New Equipment – Jonathan Fry Automotive Ltd

Customer Portal

We have recently moved over to a new garage management system The new system brings many new features and one of those is the Customer Portal.

The Customer Portal is an area of the system which can be accessed by customers 24 hours a day. All that is required is the vehicle’s registration number and the customer’s postcode (We must have your postcode associated with your vehicle for you to be able to access the portal).

The following features are available from the portal:

View paid and unpaid invoices.
Download invoices*
View current and future bookings.
View the status of ongoing jobs in the workshop.
Authorise estimates for new or additional work.
Check and amend personal and contact details*
Modify communication and vehicle reminder preferences*

* Further authentication is required to download invoices and to view and amend personal details. The Portal will request the unique customer number in such cases which is included in the booking confirmation email or can be provided when you call or text the workshop.

You can log into the Customer Portal at any time by clicking here.

New Equipment, Other News

New Mobile Phone Number

I will not be renewing the workshop mobile phone contract when it falls due at the beginning of March 2021 and its associated number (ending 322270) will no longer be available. A new number has been acquired with full details below.

The WhatsApp account associated with this number will also be deleted. The WhatsApp business account (441482521201) is not affected and will remain in use.

The Background

The mobile signal in the workshop is weak at best and frequently nonexistent. As many of you who have called me on the mobile will know, it’s just about impossible to have a legible conversation on it when I’m at work.
The mobile number has been shared, often without my knowledge to people who I’d rather didn’t have it. The result is the mobile had become a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week torture device. I now have two mobile phones, one for work and a personal one so I can leave the work one at home on my days off. I’d like to return to owning just one mobile phone!
The mobile phone contract and phone insurance are an unnecessary additional expense for the business.

The Solution

Over the New Year weekend I installed the 3CX business phone system at the workshop. It’s fully operational and tested and if you’ve called the workshop on the landline number or I’ve called you in the last week or so then the call was routed through the new phone system.

3CX is a bit OTT, designed to operate in multi-site corporate environments and large call centres. The NHS use 3CX as do companies like Pepsi, Best Western Hotels, Holiday Inn and Air France. If they can deploy it then so can I (and I have!).

3CX can handle voice calls, visual voicemail, faxes and SMS text messages. It also integrates with my job management system providing click-to-call functionality for customer and supplier phone numbers. There’s also a mobile phone app so I can call and text customers when I need to such as when collecting cars from their workplaces without revealing my mobile phone number.

SMS Text Messages

Most relevant though is its ability to handle incoming and outgoing SMS text messages. To accomplish this I have secured a new mobile phone number and linked it with 3CX.

Voice calls to the new number are routed to the workshop desk phones (rather than a mobile phone) during normal business hours and to voicemail outside of normal hours and also if I don’t answer the call within 20 seconds.
SMS messages are routed to the 3CX web client on my desktop computer in the workshop and are replied to from there (rather than a mobile phone).

As calls and texts to the new number are now routed to the workshop I will no longer be able to see them and respond outside of normal business hours. Any calls and texts received outside of normal hours will be replied to when I'm next at the workshop.

The Only Two Numbers You Need

Workshop Main Number: 01482 521201 (Voice calls only)
Workshop Mobile Number: 07400 171201 (Voice calls and SMS text messages)

The outgoing caller ID for all calls made from the workshop and from the 3CX app on my mobile phone is 01482521201.

Other Ways To Get In Touch

There’s plenty of other ways to get in touch such as email, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Visit the Contact Jonathan page for further details.

Common Sense, Please

I work alone and without staff. My priority is the repair of the vehicles at the workshop. I cannot repair vehicles and answer the phone at the same time.

Please phone or text once. Once is enough. I can see you’ve called. I will reply to calls and messages in the order they are received and when I have time to do so.
Please respect the business hours. They are 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. I am not available outside of these hours.
Business related messages sent through my personal social media accounts will be ignored. To contact the business please use the business contact methods.
I do not provide updates or running commentaries on ongoing jobs. I will provide updates if there’s a significant change in the job’s status and I have time to do so.

New Equipment

Snap-on APOLLO-D8 Scan Tool

*** New Equipment Update ***

Today we took delivery of our latest diagnostic hardware, the Snap-on APOLLO-D8 full-function scan tool.

The APOLLO-D8 is equipped with the latest Ethernet for diagnostics or “DoIP” technology, required for 2018 and newer Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo vehicles with the expectation that many other vehicle manufacturers will deploy this communication standard in the near future.

The APOLLO-D8 is Secure Vehicle Gateway ready. Automobile manufacturers are developing solutions to protect their vehicles’ networks from unauthorised access, including potential cyber-attacks. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recently implemented a secure gateway module that was introduced on a selection of their 2018 and newer model vehicles. For those vehicles with the secure gateway module, access to certain diagnostic functions requires registration and authentication through an approved device for all aftermarket scan tools.

It also offers the extra assurances of SureTrack™ expert information, “Smart Data”, and quick access to functional tests and resets – within a highly intuitive user interface that’s simple to learn and operate.

APOLLO-D8 Features

“Smart Data” automatically configures the display to show vehicle data parameters (PIDs) relevant to the fault code. Non-related parameters are filtered out to save you time
Highlights vehicle data that is out of expected range
Functional tests to verify component operation; reset procedures to complete the repair after component replacement. Only those that pertain to that fault code are shown
Scan for vehicle fault codes/diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
SureTrack common replaced parts and real fixes for the specific vehicle and DTC
Large 8in display for better readability and greater ease of use
Super-fast boot up: ready to use in just 5 seconds
Detailed trouble code definitions, live data, functional tests, relearns, and adaptations
One-Touch Full Vehicle Code Scan & Clear quickly checks and clears codes for all available modules on the vehicle
Custom data lists, freeze-frame, PID sorting, pause, zoom, PID trigger, snapshot, and cursor functions
Ability to record all available live data parameters and graph any four on screen at once
Embedded SMX^® Operating System dedicated to diagnostic functions for fast, reliable operation

New Equipment

CEM DT-5500 Digital Insulation Tester

** New Equipment Update **

Our new CEM DT-5500 Digital Insulation Tester arrived in the post this morning.

It’s designed to test the insulation of electrical equipment by introducing a high voltage, low current signal whilst monitoring the equipment’s ability to remain electrically insulated from that signal. This is invaluable for testing our workshop equipment to ensure it remains safe to use and the first thing I tested this morning using the DT-5500 was one of the workshop’s portable battery chargers which has a metal case and is often used outside in the car park. I’m pleased to say it passed with flying colours!

Its main use in the workshop however will be for testing electronically the insulation and the condition of the Piezo stones in both diesel and petrol engine fuel injectors.

Quite often an electrical leak into the body of the injector is an early sign of injector failure so being able to detect this quickly and easily can save many hours of work trying to detect intermittent drivability faults.

The following video shows the DT-5500 in use by ASNU Corporation Europe Ltd when bench testing a gasoline direct injection piezo injector, the type fitted to BMW cars.

MOT Testing, New Equipment, Vehicle Defects

TPMS Diagnostic Health Check

Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) have been fitted to cars for many years but recently TPMS has become mandatory for all new vehicles and has become a testable item for the annual MOT inspection.

Two main technologies exist; indirect and direct TPMS. Indirect systems detect wheel speed rotation differences resulting from a deflated tyre by using inputs from the ABS wheel speed sensors. This technology was unreliable and could not detect tyre deflation in more than one wheel. All modern vehicles are fitted with direct TPMS which includes a pressure sensor in each wheel which transmits readings to a control unit using radio signals. The driver’s information display can then, in most cases display the tyre pressures for each wheel and warn the driver if a tyre suffers an unexpected pressure loss.

Like with all complex electronic systems, faults can occur with TPMS components resulting in the TPMS warning lamp illuminating. We have designed our TPMS Diagnostic Health Check to help identify the most common causes of unexplained TPMS warnings both quickly and cost effectively.

Our TPMS Diagnostic Health Check uses the latest dedicated TPMS diagnostic equipment and covers the following tests:

Checking and adjusting the tyre pressures in accordance with the tyre pressure placard.
Carrying out a scan of all TPMS sensors to check they are responding and reporting the correct tyre pressure.
Checking the sensor battery level*.
Carrying out a TPMS module fault code scan.
Carrying out a TPMS sensor ID comparison with the TPMS module*.
Carry out a TPMS sensor relearn procedure if required*.

* When vehicle is equipped with this function.

Our TPMS Diagnostic Health Check is suitable for vehicles equipped with direct TPMS. We can also carry out diagnostic work on indirect TPMS systems, please contact us for details. Further chargeable diagnostic and/or mechanical work may be required to resolve some TPMS faults.

New Equipment

Snap-on Diagnostic Thermal Imager

** New Equipment Update **

Snap-on Diagnostic Thermal Imager

Imagine a tool that lets you “see” heat. The Snap-on Diagnostic Thermal Imager uses infrared technology to reveal heat, friction, electrical resistance, pressure changes. It is specifically designed for automotive applications and includes an exclusive database of guided tests, showing dozens of valuable applications. Just point it at any area of a vehicle and see detailed images of an object’s heat signature.

New Equipment, Parts

Key Power Remote Batteries

We now stock an extensive range of car key remote batteries.

Many vehicle manufacturers specify that remote batteries should be replaced during routine servicing. If your remote has stopped working or the range has reduced ask us to replace your battery as part of your annual service or pop into the workshop and we’ll replace it while you wait. Prices start at £5.00 fitted.

New Equipment

Sykes-Pickavant EGR & Solenoid Valve Tester

** New Equipment Update **

Sykes-Pickavant EGR & Solenoid Valve Tester

SP Diagnostics has designed, manufactured and released their new EGR and Solenoid Valve Tester. This new tool helps the technician test the integrity of EGR valves and other 12v solenoids, such as vacuum solenoids, boost pressure control valves and actuators, petrol injectors, carbon canisters and even relays. Due to the tool’s variable frequency, EGR valves can either be cycled to ensure correct operation or to clean it during its cyclic mode. In high frequency mode, the valve can be opened progressively, allowing more efficient manual cleaning.

New Equipment

Rear Parking Assist Tester (RPAT2)

** New Equipment Update **

Just Arrived! Snap-on Rear Parking Assist Tester (RPAT2)

Diagnosing Rear Parking Assist Systems Snap-on’s new Rear Parking Assist Tester (RPAT2) quickly checks sensors without the need of bumper removal or jacking up the vehicle. The RPAT2 can verify in a matter of seconds whether individual bumper-mounted sensors are properly working. The RPAT2:

Is a hand held tester that visually, with an LED light, and audibly, with an alarm, indicates whether a specific sensor is working or not.
Can test up to 6″ away from the sensors.
A simple ON/Off switch is the only control required to activate and operate this unit, there is no need for wires or connectors.
Is compatible with all ultrasonic factory systems including models manufactured by GM, Chrysler, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles, as well as all aftermarket systems for commercial trucks and trailers.