Hey all!

I found this community through an online video from Carter Diagnostics on YouTube. Serendipitously, I also came across this community in another online video from my favorite diagnostic YouTube channel Schrodingers Box (Matt) in his latest video talking about in cylinder pressure transducer waveforms.

I found Carter's videos on pulse sensor diagnostics and in cylinder pressure transducer waveforms invaluable while chasing down a P0300 on my 2014 Impreza. Matt's video on how to analyze waveforms was a good foundation as well.

I am hoping to join the pico group community here, although it seems many of you are likely more lucky than I with your equipment. Currently I am running the Pico 2204a paired with various Hantek and Rotkee sensors. It is a cheap way to test the waters for me as I am in ~$500 for the setup and this includes a scope, Rotkee pressure transducer, Rotkee pulse sensor, Rotkee COP sensor, Hantek COP sensor, Hantek leads, Hantek COP sensor, and Hantek low and high amp clamps.

I am a DIY enthusiast that hopes to maybe be a tech at some point. I hope to see you all on the forum!

Welcome Nate

HarleyMike wrote on Nov 15^th, 2023 at 5:14am:

Mike your channel is a gem! Keep those videos coming. I sure enjoy them.

Intermittent wrote on Nov 15^th, 2023 at 8:37pm:

Thanks for the kind words. I find that I am just very slow doing the work and diagnostics as I don't get much practice. Although I get more practice than most because my cars are always breaking haha.

I really dove into this head first when a shop in my town racked up a $2k bill over 6+ visits while fixing my 2000 Nissan Altima. It frustrated me so much that I bought Modern Automotive Technology by James Duffy and read it cover to cover over a month. I committed myself to not throwing parts at the car myself, since I would be no better than the shop. It's been a journey, and an excuse, to acquire more tools. So far my Pico 2204a has paid for itself, since I used it to diagnose a MAF sensor that had plagued my Altima for many years. A snap throttle test with the Pico presented the issue and I was kind of hooked from there.

I am just finding it hard to justify spending the money on a 4425A. I really wish I had it now with this Subaru. I was at least able to verify with my cheaper scope and equipment that the misfires are appearing to be associated to an early closing exhaust valve. I can see that final pressure hump before my intake stroke. The definition is not all there with the 2204a and more importantly, I don't have any known goods to compare to. The issue resolves itself after the car is warm, and I am almost sure its VVT related and would think as the oil warms and/or pressure builds the timing goes back to normal. I am just a bit baffled why there would not be a cam/crank code thrown though. Maybe because its on a cold start and the computer as a different care during those times. 

All that said, Pico's waveform library and this forum would be good reference material to solve my problem. So I guess the real question for me to answer is do I find it worth it to drop the $2k on the 4425a? I am torn when I need so many other tools at the moment, and I am not profiting off of what I learned yet. Plus I have been trying to keep score on "breaking even" having done my own car repairs. Right now I am finally positive. If I buy another scope I am going to be in the red for a good while.

Welcome!