Monday 31 October 2011

Who needs ElsaPro!

Just thought I'd share my latest ODIS experience, as it's good news...

Just carried out a service and needed to reset the service indicator (a job that I probably would have rather used VAS PC for a few weeks back). Anyway, as I'm now getting used to reaching for ODIS, I did for this job, only this time I kept one eye on the time it took me - and I'm very happy with the results... 2 minutes!

The car also had a headlight fault, which I needed to double check to see if there were any relevant TPIs covering this... No need for ElsaPro yet - another job for ODIS. Time taken... just over 1 minute (and no need to start logging on to other PCs!!!)

I then need to check the remove / refit instructions... still no need to leave ODIS yet! Found via the search function in less than 30 seconds!

 Finally, I had to carryout basic setting on the headlight system, and then send a diagnostic log in - all of the above was carried in approx. 5 minutes.

This really takes me back to when ElsaPro was launched - it was yet another new system that I really could have done without having to learn. It fills you with dread and frustration of the unknown, and you kinda find yourself wanting to pick fault with it. And yes, I initially thought that ODIS seemed a bit slow to start-up. But I've gotta be honest, I can't imagine having to go back to ElsaWin, and I definitely don't want to lose these fantastic new features of ODIS.

Best of all - the ODIS training has started now so I'll have lots more mates getting involved too!

Friday 21 October 2011

I'm liking the look of this!!!

Just seen this advert for an ODIS competition!

I've been told that to enter / have a chance of winning the iPads - you have to use an online ODIS game called the Play & Prove Zone

I think it's going to be accessed via LEMA.

As soon as I know - I'll stick it on the Blog (shortly after I've had a crack at it!)

Then hopefully, I'll get a knock at the door and a postman will bring me a lovely looking parcel with an apple on it ;-)

Monday 17 October 2011

Lost test plans - more help from ODIS

So, I am now fully up to speed with finding and completing event driven (fault code to you & I) test plans, and I've now also sussed out using the DISS coding system to get relevant test plans offered to me. So I'm feeling pretty confident, compared with a few months ago when I really didn't want to use ODIS by choice.

So along along comes a job to give my confidence a knock...

I have in an A4 that has had a number of repairs carried out, and now needs the steering angle sensor calibrating with basic settings. Anyway, my mate is having a nightmare and so asks me to do it for him. Not a problem (I thought), and better still, another easy task to flex my ODIS muscles at!

Now carrying out basic settings on G85 is something I've already done on a Tiguan and an A1 using ODIS, so I was thinking this was going to be pretty straight forward, and hopefully another example to prove to my work mates that they should be using ODIS as much as me by now. So, with a couple of them watching my "look how easy & quick this is" demo, I set to work...

Cue 'sods law', to come and bite me on the ass!

I start a diagnostic session (quicker than you can with VAS PC) - tick
I navigate straight to the block diagram view (quicker than you can with VAS PC) -tick
I navigate straight to the guided functions menu for a control unit (quicker than you can with VAS PC) - tick
But can I find which control unit has the G85 basic settings?

So I'm now under a barrage of p1$$ taking, and am open to suggestion as to where this might be? (sound familiar?)

By this time (luckily), we're all of the opinion that this is not an ODIS issue, but more a lack of product knowledge, but that still doesn't help. But seeing as it's a Technician's responsibility to take the p1$$ at every opportunity, I'm still copping it sweet, specially as I'm the 'ODIS Champion' (cause I've been on the course). But this is a fair point, so I figured I'd better check I was'nt actually missing something that was covered on the course. So, in times of need, reach for the training book.

Now it was a good job I did!
As I've previously covered, the online help button is great for giving you help regards a page you are currently on, but as for pages you can't find - not so much.

But the training workbook reminded me of all the features I used on the course, one of which was the 'search' function.

Now this is the old version of 'function/component' selection that lets you select your own test plan, but with the fantastic benefit of a search function.

So, from the test plan tab I clicked on the 'select own test' button, and then the magnifying glass, which opened a search pop-up menu. I typed in 'G85', and there you have it! Two test plans available for G85. One to diagnose it and the other to calibrate it. I clicked on the calibrate option and had the test plan added to the normal test plan list. Two minutes later and we were disconnecting the equipment - all done!

So this is the classic case of being shown something great on a training course, but suffering from the normal problem of not using these features as soon as you get back to the real working life. Since this, I have found this feature soooo useful, and have found that I tend to keep my workbook from the training course in the top of my toolbox (rather than 'filed' away).

There is now also a great 2 min video demonstarting how to use this feature on the Using.ODIS YouTube channel and Facebook page.

So, I hope you find me going through this embarrassment useful, and hopefully, the fact that I sent 20 minutes looking for a test plan, might mean you never have too ;-)

Cheers!