Seeing uses for scopes

Jan. 1, 2020
  Jim Morton of Mortons Automotive Technical Services wants to get someone in his class at ASRW this week to go home and use his lab scope.

NEW ORLEANS — When asked what his measurement of success at the end of this class would be, Jim Morton of Morton’s Automotive Technical Services (MATS) responded by saying, “A lot of techs are intimidated by the use of a lab scope. If I can get just one guy to go home and blow the dust off of his and use it, that would make it all worth it.”

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Morton is well aware that there are numerous classes offered in the aftermarket on using a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO). He also is up to the challenge of creating a presentation that is unique. Morton is an advanced engine performance instructor at the Automotive Training Center in Exton, Pa., by day, a position he has held for more than 15 years. He also brings his 45 years of overall experience in the industry to working professionals all across the country, delivering 50 to 60 seminar presentations annually.

Originally designed as a teaching aid for his day students, Morton adopted the class to working technicians based on the same teaching fundamental. Students learn best when they are in their comfort zone, so the focus of this class is on relating what techs see on the scope screen to what they would see on the multimeter screen, a tool most technicians are readily familiar with.

Morton wastes no time making his point. He brings up a screen capture showing a simple battery/starting/charging system test. He points out that all a tech could want to know is shown on this one waveform, and proceeds to go over the pattern in detail, pointing out along the way how it compares to the same readings a technician would get using conventional testing methods. The kicker? This test only takes a few minutes to complete and for many who work on some form of commission basis, time IS money!

And this class was as much about the diagnostic process, how to think like a diagnostician and work efficiently, as it was about using a scope. Morton calls his process “all about the Gs and Ps”, or general tests versus pinpoint tests. “I get paid to watch techs work” Morton says after the presentation. “Time and time again, I’ve seen techs perform a general test, then a few pinpoint tests, and then another general test. A half hour later, and they are no closer to finding the problem then when they started.”

Morton stressed to the attendees that he performs a general test to determine the general area of the problem he’s chasing. As an example, Morton shows a screen capture of a known good relative compression pattern versus a known bad. “If all the peaks are where they should be, I move on. If not, then I’ll stay in this (area) until I’ve found out why not.” He further points out that the graphic visual display provided by the scope makes seeing the problem easier and faster than many traditional general testing methods.

Morton’s class continued with examples of electrical faults, fuel pump current variations, fuel injectors and more, all delivered with an explanation of what caused the waveform to appear as it did. He stressed to attendees the need to dust off that tool and try it out on lots of “known good” vehicles before relying on it to diagnose a bad one.

If you missed Wednesday’s presentation, you’re in luck. Morton will be presenting the topic again on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. And be sure to catch his class on diagnosing CAN networks on Friday at 1 p.m.

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About the Author

Pete Meier | Creative Director, Technical | Vehicle Repair Group

Pete Meier is the former creative director, technical, for the Vehicle Repair Group with Endeavor Business Media. He is an ASE certified Master Technician with over 35 years of practical experience as a technician and educator, covering a wide variety of makes and models. He began writing for Motor Age as a contributor in 2006 and joined the magazine full-time as technical editor in 2010. Pete grew the Motor Age YouTube channel to more than 100,000 subscribers by delivering essential training videos for technicians at all levels. 

Connect with Pete on LinkedIn.

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