AAPEX will host the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) Fall 2015 General Meeting, featuring a session on “SAE J2534-1 v5.00: The Benefits for OEMs, Technicians and Tool Makers.” The NASTF meeting will take place from 1-4:30 p.m. PST on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Casanova Room 504 at the Venetian, with the J2534 session starting at 2:15 p.m.
Kurt Immekus, service publications specialist for Volkswagen of America, and Greg Potter, executive manager of the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI), will present the 
J2534 session. The two are co-chairs of the NASTF Equipment and Tool Committee and are leading the campaign for adoption of v5.00.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) issued its first version of J2534 in 2002 to facilitate shop computer communication with vehicle emission systems, and recently, SAE J2534-1 (emission systems) version 5.00 was published.
“Shops, technicians, automakers and tool companies are keenly aware that advances in technology offer benefits, as well as challenges. While the benefits of upgrading OEM programming software and J-devices to the new standard are huge, adoption is likely to take a large voluntary commitment from the industry before the government steps in to make it mandatory,” according to Skip Potter, NASTF executive director.
Immekus and Potter will cover the benefits of SAE J2534-1 v5.00, including:
- OEMs and tool makers greatly improve compatibility between OEM programming applications and device firmware. Validation is less formal and the expense of it is greatly reduced for both OEMs and device-makers. The technician improves productivity and the help desks have one less concern to handle.
- The actual range of vehicles covered and programmable modules served improves for device-makers, giving technician’s a clearer picture of what to buy; and reducing the number of device brands and models necessary in an all-makes service shop.
- Reprogramming times are greatly reduced.
At the same time, they recognize and will address the challenges, including:
- The 2018 diagnostic requirements present a related, additional challenge.
- OEMs are not all in the same place with SAE J2534 today.
- Upgrades cost money for everyone, and to coordinate investments between OEMs, technicians and device-makers is a great expectation.
Registration is not required for the NASTF event, but seating is limited. Registration, however, is required for AAPEX. The full agenda for the NASTF Fall 2015 General Meeting is posted at nastf.org/GeneralMeetings.
AAPEX is slated for Nov. 3-5, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 2. Go to aapexshow.com for more information.
