichting COM, who had been providing articles for the Back to Basics section in the AMT trade magazine for quite some time. That is how I was asked to write a first article about a familiar technology, going into the technical operation, with a focus on the practical applicability of diagnostics. That led to the article in which LIN bus communication is central. The LIN bus control of the wiper motor, as well as the conventional voltage‑controlled wiper motor, were discussed.
