The Automotive Blog

TrailerCheck 4 Vans installed in 22 TIP Service Vans. aide automotive Ltd

TrailerCheck’s ECU diagnostics Reader has now the option of reading and clearing codes on the following systems: Haldex, Wabco & Knor Bremse Anti Lock Braking Systems and Haldex, Wabco & Knor Bremse Electronic Braking Systems.

TrailerCheck is available is portable test boxes or van / workshop installed units. Remote Code Talk also covers reading and clearing of fault codes within the trailers ECU. Furthermore TrailerCheck 4 Vans  / Workshop also incorporates air test gauges enabling a total one man maintenance tool for trailers.

TIP Trailer Rental part of GE Capital recently placed an order for 22 Trailer Lights and Diagnostic testers, positive feedback made the decision to move from a Scrutineer to the Van TrailerCheck.

Trailer Tester As Supplied to TIP Trailer Rental

When testing caravans fitted with a 13 pin plug and leisure battery all you do is plug the caravan into the TrailerCheck.

Power is taken from the leisure battery and shown by the reversing lights illuminating. Then simply take the handset control and walk around the van checking the other rear lights and side markers as you go. If there are no faults unplug the TrailerCheck ? job done.   For trailers or caravans with 7 pin systems, plug in the 13 to 7 pin adaptor� and connect the power lead to a suitable 12 volt battery. Then plug the trailer into the TrailerCheck and proceed with the test above.

Where 12V TrailerCheck really scores is when there is a fault.   The TrailerCheck will hold power on the faulty circuit leaving both your hands free while you trace the  problem. Then if you need to work on the circuit you use the handset to switch the power to another light or off altogether. You can then make the repair without risking a short circuit, switch the power to re-do the test without needing to move from the place where you are working.   As there is no need to keep walking back and forth to tow a vehicle, the test and repair times are really very quick even when you have more than one faulty light.

Matthew Burke Stated “Having a 24 volt trailer light tester in the product range we received regualr calls for a 12 volt tester. Adding this excellent simple tester to the product range will offer a service to commercial trailer repairers and light car & van trailer repairers.”

Contact aide automotive ltd or email shoponline@aideautomotive.com

TrailerCheck’s Code Talk Trailer Diagnostics Concudes with the Addtion of WABCO EBS

aide automotive are pleased to confirm the addition of Wabco EBS to our excellent Commercial Trailer Diagnostic Tester TrailerCheck & Code Talk.

TrailerCheck’s ECU diagnostics Reader has now the option of reading and clearing codes on the following systems: Haldex, Wabco & Knor Bremse Anti Lock Braking Systems and Haldex, Wabco & Knor Bremse Electronic Braking Systems.

Matthew Burke aide automotives Director stated “We have marketed the TrailerCheck for many years, first when we introduced the portable trailer light tester and with years of development added the excellent Code Talk Remote controller for the TrailerCheck & diagnostics code reader / clearer. This product has further developed with a Van version as the ultimate one man trailer service tool. We recently supplied Chatfields Depots with the Van version and with their knowledge to see an investment in latest technology workshop tools, proves to us we have a excellent product and the need to focus on further development of all our products to meet today’s technology.”

You can read more about the Chatfields purchase within the Email Subject “Chatfields Invest in TrailerCheck“.

If you would like to discuss the specifaction of the TrailerCheck product range please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on aide automoitve ltd.

Trailer Light Tester to test lights and air brakes on a commercial trailer

KNOW YOUR DIFFERENT ABS FLASH CODES FOR DIFFERENT MAKES OF SYSTEM

There are always two, possibly three, ways to power up the ABS system and you should know what to expect regarding light function. If an ABS/EBS cable is fitted then the GREEN headboard monitor lamp should be ignored and only look at the in-cab RED dashboard light. (The trailer light may not work at all with the ISO7638 connected)

STATIONARY TRAILER HEAD BOARD LAMP FUNCTION WHEN POWERED ONLY BY 24N STOP LIGHTS (REMOVE ALL OTHER CABLES)

The in-cab dashboard warning light will only work when the ABS Susie (ISO7638) or, in some cases, the 24S is connected. The lamp sequence will mimic the trailer headboard warning lamp when the ignition is turned on (NOTE: NO NEED TO PRESS FOOT BRAKE PEDAL)

** The first time after fitting a new ECU, this sequence is different until the vehicle has been driven above 30kph and the brought to a halt for dynamic sensor check. After this it should function as shown in table.

·         24Normal – ISO 1185

·         24 Supplementary – ISO3731

·         ABS/EBS – ISO7638

aide automotive ltd offer trailer light testers and ABS / EBS sensor testers for truck and trailer diagnostic repairs.

aide automotive have recently supplied all Chatfields truck locations with trailer test and diagnostics testers, Chatfields are a franchised truck repairer & distributor for DAF, Renault Truck, Hino & Iveco, predominantly across the North of England.

TrailerCheck is an intelligent trailer tester and diagnostic code reader / clearer for all makes of commercial trailers.

Wayne Edwards, the Chatfields National Franchise Director, commented “as part of the Chatfields’ one stop shop philosophy and following requests from customers, we decided to invest in the latest diagnostic and test equipment for trailers, with this we decided to invest in TrailerCheck from aide automotive ltd. This investment enables us to offer trailer maintenance service and repairs across all depots; this service also includes curtain repairs & bodywork.

aide automotive assessed the type of work our service would undertake and offered advice on the correct model type. Technical support was also part of the decision to invest in TrailerCheck, which included on-site training as part of the package. TrailerCheck has proved to be invaluable in the first few months of use in each depot, with customers feedback on the improved speed and accuracy of diagnostic repairs compared with their previous suppliers, which in turn saves our customers time and money.”

TrailerCheck is available is portable test boxes or van / workshop installed units. Remote Code Talk also covers reading and clearing of fault codes within the trailers ECU. Furthermore TrailerCheck 4 Vans  / Workshop also incorporates air test gauges enabling a total one man maintenance tool for trailers.

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 for further details.

aide automotive can report on a Rear Truck Brake Fault Solution!
DAF & Scania trucks fitted with Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) could have the same fault but for different reasons. The fault occurs after the vehicle has been driven for a few miles, when the rear brakes slowly start to apply by themselves and in some cases the brakes are on so much that the vehicle is un-drivable.
There are two reasons this fault can appear, the first one is quite simple. On the rear of the vehicle there is a EBS modulator valve which controls the brake pressure to the rear brakes, one of these pipes connected to this valve is from the redundancy valve. This is a saftey back up for the brakes, if in event the EBS fails the truck is left with some brakes to stop the vehicle.

If the redundancy valve starts to leak the air pressure can build up in the pipe connected to the rear modulator valve and start to apply the rear brakes, at the same time the EBS system which constantly monitors the brake pressure when you press the brake pedal sees that there is pressure in the modulator but knows the driver dosnt have his/her fott on the brake so assumes the rear modulator is faulty and puts the EBS warning light on in the cab.

This means there is two faults being caused by the one leaking valve, the EBS causedlight on and the rear brakes applying. The easiest way to identify this fault is by removing the pipe which comes from the redunacy valve when the brakes are on, you will hear the aire pressure being released from the pipe and hear the brake come off.

The Second reason this same fault can appear is a faulty foot brake valve. On a EB System when you press the foot brake on, the foot brake valve not only supplies air pressure to the rear modulator and applies the brakes, it also sends a CAN signal to the rear modulator to apply the brakes. The CAN signal is basically an electronic signal telling the rear modulator to apply the brakes. Inside the foot brake valveare switches which knowhow far you have pressed the pedal down, if these switch’s work incorrectly they can think you have pressed the pedal down when you havent and tell the rear modulator to apply the brakes.
The easiest way to see if the fott brake valve is causing the fault is by removing the electrical connection from the foot brake when the fault appearsand you will hear the brakes release. In both cases the rear brakes usually only apply a small amount but in both cases the EBS light will come on.

aide automotive offer products to test ABS or EBS Sensors or offer brake testers for inspection sheet brake testing.

Trailer testers are available in portable format of wrokshop / van monuted testers.

MV Trucks in Aylesford Kent recently purchased a TrailerCheck 4 Vans for one there mobile fitter vans.

TrailerCheck is an ideal cost effective test gauge to quickly determine the electrical integrity of an EBS/ABS braking system and a full lighting check on a commercial trailer.

Using a tractor unit to carry out a trailer test is not as effective as the TrailerCheck as the tractor unit is not guaranteed to be a 100% working unit. TrailerCheck eliminates the indecision and confirms the trailers fault. Additionally when servicing or prepping trailers there maybe no space to hook a tractor unit up, as TrailerCheck is portable testing in tightly parked yards can be achieved. TrailerCheck is easily used on site by a mobile commercial repairer or used on a multi service lane workshop. TrailerCheck is built into a rugged carrying case, portable and powered by batteries that can be re charged by mains power or via a cigarette lighter within a service van.

MV Trucks David Henniker Stated ” In this day and age buying specilist equipment is a big commitment for companys, however when we realised that we needed this specilist trailer checking equipment we decided to look around for the best application. Having finalised the deal with aide automotive we were not diaspointed, it was delivered quickly and fitted easily in our van, its easy to use with a full set of instructions, we take the workshop to the trailer what could be more simple.”

Contact aide automotive for info on the TrailerCheck Trailer Light Tester with Diagnostics.

TrailerCheck 4 Vans is an ideal cost effective trailer diagnostic tester and service tool.

Designed to be installed in a van or workshop, the TrailerCheck 4 Vans will power, test air brakes and read / clear the ECU of a commercial trailer.

An intelligent unit, the TrailerCheck 4 Vans pulses the lighting circuits to conserve battery power and will not burn out short circuits. Powered on for 2 seconds and then off for 1, TrailerCheck has the capability to power multiple trailers without the inconvenience of continually recharging batteries. In diagnostic mode a single circuit can be powered for fault finding, TrailerCheck is also protected against short circuits, if so the micro processor will keep resetting with a back up fuse as protection.
Two air test gauges are incorporated within the TrailerCheck with a hand held remote brake activator and digital pressure gauge, one operator can be under a trailer activating brakes and reading pressures.
Switching brakes on and off allows the user to look for wear in s cams and faulty slack adjusters, activating the brakes while under the trailer operators are able to see all components working to identify faults and wear. The digital pressure gauge measures pressure at the brake chamber, ideal for setting load sensing valves.

EBS Trailers can be tested for CAN line integrity, a quick and simple test to confirm the CAN lines are OK or at fault.

TrailerCheck 4 Vans is priced at £1,495.00, with the option to add the Remote Controller and Diagnostic Code Reader for an extra £900.00. All plus VAT.

aide automotive are the main dealers for the Trailer Light Tester TrailerCheck.

Trailer Light Tester to test lights and air brakes on a commercial trailer

Since the TrailerCheck was introduced in 2007, aide automotive has seen a steady increase in sales but 2011 has become the boom year!

Matthew Burke stated “TrailerCheck was introduced to help trailer repairer’s service and pre-test trailers for MOT, using a tool such as TrailerCheck is a professional method to test multiple trailer lights and the ABS warning light without the need for a tractor unit. In the early days repairers would use a couple of batteries to power a trailer and soon find they had flat batteries or even damaged a circuit by adding full power, as TrailerCheck is a micro-processor controlled test tool, with this many trailers can be powered and checked without the need for recharging. Self-contained the TrailerCheck is portable and easily carried to trailers in restricted areas.
But in 2011 we have seen the need for trailer repairers to improve test tools to check a trailer and also read and clear fault codes from the ECU. TrailerCheck will soon read Knorr Bremse EBS and Wabco hopefully by the end of the year.
We have sold over 20 TrailerCheck’s since the start of the year, this easily beats sales for 2007 to 2009!
And we see the future tool as the TrailerCheck 4 Vans; this one incorporates two air test gauges and a remote brake activator for one man trailer maintenance and service.”

With other workshop test tools such as the ISOCheck and EBS/ABS Sensor Tester aide automotive offer an excellent range of truck & trailer repair tools.

Contact aide automotive for prices or more information.