Date:         Tue, 28 Sep 1999 08:06:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Roger Bowman <bowmanrp@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Bowman <bowmanrp@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Test equipment
Comments: To: SYNCRO tech mailing list <Syncro@onelist.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Greetings;

I would like to poll the list for which test meter is suitable for
troubleshooting the electrical/electronic systems.  I see the following
gradations:

1.)  Basic needle meter - radio shack or equiv. $100
2.)  Basic Digital meter - just digits; 3 1/2 or something $250
3.)  Enhanced digital meter - similar to Fluke with the bar graph meter and
3 1/2 digits $400
4.)  Basic ScopeMeter - digital meter and an osciliscope (20mhz) function.
Fluke? $1000
5.)  Hand held oscilliscope - Tek, Fluke, and others.  $1000-$2500
6.)  Dedicated automotive hand held oscilliscope - fluke makes one of these.
$3000
7.)  Dedicated VW Scan Tool/Scope/Meter  $3000+

What are our diagnostic wizards using?  Any other suggestions?  I assume a
break-out box is also needed.  I considered the Digifant tool mentioned on
the WWW, but the ECU's I'm coming across are sealed as a condition of
warranty.  Break the seal, break the warranty - let alone solder extra
connectors and so forth...

As my syncro gets its age, I find myself poking around in diagnostic mode
more and more often - right now I'm down for a new computer (second one in
2,500 miles...) and my radio shack needle model just ain't too good.  My 3
1/2 digital meter is approaching toast, and I might be replacing it soon -
but with what?

Roger Bowman - bowmanrp@ earthlink.net
Live Smart.  Think for Yourself.  Transform the Future