FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Have a vehicle that won’t start or is running poorly? Automotive technicians and skilled do-it-yourselfers can now quickly pinpoint any of the hundreds of potential causes through a free online diagnostic “assistant” created by Wells Vehicle Electronics. According to the company, this new technical resource is an industry first. 
Available 24/7 at www.wellsVE.com, the company’s new “Virtual Tech” diagnostic assistant utilizes short videos and a series of “decision tree” prompts to guide the user through each step in diagnosing a wide range of driveability challenges. This exclusive resource is integrated with Wells’ interactive diagnostic trouble code lookup tool to provide the user with all of the information needed to identify and correct each problem.
The Virtual Tech assistant can be launched by selecting either of two broadly defined conditions: “The engine does not start” or “The engine does not run smoothly.” An additional diagnostic module – covering situations when the vehicle seems to be operating properly but has triggered the MIL indicator – is under development, the company says.
In many cases, when the user might need help in completing a diagnostic step, Virtual Tech offers brief instructional videos. As one example, a user whose engine will not start is asked whether the engine cranks slowly. If the answer is yes, the Virtual Tech assistant recommends that the user verify battery charge is at least 12.6 volts and offers a video demonstration of a proper battery test. Upon completion of the diagnostic process, users receive a list of recommended corrective actions. They also are invited to contact the toll-free Wells technical support hotline for additional assistance.
“Virtual Tech is the latest in a series of innovative diagnostic resources that strengthen the relationship between our company and the millions of professionals and consumers who rely on our products,” said Bill Nonnamaker, vice president of sales and marketing for Wells. “We believe it is a model for other aftermarket suppliers who want to continually enhance their customers’ ability to correctly diagnose driveability challenges.”
In addition to the Virtual Tech assistant, Wells offers a popular series of diagnostic case study videos. The nearly 40 Wells Vehicle Electronics videos recently surpassed 3 million user views on YouTube and are also available via www.wellsVE.com.
