Find the Pattern with this Diagnostic Tip

Sometimes the issue you are tasked with diagnosing may be the same thing others have already seen, in other words “a pattern of failure.”

Knowing the “pattern” can sometimes be the most valuable tool in your box. Honda published a tip, OEM Ref # 16-011, which identifies a possibility of corrosion between the wiring harness and the crankshaft position sensor (CKP sensor) on 2013 Honda Accords. Knowing there may be corrosion and eliminating that first can save you time and effort, but how are you supposed to know all the shortcuts for all the cars you work on?

Failure codes captured during an initial diagnosis can be searched for in ProDemand’s technical service bulletins (TSBs). TSB’s identify shortcuts, new parts and procedures and patterns of failure that have occurred as unexpected discoveries during real-world fixes.

TSBs for auto repair diagnosis

ProDemand Technical Service Bulletin feature

Eliminate guesswork, save time and fix it right. ProDemand captures the TSBs and archives the “patterns” and shortcuts for you. You don’t need superhuman brain power to remember all the post build anomalies that occur to your customers’ cars — we do it for you. All you need to remember is to check for TSBs first; you might simply need to look for a “pattern.”

About the Author

Michael Moffett

Michael Moffett spent over 20 years as an aftermarket technician. He has been working in the TSB group at Mitchell 1 for over 10 years. He joined Mitchell 1 in 1998 and is currently a Technical Editor with the Automotive Repair Group.