Diesel engine test - What brand to choose?

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Thu 23 Feb 2012 18:21
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - steven74

Hi there folks, so we're setting up a diagnostic garage with my brother and we're left with dilemma to get the proper equipment for automotive testing. We are mainly interested in diesel common rail testers. Where to find the best value for money devices? Would you guys settle with well known Bosch ? Or should we do some web-searching for other retailers like the www.auto-testers.com What puts us off when it comes to this kind of manufacturers is lack of any opinions, so we hesitate, even though the prices seem to be lower. Has anyone ever bought this kind of equipment? What brands would you recommend ? Should we look for retailers from outside of UK or it's rather risky? Thank you in advance.

Edited by steven74 on 23/02/2012 at 18:26

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Thu 23 Feb 2012 19:35
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - 659FBE

I would repectfully suggest that if you are setting up an automotive testing business, your first thoughts should be dedicated to which part of the market you are hoping to penetrate. Find out what you are intending to test and to what level of interrogation before you spend any hard money on test gear.

There is no point whatever becoming (say) a VAG specialist if a well established knowledgeable independent exists around the corner. As a mature business, he would take you to the cleaners. Find the opportunities and the weaknesses in manufacturer's products and support in order to make your decisions.

Market research is everything - put the test equipment catalogues away until you have done this - thoroughly. Find out what needs doing (properly) in your area. Only then, do it.

659.

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Fri 2 Mar 2012 21:17
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - steven74

Thank you for your reply, I found it very helpful.

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Fri 2 Mar 2012 22:12
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - SteveLee

Don't buy any kit - hire it. Fixed costs and you can keep up to date rather than find your £40K worth of whizz-bang stuff is only useful as a door stop three years later.

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Sat 3 Mar 2012 15:32
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - injection doc

Diagnostic equipment capable of testing and servicing CRD equipment is in excess of £100,000 from Bosch.

What are you planning to do, I trust you already have the expoerince to go with it and are just branching out from an independant garage or dealership ?

Diesel diagnostics is extremley involved with specialist equipment ! as SteveLee quite rightly says Kit goes out of date very quickly so unless you plan high volume from an already generated supply the kit you buy now may only return you 20% and then be out of date. Technology is moving fast.

If you only invest in the diagnostic equipment but not the repair equipment you may end up a one trick pony.

Diagnostics isnt just about reading a code & deciding whats wrong ! Few weeks ago i was called to a garage that had a Merc C220cdi where it kept flagging Turbo overboost on full acceleration then going into limp mode. Eventually a turbo was fitted as it had been decided that it was an electronic waste gate problem. Well it was the same after a new turbo. When I drove it with live data running I noticed that indeed it did overboost but when the turbo cut the exhaust pressure didnt drop instantly. Drilled a large whole in the rear exhaust, problem sorted. Blocked secondary DPF caused by servicing by an independant who hadnt used low ash oil ! Removed and cleaned, job a gooden.

The garage was competent but had been thrown by the fault codes and not inwardly digested the live data thinking latterally.

Edited by injection doc on 03/03/2012 at 15:39

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Sat 3 Mar 2012 19:02
Diesel engine test - What brand to choose? - SteveLee

Nice job injection doc, too many "mechanics" these days are just fitters.

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