Hella Gutmann’s sales and marketing director Ian Boyle urges workshops to invest in the equipment necessary to gain access to increasingly ‘connected’ and technology dependent vehicles.
The key to not merely surviving, but flourishing, is investing in the equipment that allows independents to correctly diagnose faults and initiate solutions for the increasingly connected cars that are entering the workshop.
Hella Gutmann has developed these tools and we’ve acted creatively to enable workshops to access them affordably, by providing the utmost flexibility with an array of options when it comes to both the hardware and software configurations.
Another major challenge with these newer vehicles is cyber security management (CSM), because, among other features, they often have electric, or partially electric, drivetrains, extensive connectivity and a wide range of ADAS functions and these developments go together with expanding data volumes and new on-board network architectures, which vehicle manufacturers (VMs) are increasingly securing against unwanted access, by means of CSM.
To support independent workshops to communicate with these and future vehicles, the company implemented the CSM function in its mega macs range of diagnostic devices in 2020. This allows verified users with a single Hella Gutmann registration to diagnose secured vehicles without accessing the VMs portal and is a genuine multi-brand function that is being successively expanded.
Hardware
So, in terms of hardware, alongside the best in ADAS calibration tools, it has three tools that ensure independents can compete with the VM franchised dealer networks: mega macs X, macsRemote and the MT-HV measurement module.
The macsRemote aims to allows independents to access VMs own data, to diagnose diagnostic faults and activate solutions from the moment a vehicle leaves the showroom, subsequently bridging the data gap between our existing diagnostic tools and the latest new model registrations.
The mega macs X is not only a neatly designed Bluetooth VCI, but also the most advanced diagnostic tool we have ever developed. It incorporates the processor, diagnostic software and integrated diagnostic protocols, which includes among others, the CAN FD and DoIP for recent vehicle models such as Škoda Octavia, Volvo XC 90 and Golf 8 of Volkswagen, and communicates on a wireless basis.
The Hella Gutmann MT-HV module was specifically created for work on electric and hybrid vehicles and utilises permanently integrated HV measurement technology. However, it also incorporates a slot where the more familiar MT-56 and MT-77 low voltage modules can be inserted, which transforms the MT-HV into a wireless measurement module for both low and high voltage measurements.
Software
Alongside the hardware, we try to make the software side as easy as possible by providing our customers with access to regular updates. The latest V68 software update for example, which is compatible with mega macs X, 77, 66, 56 and 42SE, as well as mega macs PC, and equips them with new data and additional functionality.
Having already enabled mega macs users to diagnose faults with error code read/clear and basic settings for the Tesla Model S and Model X with a previous update, this version extends that access to Polestar, giving them a distinct advantage over their competitors when it comes to the growing EV sector. With the addition of Alfa Romeo Tonale, Polestar 2, Audi Q4 e-ton, Cupra Born and VW ID.Buzz and ID.5, the CSM function has also been extended to allow mega macs users to save considerable time and administration when working on these protected vehicles, as well as those from VMs including Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Seat and Škoda alongside those EV brands Polestar and Tesla, mentioned earlier.
Each mega macs recognises when it is dealing with a secured vehicle and initiates all the steps for unlocking the vehicle gateway in a fraction of a second, enabling the user to perform the usual diagnostic functions, such as fault code reading/deleting, parameter viewing, basic settings, calibrations, codes, actuator tests and service resets.
