Wrench Tales #7: Ryan Colley

Sept. 5, 2024
With the right tools used at the right time, critical decisions about engine health can be determined, and without disassembly. Whether or not an expensive engine repair will be worthwhile can easily be determined!

Wrench Tales is back again with Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler. This time all the way over from the United Kingdom. That’s right, Brandon interviews his good friend Ryan Colley (owner of Elite Automotive Diagnostics in Taunton, Somerset, UK).

About four years ago Ryan encountered a seemingly impossible-to-repair engine fault in a 2006 Audi A4. This vehicle was equipped with the DOHC V8 engine, originally designed for Lamborghini.

Ryan received the vehicle from his client after several shops made attempts at repairing a very obnoxious driveability fault. After careful review of scan tool data, Ryan discovered that the issue was affecting all four cylinders of the engine’s bank #2.

The other shops had suggested replacement of the ignition system and fuel injection system components as a test, prior to recommending replacement of the entire engine assembly (A repair with a cost of over $13,000 USD). 

With the power of a Pico 4425 oscilloscope and Pico WPS500 pressure transducer, Ryan quickly discovered the engine mechanical fault as a single-bank cam timing issue. The real question is “but, did the engine sustain any damage.”

It’s never a good thing to invest time and money repairing a fault, only to find out the root cause of the fault created underlying damage. What’s more? Visually inspecting the components would take nearly 30 hours of labor!

Stick with Brandon and Ryan as they capture a few pressure waveforms and do quick diagnostic work to determine if the engine sustained damage and requires replacement or if the timing components could be replaced for a fraction of the cost!

As the saying goes, “The data doesn’t lie!” Take your pressure waveform analytical skillset to the next level. Be sure to watch this episode of Wrench Tales!

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Due to factors beyond the control of Endeavor Business Media, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information or improper use of this information. Endeavor Business Media assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Endeavor Business Media recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Endeavor Business Media, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Endeavor Business Media.

The tool and/or equipment featured in this video was supplied by the manufacturer and may or may not be retained by the reviewer at no cost.

About the Author

Brandon Steckler | Technical Editor | Motor Age

Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.

Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability. 

Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.

Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).

He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.