K-I-S-S Method: Listen to the Customer Before You Grab the Scanner

K-I-S-S Method: Listen to the Customer Before You Grab the Scanner

An older gentleman came to the shop with wipers that would not turn off. This customer was insistent that it had to be a serious malfunction. He was so sure of himself that it made me think there was something seriously wrong with the car.

If it was going to be a huge expense, he wasn’t going to have it fixed; instead, he would return the car to the dealer he just bought it from.

I drove the car into the shop with the wipers on full blast, wiping away on a very dry windshield. Just before I turned the key off I gave it a shot of windshield cleaner; the old guy had already gone through the entire bottle. I shut the car off and planned to take care of the fluid later.
 
The nice thing about newer cars is the factory scanners have the individual systems on the screen so you can check them without tearing anything apart or grabbing a test light. You can read the system on the screen and determine the fault without getting dirty; pretty cool if you ask me. I grabbed my scanner and plugged in all the car info. Next, I found the menu for sub-systems, “wiper diagnostics.” 
 

According to the scanner, the switch override and main relay were both on. The low- and high-speed controls tested out OK. Even the washer pump could be tested, so I filled the reservoir. I pressed the button on the scanner to activate the pump washer and it worked. OK, now what’s the problem?  
 
All the guys in the shop are watching me standing behind the driver’s door holding onto the scanner, and dodging the windshield fluid spray as if it were incoming fire from an enemy sniper. As always, there are plenty of sarcastic remarks from the crew, and few choice words from me when I would get hit with the spray.
 
Reading the scanner is one thing, understanding what you are looking at is another. Here I am with the scanner, watching its command signals tell me that the wipers are on, and not once looking to check the position of the wiper switch. 
 
So far, I had filled out an invoice, brought the car in the shop, got the scanner hooked up, played around with the scanner, but never checked the basics. I was feeling a little dumb at this point; the boss isn’t supposed to do stupid things like “not checking the switch” — that’s what the junior mechanic is supposed to get caught doing, not the old man himself. I was hoping nobody noticed the sly little movement of my left hand twisting the wiper switch to the Off ­position. A quick glance at the scanner’s information now showed “commanded signal–Off” and the wipers stopped. It was a miracle! 
 
The old guy drove his car all the way to the shop with the wiper switch in the On position and I went straight for the scanner. You would think I would at least have looked at the position of the wiper switch before I did anything. It could have saved a lot of time.
 
I took the car around front and gave the keys back to the proud owner. He was busy telling another ­customer about me, and how he knew I could fix “anything” on a car, and how I was always honest and up front with all my services. When I told him “no charge” he turned to the lady and said, “See, I told you.” 
 
Down the road went my happy customer. I was ­actually happier for myself than for the customer. Why, you ask? Because I didn’t have to explain to anyone in the shop how the boss couldn’t figure out the wiper switch was left on without consulting a scanner. You know this new technology is great and these new scanners are wonderful, but I have to ­remind myself “Keep-It-Simple-Stupid.” 
 
Scott “Gonzo” Weaver is the owner of Superior Auto Electric. He is the author of the book “Hey Look! I Found the Loose Nut”, that can be purchased online at Amazon.com or at gonzostoolbox.com  

You May Also Like

BorgWarner Announces Plan to Reduce Supply Chain Emissions

A partnership with Manufacture 2030 will support BorgWarner in reaching its Scope 3 emissions reduction goal.

BorgWarner announced it entered into a strategic partnership with Manufacture 2030, a decarbonization software provider, to effectively measure and reduce its supply chain carbon footprint and support its goal of reducing absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2030.

Through the agreement, BorgWarner will leverage M2030's extensive expertise in CO2 reduction and unique software to encourage its direct material suppliers to increase their emissions reduction efforts. M2030 will work directly with BorgWarner's supply base to gather energy usage data related to the manufacturing of products such as electricity, natural gas and more. That data will then be fed into an interactive dashboard where emissions and energy reduction efforts can be tracked. The tool also provides best practice sharing opportunities for pursuing emissions reduction. By utilizing the tool, BorgWarner said it will promote collaboration, accountability and engagement across its supply base on emissions reduction.

Mevotech Releases 237 New Chassis, Control Arm, Wheel End Parts

The release boosts coverage for domestic and import passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, SUVs and EVs up to model year 2023.

MEMA Celebrates 120th Anniversary

MEMA said the milestone “underscores the association’s enduring legacy and its pivotal role in advancing the future of mobility and the interests of vehicle suppliers.”

UniClutch Launches Clutch System in the United States

From Australian manufacturer Clutch Industries, UniClutch is a clutch system that delivers uncompromised performance.

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Becomes UAF Gold Lifetime Trustee

The partnership with UAF is a commitment to the future of the automotive aftermarket, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers said.

Other Posts

ADAS Module Programming

Reflashing and reprogramming is a necessary service for repairing vehicles.

Threadlocking Compounds For Vehicle Corners

To get the most out of these “liquid” tools, you first need to know how they work.

Adapting To Enduring Expectations 

Where we once provided business and technical information in a monthly print magazine, we now have daily newsletters and on-call websites to help spread the message of quality service.

Steering Angle Sensor Service

Ninety percent of the time when a steering angle sensor code is active, it means the sensor needs to be calibrated.