Abstract: A dongle that may be plugged into an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port of a vehicle and provide notification if a human or animal is left within a parked car. The dongle accesses a first sensor from the vehicle's communication system and a second sensor from within the dongle. If data from the first and second sensors exceeds predetermined threshold values programmed into the dongle's memory, then the dongle sends out a response signal. The response signal may be sent to an owner's cellular phone or to a 911 dispatch center. Additional sensors within the vehicle, or placed within the dongle, may also be used to verify the presence of a human or animal left within the parked vehicle.

Abstract: A method for facilitating communication for diagnosis of automotive repair issues includes retrieving diagnostic data from a first processor in a first vehicle using a first diagnostic tool, and transmitting the diagnostic data to a server with a request for assistance from a first user who operates the first diagnostic tool. The server identifies a second user who has received diagnostic data from a second processor in a second vehicle with a second diagnostic tool that corresponds to the diagnostic data retrieved by the first processor in the first vehicle, and the server transmits a communication notification to an electronic communication device that is associated with the second user to establish a communication channel between the first user and second user regarding the vehicle issue.

Abstract: A vehicle maintenance system comprising an ECU and a port for interfacing with the ECU, the ECU configured to store diagnostic data related to the vehicle. The system further comprises a dongle configured to interface with the port to send data to the ECU and receive data from the ECU and a local device configured to communicate with the dongle and a remote computer, the local device comprising a display, a memory storing program instructions, and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to establish a communications link with the ECU via the dongle to allow the transfer of diagnostic data from the ECU to the local device, to allow the transfer of the diagnostic data from the local device to the remote computer and to receive data from the remote computer, such that the data received is used to perform a maintenance action on the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic system for a vehicle including an electronic control unit (ECU) and an associated diagnostic port includes a dongle, an imaging device, and a single wireless device. The dongle is configured to mate with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU. The imaging device is configured to generate imaging data. The single wireless device includes a display unit, an input unit, a memory storing program instructions, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the program instructions to establish a wireless communication link with the ECU via the dongle, to receive diagnostic data from the ECU, to render the received diagnostic data on the display unit, to receive user input data from the input unit based on the rendered diagnostic data, and to transmit the user input data to the ECU.

Abstract: An air conditioning service system includes an inlet port configured to connect to an air conditioning system to receive refrigerant, a discharge circuit, a pressure transducer, and a controller. The discharge circuit includes a plurality of discharge lines arranged in parallel with one another, each of the plurality of discharge lines fluidly connecting the inlet port to the atmosphere through an associated orifice to vent the refrigerant to atmosphere, and a plurality of discharge valves, each of which is configured to open and close an associated one of the plurality of discharge lines. The controller is configured to obtain the pressure at the inlet port and determine a theoretical mass flow rate through each of the plurality of discharge lines based upon the pressure and the cross-sectional area of the associated orifice, and to operate selected ones of the discharge valves based upon the determined theoretical mass flow rates.

Abstract: A wire installation tool for installing a wire through an existing wiring harness includes a handle configured to be manually grasped by a user, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a wire engagement feature disposed at the free end of the shaft. In one aspect, the wire engagement feature is a generally flat elongated plate defining two openings sized to snugly receive the wire and spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the wire bent to a curvature between the openings. In another aspect, the wire engagement feature includes a pig-tail element about which the wire is wound and held by friction between the wire and the pig-tail element to hold the wire in engagement with the wire installation tool as the tool and wire are pulled through an existing wiring harness.

Abstract: A fuel economy calculator system for a vehicle including a fuel cell, a diagnostic port, and an ECU, the fuel economy calculator system includes a dongle configured to connect with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU, and a wireless device including a display unit, a memory storing program instructions and capacity data of the fuel cell, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the program instructions to establish a link between the ECU and the wireless device, to receive a data set from the ECU via the connected dongle each time the ECU generates engine change state data, the data set including at least mileage data and remaining fuel data, to calculate fuel economy data of the vehicle based on the capacity data, a most recent data set, and a next most recent data.

Abstract: The disclosure describes load supporting stands and methods of supporting a load. Such systems and methods may include providing a load supporting stand with a column having an outer diameter, and a first end opposite a second end, a saddle attached to the first end of the column, a load bearing pin that extends transversely through the column and may be fixedly attached to the column, and a conduit capable of receiving the column, and a plurality of pin receiving slots disposed in the conduit and capable of receiving the pin, wherein the conduit may be capable of receiving the column and pin through the first end of the conduit, and wherein the column may be configured to be rotated within the conduit to translate upward from a top of the conduit such that the saddle engages the load to be supported.

Abstract: A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed.

Abstract: A refrigerant service system according to the disclosure includes an inlet port configured to connect to an air conditioning system, a recovery valve fluidly connected to the inlet port, an accumulator fluidly connected to the recovery solenoid valve and including a pressure transducer configured to generate an electronic signal corresponding to a pressure in the accumulator, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a target pressure for the accumulator based upon a condition of the refrigerant, obtain a current pressure in the accumulator from the pressure transducer, and to operate the recovery valve based upon the accumulator target pressure to control flow of refrigerant from the air conditioning system to the accumulator based upon the obtained current pressure and the determined target pressure for the accumulator.

Abstract: An adaptor is provided for a jack assembly having a lifting jack carrying a horizontal plate for raising and lowering a heavy component supported by the jack assembly. The adaptor includes a horizontal support plate fastened to and vertically offset from the horizontal plate of the jack assembly by a height. A plurality of elongated arms is slidably mounted between the two plates to move in a generally horizontal plane. Each of arms includes a holding assembly configured to engage portions of the component supported on the support plate to stabilize the component as it is raised and lowered by the jack assembly. The arms are supported in the height between the two plates at different heights so that the arms are capable of a wide range of rotational and linear movements to adjust the position of the holding assembly of each arm relative to the heavy component.

Abstract: An air conditioning service system includes an accumulator defining an accumulator chamber, a pressure transducer operably connected to the accumulator chamber, a drain valve operably connected to the accumulator chamber, and a controller operably connected to the pressure transducer and the drain valve. The controller includes a processor configured to execute program instructions stored in a memory to determine a volume of liquid drained from the accumulator by: determining a volumetric flow rate of liquid through the drain valve by controlling the drain valve with the controller to an open position for a predetermined period of time; detecting an increased rate of pressure reduction while the drain valve is open; and determining an amount of liquid drained through the drain valve based upon the volumetric flow rate and a total time elapsed between opening the drain valve and the increased rate of pressure reduction.

Abstract: A wheel hub removal tool is provided that allows a single technician to readily remove the hub using the vehicle steering. The tool is a generally U-shaped bracket that is seated on the ball-joint to support a pair of arms on opposite sides of the U-joint assembly. The arms carry corresponding blocks that are sized to seat between the drive axle housing and a component of the U-joint that is coupled to the wheel hub. The tool maintains a block on either side of the U-joint assembly so that pressure may be applied alternatively between the blocks to gradually dislodge the wheel hub from the axle. The tool is adjustable to accommodate different axle hub and bearing assembly configurations for different vehicles.

Abstract: A tester for a default mode of operation of an alternator is provided. The tester includes an internal memory having computer executable instructions and a processor coupled to the internal memory and to an alternator via a communication bus. The processor is configured to execute the computer executable instructions in the internal memory to provide at least one parameter associated with a vehicle to the alternator simulated as a communication signal over the communication bus, detect an absence of the communication signal at the alternator, test, upon detecting the absence of the communication signal, whether or not the alternator enters a default mode of operation, the default mode being indicated by a preset output voltage uniquely associated with the default mode and monitored by the processor, and indicate whether the alternator entered the default mode successfully.

Abstract: A technique detects an abnormal signal in a compound sampled signal recorded in the time domain. The technique involves dividing the sampled signal recorded in the time domain into sample segments; transforming each of the sample segments from the time domain into the frequency domain to determine transformed segments, each transformed segment having frequency points, each frequency point having an amplitude associated with a certain frequency; for a frequency point in a given transformed segment, determining a ratio by dividing the amplitude of the frequency point by a value indicative of an average of the amplitudes of the frequency points at the same frequency across transformed segments; repeating the determination of a ratio for frequency points in each transformed segment to determine ratios for each transformed segment; repeating the determination of ratios for transformed segments; and using the ratios to detect the abnormal signal in the compound sampled signal.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system includes a first oil separator including a chamber configured to receive refrigerant from an air conditioning system, a heat exchanger disposed within the first oil separator, and a compressor fluidly connected to the chamber and the heat exchanger. A first valve is disposed in a first flow line that is fluidly connected between an inlet of the first oil separator and a source of refrigerant and a second valve is disposed in a second flow line that fluidly connects the compressor and the heat exchanger. A controller is configured to open the first valve to enable refrigerant to pass into the chamber of the first oil separator, open the second valve so that a flow loop for refrigerant is formed between the heat exchanger and the compressor, activate the compressor to heat the refrigerant flowing through the flow loop, and subsequently commence a refrigerant recovery operation.

Abstract: A tire removal tool for removing a tire from a dual wheel assembly has a handle having a gripping portion configured to be manually gripped, a head configured for introduction into the space between the wheels, and an intermediate portion connected between the handle and the head. The intermediate portion has a bent configuration so that the tool can extend over the outermost wheel with the head in contact with the inside of the wheel and the handle manually accessible at the outside of the wheel. The head includes an engagement surface arranged to simultaneously contact the sidewall of the innermost wheel to act as a fulcrum for transmitting an upward force applied to the handle to a force at the distal end of the head sufficient to dislodge the tire bead from the rim.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool that stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The information may include procedures for resetting and diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system. The tool may include a storing module that stores the information and a displaying module that causes the information to be displayed on a display of the tool. The tool may enable a user to input data regarding a vehicle. Based on the vehicle data input by the user, the tool may determine a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using the information stored. Based on the tire pressure monitoring system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more reset or diagnostic procedures that may be performed by the tool. The tool may also reference the owner's manual of the vehicle. The tool may also include an updating module that updates the information stored by the tool. The tool may also include an update interface that may be, for example, an RS232 port.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerant service system to charge an air conditioning circuit includes pre-charging a predetermined pre-charge quantity of refrigerant into the air conditioning circuit, determining an average temperature in the air conditioning circuit based upon a pressure in the air conditioning circuit after pre-charging the air conditioning circuit, determining a charge compensation value based upon the determined average temperature in the air conditioning circuit, and charging the air conditioning circuit with a quantity of refrigerant based upon the charge compensation value.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and distributing diagnostic tests to diagnostic devices. The system includes user devices, diagnostic devices, diagnostic development system and validation/authentication system. The system can create, validate and distribute one or more diagnostic tests to various diagnostic devices. This allows user to have the latest diagnostic tests in a timely manner.