Howdy folks!
Met up with a pal from high school at the bar a few nights ago and we got to talking bout work and getting into electrical a little bit. He works for the local CAT dealer and I'm at the local Kubota/BRP dealer working on mostly the BRP products. We got to talking and I was surprised to hear that they OUTLAWED test lights in the shop!!!! He said management made the claim that test lights fry ECM's and other modules and that everybody is given a verbal warning for the first offense if they're caught with one and then after that they get written up. My go to tool is the good ole 12v test light and has made my bay thousands of dollars in successful quick and accurate repairs without frying a single module to date. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when he said that. All I said was well 1. you need a lot skill to fry a module these days with one and 2. I wouldn't be staying at that place very long. Is any one else working in a shop that frowns upon or has banned the test light? To me it sounds like OEM's are crawling in bed with DVOM manufactures lol.
Test lights have been a point of contention in the industry for some time now.
If I was at a shop that didn't want me to use mine anymore, I would probably start looking for another shop.
Not only because I firmly believe that it often is the best tool for the job, but I have a low tolerance for red tape. Any shop with that rule probably has a whole book of them I would violate....
They're worried about test lights? Test lights are pretty safe, in my experience. If their techs are frying modules using test lights, then the test light isn't the problem.
Wonder how they feel about actually dangerous tools. Do they ban torches? Spring compressors?
That's a good point, what about a tool that can burn down the shop or inflict bodily injury? I've definitely gone to the hospital over improper impact gun use, slag burns, flash burns etc. Never had to miss work over a test light!
