Fuel injector oscilloscope pattern code#

Oldtech: If you mean the pickup in the distributor, there was a rash of bad ones. All a scan tool did was make it easier to trigger the internal tests. In the 80s and 90s there was about a 75-80 percent chance it would be something else.įords in those days had EEC-IV engine controls and, unlike the systems used on most other makes, the diagnostics routines were all built into the ECM.

Fuel injector oscilloscope pattern code#

Then you would investigate what the ECM saw (the computer was often called an ECM in those days) that it thought was bad enough to tell you about.Įxample: Today if you see a code that says 'oxygen sensor', there is a very good chance the oxygen sensor is bad.

Then, you would look at the part, the wiring, etc. The code you read would just point you to which circuit to go looking at. I know it often works today, but back then it did not. You didn't just read a code in those days and have the scan tool tell you what to replace. Once set up though, it works as well as analog. It is a far cry from pulling 3 leads out of an over head boom and having a pattern on the screen (as would happen with an analog automotive ignition scope). It is a wonderful lab scope for automotive work, but isn't very quick to set up for distributor ignition. I have a fluke 98 that is a lab scope with attachments and modes to view distributor ignition patterns. Some tools exist that are built for the automotive trade and are intended to do both. A digital one will be fine, and probably a better choice, as long as it is modern. Why? Because most digital ignition scopes sold for automotive diagnostics in that era (1980s-1990s) were close to useless.įor troubleshooting electronic engine controls, sensors, fuel injection etc.

What are you planning on working on?įor ignition troubleshooting of antiques with distributors you want an ignition scope, and you want it to be ANALOG. I'm interested in acquiring one for ignition system monitoring, so nothing terribly sophisticated is required.Īn ignition scope and a lab scope are two different things.