I have owned multiple vehicles that were manufactured before 1962. I enjoyed working on these trucks, sitting on the wheel well, valve cover set aside, adjusting the valves on the engine while it ran and clattered beneath you. This process usually involved a few choice beverages and a tool wrangler/flashlight holder/moral support team (my son and/or daughter). Now you need special tools just to view the engine beneath all of the plastic covers. The days of simple automotive diagnostics are gone. There was a time when you could troubleshoot a good portion of your automotive issues with a set of wrenches and a vacuum gauge. Those days are gone. Sadly, I don’t even own an engine (that doesn’t cut grass) that has a carburetor any more. Both of my motorcycles require scan tools for any advanced engine diagnostics and newer automobiles require scan tools with frighteningly high price tags. You can get simple scan tools that plug into your DLC port and allow you to read DTC’s (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) on your phone. But to troubleshoot complicated issues, you need a professional tool and access to professional information. Today a mechanic is a technician with mechanical, electrical, HVAC and IT skills. More than just a wrencher. 

The newest automobiles no longer give up their data willingly. Scan tools are a must-have tool in the modern shop. A lot of the professional scan tools that shops use today cost thousands of dollars. On top of the initial buy in, you have subscriptions to keep them updated with the newest software advances and engine specific information every year. Snap-On, Bosch and Autel all make wonderful scan tools that will afford you with 99 percent of the information that is needed to make most repairs, but for current year model vehicles a manufacturer’s tool like the GM specific MDI units and the Ford IDS system are required. These units are pretty much reserved for the dealerships working on warranty issues whereas the aftermarket units like Snap-On will work on all other year models and most of the manufacturers. 

On the other side of the coin are the subscriptions that you need. These subscriptions provide you with the diagrams, tool specifications and schematics. These subscriptions can become quite costly on a year-to-year basis. At ATech, we have six or seven scan tools available to use as we check the engines and software for our training equipment. These subscriptions are hundreds of dollars per unit, per year. There are several Scan Tool manufacturers that really like our renewal plans, but that is only part of the picture. You will not get very far as a technician without becoming proficient at reading the plethora of diagrams and schematics and tool specs that get tossed at you when you have an electrical problem. This is in addition to learning how to get the most from a Scan Tool. Everything is electric today, and all of the subsystems talk to each other. These informational tools are not available to just anybody, and the price of admission can get a little hefty, especially for the small shop or school. Most of THAT information, if not received from a manufacturer specific program or a dealership, can be received with your yearly subscription (yes, another subscription) to services like Shop Key, AC Delco and others. Along with information on Manufacturer Specifications, these services allow you to review these schematics, specifications, tool requirements, and troubleshooting procedures at your leisure. As you can see, working in an automotive shop or teaching an automotive class can cost thousands of dollars before you even open the doors or purchase a set of wrenches.