If you don't know what normal is why bother?
Just when I was thinking I was having information overload I realized my biggest problem was I didn't have enough information.
I'm barely through chapter 1 and 2 and I'm still refreshing my memory on those daily. But it really is starting to make sense however I just spent an hour or so just trying to track down a wiring diagram for my Honda.
I committed to following this course because of my van so the first day spent 25 bucks on a bogus subscription to surge manuals... I got my wiring diagram but that's about all as it is nothing more really than a parts manual.
I look through the different types of programs available listed in video one. I know I'm a little over my head because this whole program Paul has here is set up for you guys who are real professionals or learning to be so and I'm not going to get that far but I would like to take the basic knowledge I'm learning to a little bit higher level and I don't mind spending a little bit of money on a program or a information system that would include the hardware. $3k wouldn't be out of my budget if I was still career oriented but I AM retired. I did notice snap on and some of the other company's have a large aftermarket of reasonably priced snap-on type tools that I assume come with the appropriate software. I might be dead by the time I wade through all the variety of products. Advice I need now is if anybody can give me an idea of a tool that will come with access to the software that'll give me the information I need.
For example my MAF sensor testing today. I can tell that it's working properly from a throttle test. It's obviously letting more air into the engine as it should but at idle after reading more about the testing. I find every vehicle has a different specific reading and without that set point of normal... As it applies to so many other readings so many of them being vehicle specific. Not having more specific information about my vehicle makes this infinitely more confusing for me.
I'm not afraid of the truth. If I'm better off spending 60 bucks on a paper copy of a shop manual and going from there I will but even though I'm not getting paid my times valuable too and I'd rather have a little bit better tool that's digital that can give me wiring diagrams and vehicle specific procedures.
Appreciate your feedback as I could use a little nudge getting over this wall... I'm in an information void.
While Snap-On tools (the ones with scopes built in anyway) have a guided components tests library, I find it to be quite often inaccurate. It really is no substitute for proper service information.
The same Mitchell diagrams and service info that you see Paul use in Scanner Danner videos and that I use at work is available in a cheaper, slightly different format.
Mitchell DIY will allow you to buy the diagrams and service information for a single vehicle instead of paying for the repair shop oriented monthly subscription.
Mitchell got back to me by email and I didn't want to get into a subscription.
I didn't really see where I could buy the information out right but I could look again. I found an oem digital version for only 30 bucks. I say only... If I stick with this I may have to give up drinking.
It's going to do for my Honda but thanks for the feedback. I haven't started cussing too much yet so I'm still enjoying it. I'm getting a little more confident.
A jump back on the van today because the Honda's not throwing codes it's just failing emissions tests, solenoids plugged. I popped the vvt solenoid out and sure enough pretty gunked up. I tested it and it's working but it only has 6.9 I think it was resistance and I believe the ohms are supposed to be above 7 to 9:00 or something that's what's frustrating about not having the data that you need you just have to guess. I can still get to Walmart with it so I'm working on the van.
Really rich no oxygen on the rear sensors but don't tell me anything I'm working on it... Just sitting down to refresh that part of chapter one.
Thanks again for the feedback though I'm definitely going to keep an eye out on that Mitchell it might be worth it for me if I have to do a lot more work on either one of these vehicles.
As a follow up to this thread to anyone concerned with a single vehicle manual. I looked into this and after contacting snap-on directly. I was informed that they only have subscription plans. I suspect this is to protect their data platforms. However, their 48 month plan is only $60. Maybe the cheapest expense I'll have with my vehicle.
Thanks for the feed back it helped a lot.
Did you try your local library ? Some offer online access to service information systems like Chilton, Motor etc. You just have to have a library card. My local library provides access to Chilton online. Can look up just about any make model, usually is the factory manual info. Some makes have more info than others. But great for the price.
Hope this helps.
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