http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.aecs.co.nz en-us Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:23:32 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/168203/three-launch-scan-tools-three-ways-to-work-faster/ Every workshop reaches the same point eventually: the jobs coming through the door need more than a code reader can give you. The question isn't whether to invest in a proper full-system scan tool — it's which one actually fits the work you do.This month we focus in on three Launch scan tools, and they aren't just good, better, best. Each one is built for a different kind of workshop. Here's how to tell which is yours.... Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:14:00 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post168203 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/168059/6000-amps-that-fit-under-the-seat/ Every workshop manager knows the call. It's dark, it's cold, and a tractor unit loaded for a 400 km run won't turn over. The battery isn't just flat — after a weekend of tail-lift use and a parasitic draw nobody has traced yet, it's damaged. Conventional booster packs shrug. Cables need a second running vehicle and a driver willing to park nose-to-nose.The JT3021 was built precisely for that moment: enough peak current to crank a heavy diesel from a lead-acid battery that has effectively ... Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:32:29 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post168059 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/167253/mobile-vs-retractable-workshop-extraction-which-setup-is-right-for-your-workshop/ Vehicle exhaust extraction is important for workshops that run vehicles indoors, but the right setup depends on how the workshop operates.Some workshops need a flexible unit that can move between bays. Others need a cleaner, fixed solution that is always ready to use in a dedicated service area.Two common workshop extraction options are:Mobile unitsRetractable systemsBoth can be effective. The best choice depends on your workshop layout, vehicle mix, usage, and workflow.... Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:37:20 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post167253 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/167248/why-vehicle-exhaust-extraction-matters-in-automotive-workshops/ Running vehicles indoors is a normal part of workshop life. Technicians need to start engines for diagnostics, servicing, testing, tuning, inspections, and training.But while running vehicles inside may be unavoidable, letting exhaust fumes build up in the workshop should not be treated as normal.A dedicated vehicle exhaust extraction system helps capture fumes closer to the source and direct them away from the working area. For automotive workshops, this can support a cleaner, safer, and more c... Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:17:41 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post167248 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/166977/beyond-the-windscreen-mastering-adas-calibration-for-trucks-and-trailers/ Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are now standard across the modern commercial vehicle fleet. Trucks, buses, and vans leave the factory equipped with an increasing number of radar, camera, and sensor arrays that demand precise calibration. An increasing range of ADAS correlates directly to an increasing amount of calibrations after an increasing range of repairs.A misaligned forward radar can misjudge objects by a full lane width, making collision avoidance ineffective and the vehicle unsafe o... Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:25:02 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post166977 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/166522/particulate-matter--the-invisible-carcinogen-in-your-workshop/ Not a typically enjoyable technical article but I reckon it's pretty important.Particulate matter is important for anyone working an automotive workshop, fleet maintenance facility, or industrial operation. The particles in exhaust gasses, welding fumes, from metalworking, laser and plasma cutting and oil mist from machining provide the highest areas of exposure to our skilled and valued staff.This matters because these particles are classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 confi... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:57:40 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post166522 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/166400/the-nz-wof-reset--why-smarter-inspections-could-be-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-your-business/ After decades of largely unchanged vehicle inspection rules, New Zealand's Warrant of Fitness regime is finally getting a major overhaul and for businesses across the automotive repair sector, there is an opportunity.In April 2026, Associate transport Minister James Meager confirmed the most significant reform to New Zealand's WOF system in a generation. Most light vehicles under 14 years old will shift to two yearly inspections, new vehicles will go four years before their second WOF, and older... Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:26:50 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post166400 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/166397/the-importance-of-exhaust-gas-analysis-in-the-automotive-industry/ It was 20 years ago that New Zealand was on the brink of introducing comprehensive emissions testing for WOF inspections. However by 27 October 2006 the decision to test the poisonous array of gasses emitting from our country's exhaust pipes by looking at them came into force. Twenty years later and we are still able to decide if a vehicle is meeting emissions standards visually at inspection time. As of 01 November 2026 when the latest light vehicle inspection changes come into place, fewer emi... Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:10:54 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post166397 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/165498/new-multi-channel-oscilloscope-software-version-1-49/ Recently released software cements ATS scopes again at the pinnacle of diagnostics with abilities to properly decode additional vehicle communication bus types, removing any previous guesswork from your diagnostics of these systems. ... Wed, 27 May 2026 12:05:54 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post165498 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/post/162476/hybrid-battery-testing-vs-battery-repair-equipment-whats-the-difference/ As more hybrid and electric vehicles come through New Zealand workshops, battery-related work is becoming a bigger part of modern diagnostics.That also means workshops are being exposed to a wider range of equipment — and not all of it serves the same purpose. Two of the easiest categories to blur together are hybrid battery testing equipment and HV battery testing and repair tools.They sit close together in the workflow, but they are not interchangeable. Understanding the difference help... Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +1200 http://www.aecs.co.nz/blog/#post162476