I just wanted to drop a line and say thank you all for having me.  I grew up on a farm and was fixing things from a wee lad and have been in the automotive industry for 20 years. (That sounds like a terribly long time when I see it, but I digress).

I own a shop and have a multitude of scanners and scan tools and in recent years have gotten more into using a lab scope more and more.  I started with a Snap-On MicroScope, went to the 4 channel Genisys scope, UScope, and finally a couple years ago I purchased a 4 channel Pico.  I recently upgraded my Fluke PV350 to the Pico WPS500x and I'm pretty impressed with it so far.  I really enjoy having the built in preset for it instead of using my own calculations.

I've built several low pressure transducers previously with pretty good success, but with more and more compression waveform testing I'm glad I made the switch.

Well met everyone!

Welcome aboard! , The wps is a wonderful tool. If you speak with Tom about becoming a Picogroup member you will have access to some really cool stuff concerning pressure wave diagnosis.

There are some Brilliant minds here that love to help get the most from your Wps and your scope for that matter.

Again Welcome

Hello, Grendelbiter. Where in Oregon do you live?

I live Southwest of Portland.  McMinnville area.

Once I get more acquainted with things I'll look into becoming a member.  If I had know of you all before I would have bought my scope and accessories here. :(

I'm excited to learn and hopefully share some of my ridiculous experiments.  Yesterday I was scoping a coolant system with a very small head gasket leak looking for some insight into that use, but nothing ever came of it that was useful.  I'll scope anything I can get my hands on. :)

Grendelbiter wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 9:23am:

Yesterday I was scoping a coolant system with a very small head gasket leak looking for some insight into that use, but nothing ever came of it that was useful.  I'll scope anything I can get my hands on.

Welcome to Autonerdz

In the past I have looked for pressure in a cooling system by cranking cold with relative compression and a sync on a secondary source, depending on access disable fuel.

First of all, welcome.  I thin you will fit in well here.   ;)


Grendelbiter wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 9:23am:

If I had know of you all before I would have bought my scope and accessories here.

We get that a lot.  Not sure why folks don't find us when they are shopping for a PicoScope.  We are the ones that introduced PicoScope to the automotive industry in North America and we are the ONLY PicoScope automotive specialists.  We have a good web presence and come up high in all the search engines.  And also happen to offer the best PicoScope automotive value anywhere.

Naturally, we would like to assist others in avoiding this mistake.  How exactly did you research where to get your kit?  Just trying to understand how this happens...

I have been attending CTI Trainging classes for probably going on 10 years and we have had many scoping classes. As technology and diagnostics has changed a greater emphasis has been on using scopes, and the time came where I finally had to purchase one if i was going to be advancing in my diagnostics.  My instructor (Adam Robertson) suggested looking at AES Wave, where I have purchased a fair bit of tools, and a couple of local dealers.

I'm as guilty as most in looking to get the most for my dollar, weighing price VS value and that might be the route I took.  I would have to look exactly where I ended up getting it to be sure.
Autonerdz had been mentioned in training classes, and I even looked it up once I believe but when I finally went looking for a scope it didn't come up on my search if I remember, or perhaps I didn't fully understand the benefits of buying it here versus buying it elsewhere.

I truly do wish I had found Autonerdz earlier, or searched harder for more complete information.  Using my Pico in the beginning was a frustrating and unpleasant experience, and I still struggle to get the readings I desire which I'm sure is due to lack of fully understanding my Pico.  I'm incredibly busy all the time with work and just "playing around" with it to get the results I want aren't the best use of my time.

I'm terribly excited to know there is this resource here with Pico gurus!

Adam knows better.  I'll have to scold him next time I see him.  He really gave you a bum steer.   [smiley=bash.gif]


Grendelbiter wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 12:01pm:

Using my Pico in the beginning was a frustrating and unpleasant experience,

Sorry to hear that.  That's not good for anyone.


Grendelbiter wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 12:01pm:

I'm sure is due to lack of fully understanding my Pico.

That's why we focus our attention on providing all the resources needed to achieve the desired level of expertise.  Of course, you have to use the resources and commit to investing in yourself by making the time to study and practice.  But, that time will be more focused and well spent.

For a summary of some of the available resources we have for our Picogroup members:

http://www.autonerdz.com/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1336513824

All these resources are a big investment in money and time for us.  I wish we could just give them away to everyone.  But then they would not be available to anyone after we went out of business.  Our loyal customers support these resources with their business.  So, we give back to those that make it possible.

I think you will find plenty to do here in the public areas of the forums.  Later, when you are ready to take the next step, give us a call.  We have a lot of subscribers.  They too kick themselves for not getting a kit from us to begin with.  It's a lot more expensive to subscribe year after year, but none have complained about the value they get for that subscription cost.  You have the added advantage to being able to drive to our training center for our hands-on training events.


Grendelbiter wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 12:01pm:

perhaps I didn't fully understand the benefits of buying it here versus buying it elsewhere.

That is the biggest business challenge we face.  Getting that information out there where no one can miss it.  And then getting them to do the math.  To comparison shop, you have to add up the cost of all the additional hardware in our kits and then add to that the cost of a Picogroup subscription for each and every year you intend to use that equipment.  And then....

The value of not wasting your time spinning your wheels?  Priceless.

Mick wrote on Jan 31^st, 2015 at 10:27am:

Welcome to Autonerdz In the past I have looked for pressure in a cooling system by cranking cold with relative compression and a sync on a secondary source, depending on access disable fuel.

That is a great idea, and exactly why I'm here.  Thank you for the insight.  Is there a particular reason to disable fuel?  If this is getting off topic I'll gladly move to a different thread.

Grendelbiter wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2015 at 11:23am:

Mick wrote on Jan 31st, 2015 at 10:27am: Welcome to Autonerdz In the past I have looked for pressure in a cooling system by cranking cold with relative compression and a sync on a secondary source, depending on access disable fuel. That is a great idea, and exactly why I'm here.  Thank you for the insight.  Is there a particular reason to disable fuel?  If this is getting off topic I'll gladly move to a different thread.

There is far more compression cranking and a weak gasket is far likely to leak cold than hot due to contraction. Spark if needed to sync which cylinder the rise in water pressure happend on. To confirm the failing cylinder a cold start after a long soak with secondary set up right will show a fowled Spark line for just a couple of revolutions and then run normal.

Mick wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2015 at 11:44am:

Grendelbiter wrote on Feb 2nd, 2015 at 11:23am: Mick wrote on Jan 31st, 2015 at 10:27am: Welcome to Autonerdz In the past I have looked for pressure in a cooling system by cranking cold with relative compression and a sync on a secondary source, depending on access disable fuel. That is a great idea, and exactly why I'm here.  Thank you for the insight.  Is there a particular reason to disable fuel?  If this is getting off topic I'll gladly move to a different thread. There is far more compression cranking and a weak gasket is far likely to leak cold than hot due to contraction. Spark if needed to sync which cylinder the rise in water pressure happend on. To confirm the failing cylinder a cold start after a long soak with secondary set up right will show a fowled Spark line for just a couple of revolutions and then run normal.

low KV after a hot soak is what got me looking at that cylinder.  I learned also that stop leak melted to the plug is a very poor conductor. :)

It makes sense to check cold/cranking because of higher compression.  When I got into it all my testing was done hot and inconclusive. I synched with the injector on that cylinder for verification.

I might have misunderstood when you suggested disabling fuel on cranking compression cold.  Perhaps to keep it from starting?

Thank you for your insights.