C.A.S. 'Connections'
Newsletter
Issue 2015-02 February 2015

Welcome to this month's 'CAS Connections' newsletter!
 
This February 2015 newsletter highlights a number of current topics that we think are worth reviewing.
 
Please take a minute to review the topics below that relate to the scan tools you presently own or may be considering purchasing.
 
Sincerely,
The CAS Sales and Tech Support Team  
IN THIS ISSUE
New 'TECH ALERT' Service
CAS Releases New Video
New Tool CA-15 ScopeMeter
Someone Stole My Laptop !
Tech Tip of the Month - Honda
CAS announces new 'TECH ALERT' service!
 
Due to the ever increasing need to share critical information in a timely manner with our customer base, CAS has started providing a new service called CAS  'Tech Alerts'. This service is a targeted e-mail alert sent to individual CAS customers who would benefit from receiving the information.
 
! Watch for e-mails with the above header !
'Tech Alerts' can be initiated for a number of different reasons. In some cases we might hear from a scan tool manufacturer about an important change they are initiating, (i.e. Their scan tool app will no longer work in a Windows XP environment with the next software release). In other instances, our Tech Support department will request a 'Tech Alert' be sent if they start receiving a large number of call-in's on a certain product or certain situation that they think may ultimately affect all customers using a particular tool. (i.e. A new Java release if loaded, will cause reprogramming failures with a particular OEM's tool). A 'Tech Alert' may even go out simply to advise tool owners of a software release that has just been made available.

In all cases, 'Tech Alerts' will be sent only to the customers in our database that own the particular tool affected. All 'Tech Alerts' will include specific actions that the tool owner should take to prevent any issues from occurring with their tooling...We expect this new 'CAS added value' service will ultimately benefit all our customers.

CAS Releases New Company Informational Video

 

Shameless Self Promotion?...Not really, as we have a number of potential new customers who find our web site www.OEMTools.com, but they are not sure about who CAS is and what services we provide. After all, the internet is filled with all sorts of less-then-ideal suppliers from around the world!


Our new video helps address those concerns by telling the story of who CAS is and what services we provide. The video features cameo appearances from a number of CAS employees and CAS customers as it builds the 'story line' about our company.

A note of special interest regarding our videos' director/videographer, Steve Sherrick of Modern Vintage Media . Steve has been the video editor for a number of high visibility productions including the recent video that the Boston Olympic Committee submitted to successfully secure Boston as the America's designated candidate city for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Steve has also done video editing for a number of Hollywood movies, his latest being  'Blended' with Adam Sandler & Meg Ryan. Steve is currently doing work on a new movie starring Diane Keaton, being filmed on location in Pittsburgh, PA!
  
If you want to take a look at Steve's work and maybe find something out about CAS that you were not aware of simply click the link below the movie ticket icon!
NEW TOOL - CA-15 Scope and Meter Combo Tool
 
CA-15 Clear Background with editing done on-line to resize and center

It's a Scope and

It's a Multi-meter!
It started with a failed flash on a BMW and ended with adding a new Scope/Meter.
 
During a recent on-site training session, one of the CAS reps was demonstrating the procedure to reflash an engine controller on a 5 series BMW. It all seemed to be going 'picture perfect' with an AutoLogic scan tool connected and calibration files downloaded, a reflashing power supply hooked to the vehicle (which was in a 'Key-on/Engine-off' status) and the file showing as downloading into the ECU. Then disaster struck! A 'low voltage' error message popped up, the reflash process aborted and the car would no longer start or accept another reflash. It seemed like the ECU may have been toasted and a $1,000 bill for a replacement ECU was rearing it's ugly head. Not exactly a 'picture perfect' training session!

Anyone familiar with reflashing knows that maintaining proper battery voltage is critical, and in this case the CAS rep thought he was all set but could not be sure if the battery voltage was in fact OK. A reflashing power supply was connected but no one was MONITORING the system voltage, they just assumed all was OK. 'OK' to us means sufficient system voltage as well as no electrical 'noise' present on the vehicle. After thinking through this situation, we now feel it would be a good practice to monitor these two conditions during any reflash procedure.
 
So, we have added a new service tool to our product line-up; The CA-15 Scope/Meter. This tool which costs less then $900, provides a shop with an easy to read, easy to use automotive oscilloscope as well as a number of multi-meter functions. We especially like the bright scope display with presets to monitor system voltage and electrical noise. As an automotive scope it also has multiple presets for the various on-car sensors. As a multi-meter it can be used to measure AC/DC volts, ohms, continuity and various other functions such as diode/stator condition. Being battery powered, the scope/meter does not influence the vehicles electrical condition.

To prevent this situation from occurring in your bays you might want to consider making monitoring system voltage and condition a 'standard procedure' during a reflash.
 
If do not currently have a scope in your shop, the CA-15 ScopeMeter may be a great cost effective solution. Please contact your local CAS rep, as they have this tool on-board for demonstration and instant delivery or call our offices at 1-877-263-4897. Click here to see CA-15 brochure. 
 
P.S. The CAS rep was able to 'save' the BMW's ECU by having AutoLogic write a new reflash file and download it into the vehicle...Two days later.
Stolen PC Recovered thanks to CAS Tech Support!
 
 
Shop's IDS laptop stolen...Then recovered...Arrest made!

Most every repair shop today has one or more laptops in their service bays. Being small, powerful and portable makes today's generation of laptops very useful tools for running multiple OEM applications or connecting to OEM sites when a reflash is called for. Unfortunately, the laptops are also good candidates to be stolen from a shop.
  
One of our customers in Connecticut was recently broken into and among other items, their CAS supplied Dell laptop was stolen. Besides being upset over the loss of the laptop, the shop was now unable to work on Fords, as this laptop had their Ford IDS program installed on it! What follows is the rest of the story...

The shop was under the CAS Total Annual Support (TAS) program so they called their local rep, who in turn called into CAS Tech Support and reported the loss. A no charge CAS service loaner went out that day and the IDS license was transferred to get the shop back up and running. Next step was the CAS Tech Support folks started tracking the PC and were able to obtain the current IP address of where it was and when it was on line. Local police were called and provided this initial information to start tracking down the PC's physical location. The CAS Tech Support guys did further research and via a hidden 'tracking program' that they loaded, they were able to find out additional information on the new 'owner', such as Facebook page and current living address.

This critical information was provided to the detective assigned to the case, who armed with this information was then able to obtain a search warrant for the address, found the laptop and arrested the individual in possession of it! A note of interest; the suspect was also found to have an outstanding warrant out for his arrest in New York City for 'Breaking and Entering'...Go figure!

It's always nice to see the bad guys lose and the good guys win...If you are not under the CAS TAS program, call your local rep or call our offices at 1-877-263-4897 for further information! You never know when you'll need the help.
Tech Tip of the Month - Honda 'Error Message'
 
 The CAS Tech Support guys want to make all Honda HDS users aware of a recently recurring Honda HDS Error Message that has started popping up causing technicians to call in asking for assistance.
 
When using the HDS application to perform any immobilizer functions, (think adding a key) the user inputs the correct 'PIN' code but gets a "Wrong Code" error message and is prevented from completing the service operation. After some research, it has been determined that this message will occur if the HDS software is not at the latest released version. The fix is to simply update the HDS software and try again. This has solved the problem for all shops that have called into CAS Tech Support asking for help.
 
If you require help with your HDS system in either doing a software update or resolving other issues call your local CAS Rep for assistance or CAS Tech Support at 1-877-263-4897 M-F 8:30am - 500pm Eastern Standard Time.
Providing Tools, Information and Training to the Automotive Aftermarket