PicoScope BNC NVH Diagnostics

PicoScope BNC NVH Diagnostics

The PicoDiagnostics Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) kits from Pico Technology are the cost-effective answer to the many NVH problems facing technicians today. The software provides a real-time diagnosis to the technician, in the form of either: a bar graph, a frequency chart, a 3D frequency chart, RPM order, road speed view or a time domain view. The ability to start the recording before a road test and playback and analyze the recording back in the shop, ensures that the driver's attention remains on the road. Saving the recordings couldn’t be easier: Much like our other automotive software, you can simply save the file to your laptop’s hard drive.

The PicoDiagnostics NVH kits make use of the PicoScope Automotive oscilloscopes and are available in a number of configurations to suit your needs. You can be sure that your investment in the PicoDiagnostics NVH kit will benefit your business without the need for further spending. If you already have a PicoScope Automotive oscilloscope, you’re halfway there.

Typical uses

Customer complaints surrounding noise/vibration are subjective at best and present technicians with a challenge even before they can begin diagnosing and rectifying. By applying an NVH kit to the vehicle, the technician has the ability to road-test the vehicle with the customer to obtain all vibration and noise levels. Once this valuable data has been collected, it can be analyzed and compared to previous captures or against donor vehicles. Often what is perceived by the customer to be a “problem vibration” could, in fact, be a characteristic. Now you can present and compare objective data with test results from donor vehicles to reassure your customer that everything is normal. Alternatively, comparing data may highlight a problem with the vehicle and the measurements taken can give the technician the information needed to confidently proceed with a repair. Below are just a few of the typical scenarios where an NVH kit can save you time and money:

• Cabin vibrations at speed
• Engine vibrations throughout the entire RPM range
• Clutch judder or vibration
• Transmission and bearing whine
• Auxiliary drive noise
• Brake judder
• Steering vibrations

Kit contents

Although the NVH kits are available in different configurations, they differ only in the number of parts supplied. In each case, a BNC cable connects the interface box to your Automotive PicoScope and a USB cable connects your PicoScope to the PC or laptop on which you run the PicoDiagnostics software. A separate J2534 Scan tool (see below) or VCI (not supplied) can be used to provide RPM data or an electrical signal that can be used for RPM.

Starter, Standard or Advanced

The Starter NVH Kit will allow you to measure vibrations on 3 axes, (X, Y and Z). The Standard NVH Kit gives you the option to also measure vibration or sound on a single axis at an additional location on the vehicle. The Advanced Kit gives you the option to measure vibration or sound at four different locations on the vehicle.