Finding Answers To Those Tough Diagnostic Problems

Working in a large shop has its advantages.  When faced with a new diagnostic dilemma, it's easy to ask other techs if they've faced a similar problem.  In the old days, we even had a few neighboring shops that we could compare notes with.  Now there is the Internet, and looking for help before you pull your last few remaining hairs out is easier than ever.

One valuable source of help I've used for over a year now is Identifix.  Identifix is most known for being an online database of confirmed fixes for a number of common, and some not so common, problems.  Let's take a look at one I faced on a 2005 Chyrsler Town and Country with a complaint of "Power door locks don't work."  The first step is to log on to the site at www.identifix.com and enter your username and password.  Then you enter the vehicle information...year, make, model and engine type...just like you do on most service information systems.  You are then taken to the search page:

Here you have a number of choices.  You can search by keyword, system or symptom.  You can also look for matches to the exact vehicle, or expand the search using other criteria.  Notice the left side of the screen.  Here is a listing of all the information on record for that vehicle, including TSBs, code descriptions and wiring diagrams. 

I find it helpful to start with a keyword search...as simple as typing in the code number if you have one.  In my preliminary steps, I found a code stored for "Left unlock output failure" that may have you taking a hard look at the BCM.  After entering the code, you'll be taken to this page:

This page has a ton of information on it.  Often, Identifix help line techs will see a pattern of failures based on their help requests and write a brief article on the subject, explaining how the system works and how to test it.  Hotline archives are the result of these same guys and gals helping techs in the field, and then sharing those results with the rest of us.  Notice how the very first Hotline archive had 24 confirmed repairs for the same problem I'm having.  I can break that down by either test details or reading the confirmed fix details.  But since there is a Repair Trac on the subject indicating a pattern failure, let's read that first:

It seems that this is a common problem!  The BCM programming may allow the BCM to "lock up", kind of like your old home PC does when you're working with several programs at once.  By touching the battery leads together, you're rebooting the modules.  There is even a TSB referenced, so let's back up to the top and click on the related TSB link:

These aren't copies, but the actual factory documents and I've found current TSBs here that weren't listed in my normal service information source.

After following the procedure, I did indeed find that my power lock function was restored after rebooting the BCM.  This car needed the reflash so I sent it over to our local dealer for reprogramming.

After the repair, you are prompted to share what you learned and what you did to fix the car.  This adds to the database and allows you to help others...just like many of them helped you.  If the problem is not listed, you can also call Identifix, and a qualified technician will help you solve the problem.  This is a fee based service, but having access to information that helps you fix cars should certainly pay for itself...especially if it saves you hours of frustration.  Think of it like having a shop full of fellow techs you can ask for help!  Try it out by visiting the site and clicking on the link shown here to see all Identifix has to offer: