First of all, if you haven't watched the 2 part series yet, this post is going to spill the beans for you. So if you like going along with Paul and trying to figure out the problem like I do, read no further until you check out both parts.
I really enjoyed this case study. Production quality was top notch, the over lays made viewing the data during troubleshooting very easy, and I especially enjoyed the commentary Paul added during editing as he noticed new events in the data stream.
It also goes to show how priceless that injector timer tool can be! I doubt there was another test that could have pin pointed 2 restricted injectors. Although in hindsight, I'd be curious to see if a current ramp or voltage waveform would have shown any anomalies.
Then after a proper diagnosis, still having a lean condition on the opposite bank was a bit of a twist. All the evidence was there to support a vacuum leak, but it just wouldn't show itself. Perseverance payed off in the end, I think it shows how important it is to trust your methods. I know a lot of guys who would have gotten tunnel vision after the second smoke test showed nothing and start throwing parts at it. Maybe replacing all the injectors even though the evidence wasn't there to support it.
He sure earned his diagnostic fee on this one! I like watching him run in the shop, do one or two tests, and make a quick buck. But I think it's important and helpful for techs of all skill levels to see how someone can gather the evidence, and think through a problem like this, without getting bogged down in the unknowns and the other problems that kept popping up. (Like the fowled plugs and disconnected vacuum lines).
