Diagnostic & Testing Tools

With today’s high-tech computer and electronics packed vehicles, electronic testers and diagnostic equipment have become the main weapons in the vehicle service arsenal, so we’ve stocked our digital shelves with scan tools, multimeters, analyzers and much more. When you’re armed with these electronic tools, you’ll be able to defeat any CHECK ENGINE light, blown fuse, balky window, recalcitrant alternator, or any other electrical malfunction with ease.

Electronic testers range from simple jumper wires, also called test leads, to sophisticated engine scan tools. Test leads allow you to bypass a circuit and directly test a component by applying 12 volts from the battery. Test lights, also called circuit testers, are essential tools for determining whether voltage is present at particular points in circuits. There are circuit powered and self-powered test lights, also known as continuity testers.

Test lights can tell you whether voltage is present, but they can’t tell you how much. For specific values you need a voltmeter, which is routinely packaged with an ohmmeter and ammeter in an electronic tester called a multimeter. There are analog meters that have a needle and a scale, but Digital Multi-Meters (DMM), also known as Digital Volt Ohm Meters (DVOM) are necessary for computer controlled circuits. Voltmeters can display the amount of voltage, such as when testing a battery or charging system, and test voltage drop. Ohmmeters measure resistance in a circuit and ammeters measure current flow.

A scan tool provides access to your vehicle’s computer control system via a cable connected to the Data Link Connector (DLC). With a scan tool you can read the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) that cause CHECK ENGINE, Air Bag, and ABS dash lights to illuminate. Tool capability varies, and some can also read, record, and playback sensor data, display I/M monitor status, read and display freeze frame data, download to a PC, and be updated via USB port. In addition to erasing DTCs, some scan tools can also be used to reset oil lights and other warning lights.

Along with the above mentioned essentials, we also have many more diagnostic time savers including noid lights to check fuel injectors, current probes to measure current without disturbing the circuit, battery testers, infrared thermometers for instantaneous temperature indication, inspection cameras for peaks into the smallest places, and much more. And if you have an older, pre-computer controlled vehicle we have the tools you need to make adjustments and keep your vehicle running right, like timing lights to check initial timing and timing advance, and dwell/tachs to set breaker points and idle speed.