Technicians debate using the min/max function of a digital voltmeter to test the battery and charging system on a customer’s vehicle to determine if the alternator has failed. Who is correct?
I picked up a habit many of you probably have: I had a “Lights Buddy” (patent pending) in the shop. This was usually someone who worked nearby who you could notify when pulling in a car.
Said Lights Buddy would walk to the vehicle door as I exited the man door, open the shop door as the vehicle approached, and close it as quickly as possible (in the winter). As I pulled in, I would instinctually run my lights: tap the brakes, left turn, right turn, tails, and then reverse lights after I got the car pulled into my bay. Nothing here surprises you; you likely do the same thing and probably have since freshman year.
But in 2023, there’s a better way if Jimmy is out with a cold or you’re a one-man band: use an old phone and a baby-monitor app.
If you’re like me, you have at least one old smartphone laying around or have a friend who would readily give you one.
Why not breathe a little life into it and replace the tech in the bay next to you?
Dorman’s Lead Cameraman, Blake Adam, is a wizard behind the lens. We cut him loose with an old phone to see what he could do. He tried a few apps, and the one he settled on as “the best” at the time of this writing was Alfred, though to be honest, I think many nanny cam apps would probably work just fine.
He downloaded a few apps, which I assume you know how to do, and then just had to sort out a way to mount the phone and pair it up to the new one. The longest time you’ll spend on this project is probably finding a good spot to mount the phone so the camera angle shows what you want it to.
Honestly, it couldn’t be easier, as you can see in this video he shot and cut.
Looks pretty slick to me. Pull the phone off the charger in the morning, stick it on the wall near the door, pull the car in and the phone out, and you’re off to the races. (It also saves the trip to the back of the car to record the license plate.) Throw the phone on the charger when you lock your box at the end of the day, and you’re all done.
And if the phone falls or gets busted? Who cares? It was an old phone anyway. I see this as an absolutely awesome backup to a live Lights Buddy, and if you’re a one- or two- mechanic shop, this could really be a boon, eh?
The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.
Technicians discuss battery testing, one says open circuit voltage of less than 10.5 volts indicates a bad battery, while the other says that a reading of 12.5 volts indicates an 80% state of charge. Who is correct?
Is carb cleaner actually more dangerous than brake cleaner?
By breaking down the structures used to create DTCs, you can learn how to “decode” beyond the simple descriptions presented by a scanner.
It’s like torquing a bolt, but with an extra twist.
On a hybrid vehicle’s air conditioning system that utilizes a high voltage electrical compressor, can only the oil specified by the vehicle manufacturer be used in the compressor or is PAG oil acceptable for use in an electric vehicle’s compressor?
Why a compressor clutch doesn’t engage, and tips to find the cause quickly.
Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.