MAF Sensor on the MicSig ATO1104 Automotive Oscilloscope , DTC’s P0171, P0172, P0174, & P0175

Diagnosing a MAF (Mass air flow) Sensor using the MicSig ATO1104 Automotive Oscilloscope. Trouble codes P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175 DTC’s

[@DJ-tn7vj]

Thanks for the video. keep it coming

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Adam I can’t wait till my scope arrives to get a lot of baseline info off my vehicles. 👍

[@atomsworkshop195]

Yea, I remember that feeling. You can save all kinds of reference waveforms. Then if you have a problem with your car in the future, you’ll have known good ones to compare to.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hey Artie. Just wanted to say, when you get your scope, once you connect to your WiFi, don’t forget to check for a firmware update. Also, make sure to calibrate your probes. The ones with the little hooks. It’s real easy to do. Just click on the manual on the main screen, scroll through, and it’ll show you how. I’m here if you need me. Enjoy your Sunday.

[@arthurfricchione8119]

@@atomsworkshop195 Adam thank you so much. You have been very helpful and I appreciate that. Will stay in touch 👍🇺🇸

[@ram40andy]

ram40andy 3 days ago I just bought an ATO 1104 a month ago , everything worked ok, but the other days a relay clicking noise came from inside when switching the voltage scale from 200mv to 500mv on any channel. All began when I connected CH1 to AUX OUT CH with P130A probe. Everything works as it should now except this noise

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello ram40andy. To my understanding, that noise is completely normal. Both my ATO & STO make that same (small click sound, like a relay), when I switch to certain measurements on the voltage scale. They have both done this since I first got them. I think it just might be a coincidence, that you noticed it after making that connection. I’m sure all is fine. However, to be sure, you can always contact Micsig. They have always been good at responding to me within 24 hrs. Unless I email them late at night; then sometimes I get a response even quicker. That’s because I live in Texas, and they are in China (about 12 hrs different in time zones). I hope this puts you at ease. I’m sure it’s fine. Thanks for visiting the channel. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I recently moved out into the country, so my internet and cell service sucks at the moment, so I may not get it right away; but will respond as soon as I do.

[@bigdredre3725]

Hello I am thinking about an upgrade from my 2 channel vantage pro but can’t afford a Pico at this time how do you like the micsig and what are some of the pros and cons

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello Bigdre Dre. I really like the Micsig. I think it’s the best scope in its price range. A few pro’s are:: it’s a stand alone tablet scope; no laptop needed. The battery lasts a good amount of time. The memory is good. It’s a pretty easy menu to navigate once you learn your way around. The screen is easy to see. The main con I have is they don’t have a waveform library, like Pico, to compare waveforms to. However, you can save all the waveforms you want, on your own scope. There’s probably a lot more pro’s I could list, but I have to get back to work. You can check out my videos and comment sections to learn more. I can say, I’m pretty sure you’ll be happy with the Micsig. I really enjoy using mine. Thanks for stopping by my friend.

[@charleshildebrand3175]

I bought a TO1104 and just recently purchased and installed the license from Micsig to make it a ATO1104. My question is what is the icon to the right of the automotive icon on the scope screen. After the software download I have all the presets but not that icon. I also was wondering if while playing back a recording if you can pause it and bring up cursors for taking measurements. I can’t with mine at least not that I have figured out how to.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello Charles. First, the button that was to the right of the automotive button is no longer there. When I did the firmware update that added the “Invert” option, it removed that button. It didn’t do anything anyway. When I would click on it, it would just open a box on the left of the scope screen with some Chinese/Mandarin (not sure exactly) writing, and that was it. I tried clicking all over the box and writing, and nothing would happen. Anyway, it’s gone now, so you’re not missing out on anything. Second, to my understanding, no, you cannot bring up measurements during video playback. However, while looking at live waveforms, you can press “Quick Save”, then later (or whenever), while on the scope screen, you can press the downward pointing arrow with circle around it, located under CH4, then press REF. At that point you can either press the on button for either R1 R2 R3 R4, or press the box to the right of “Recall” (the box with numbers and date). If you press the numbers box it brings up a list of all your reference waveforms, beginning with the latest one. Tip: if you turn on R1, then click the numbers box of R2, you can click on each one down the list to see each waveform, without it closing out the menu box. Once you have a reference Waveform (or multiple reference waveforms, up to 4) on the scope screen, you can use the cursors and everything else in your bottom menu (360’, MEAS ALL, ZOOM, etc). You can zoom in and out with your timebase buttons (ms, etc)But you can only pull out as far as the original capture (it’s best to always grab a capture (QUICK SAVE) zoomed out far. This way you’ll have a larger zoom range later. You can also change the voltage (mv/v). You can adjust the trigger (even though the waveform is stationary). You can use the “FINE” adjust option. You can open the Math menu, S1 & S2. You can use the “CH1” button (to the left of the automotive button), to switch from one reference waveform to the other, or the MATH channel (if you have more than one open). Also, you can use the “CH1” option to adjust the timebase of each ref or math channel individually (zoom in on one, zoom out on another). Well that’s everything I can think of at the moment, hope this helps. I know it’s a lot, but I just wanted to be thorough, so you know what’s available on there. Last, congratulations on your scope purchase! If you’re anything like me, it was like Christmas morning as a child when it arrived and you first opened it, lol. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Charles, how did you get the license to upgrade from the TO1104 to the ATO1104? I’ve had a couple people ask me if you can do that, but I could never find the option on their website. Also, how much was the license for the upgrade? Thanks

[@charleshildebrand3175]

Atom’s Workshop, thanks for replying so quick. I’ve been seriously considering a pico as well but I liked the price and portability of the micsig. The only drawback I have found is the video playback. I’m a heavy equipment technician and being able to record events as they happen is vital but not being able to pause and take measurements while replay is frustrating.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Not a problem, glad I could help. You can pause the video playback, but unfortunately no measurements. Yea, that would be a nice feature. I often find myself trying to do just that during video playback. Also, I really wish Micsig would offer an online reference waveform library like Pico. I too was on the fence with purchasing the Pico. They have a lot of great features (such as the REF Library). I wanted to build up my own library on my laptop, but I can’t open the REF files once on my computer. I can open everything else, just not them. I believe Micsig told me they can only be opened on the scope (if I understood them correctly anyway). I guess I can still save them on my laptop, just not open them.

[@atomsworkshop195]

I usually take a video & some “QUICK SAVES”, so when I’m looking at them later I can see the video, and just take my measurements with the REF files. I’ll talk to Micsig. Who knows, maybe they can add that feature to the video playback. I have to say, they are really good at listening to the customers concerns and helping to correct them. When I purchased my ATO1104, there was no “Invert” option. They did have it on the TO1104, but not ATO. I emailed them and let them know how important of a feature that is for the automotive guys, and he told me he would have it put in in the next firmware update; and sure enough he followed through and made it happen. Now we have the Invert option on each channel menu. That’s really cool. I can’t imagine many other companies doing that. Thumbs up for Micsig. (No I’m not paid by them, and yes I bought my scope); I just really like my scope, and have to call out great customer service when I see it; especially when many companies customer service leaves something to be desired.

[@maksym3d]

Nice series of videos! Do you know if the ATO1104 comes with an AWG functionality? I've watched a video of someone feeding a waveform from a Vantage unit into crankshaft connector and then verifying the car picks it up by looking at ODBII data. This way, you can verify the integrity of the wiring and ECM. It seems that the way to go would be to get ATO1104 for general use and one of the cheapest picoscopes for their waveform library and ability to replay the waveforms.

[@atomsworkshop195]

How’s it going Maksym Petrenco. No the ATO1104 does not have a waveform generator (to my knowledge). I purchased a Koolertron DDS Signal Generator/ Counter. I got it from Amazon. I paid $150 for it, but they have other models that cost less. They have a 15MHz, 30MHz, and 60MHz. I got the 60 MHz. It’s a desktop model, but is light so if you’re mobile, you can still take it with you. I’ve seen mobile ones out there, this is just the one I ended up with. That’s a good idea about buying the cheaper Pico for the waveform library; I definitely wish I had access to that. The ATO does record and can play back waveforms. You can also save reference waveforms buy a click of a button labeled “quick save”. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching, and for the kind words. I’m sure you’ll like the Micsig ATO1104, it a good scope. I’ve had mine for maybe a year and a half or so, and I still really enjoy using it. Good luck my friend, and let me know what you decide to do. I’m always here, if you have any other questions.

[@maksym3d]

@@atomsworkshop195 Thanks for the quick reply! I was actually trying to decide between Siglent SDS2104X Plus and Rigol MSO5072, which are both 4 channel touch scopes with AWG, when I stumbled across ATO1104. Though I mostly tinker with electronics, my immediate need is troubleshooting crank/cam sensors on my car, so ATO1104 with built-in automotive features makes sense. Although I still struggle to understand what these features are - looks like they are just a collection of parameter presets and a sort of 'guides' that tell you what goes where in each of the uses cases. Portability is a nice thing to have too. As for AWG, I think you can save the ATO1104 waveform as a CSV; then, you can import that CSV into any other equipment, including a signal generator for a 'replay' and injection into a car connector. However, if I'm going to add bench instruments for the missing functions - the cut is a bit less clear. There is a good chance I will need to get both ATO1104 and Rigol/Siglent! Or just get a Rigol/Siglent and learn to live without the presets.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello. Yea, I don’t know much about the Siglent or Rigol, so I can’t comment to them. I will say, you don’t need the presets to look at cam and crank signals. Don’t get me wrong, they are nice to have, but you could go without them. They basically just set the scopes timebase and volts/amps per division. It’s great for beginners. Also, makes things faster for experts. I will say, sometimes they might be off a little. Yea, you really can’t beat the portability of the Micsig. I use the ATO1104 for automotive diagnostics, and the STO1104E for everything else. I keep the STO on my electronics table. I really like the knobs and buttons on it. I wish they had the ATO with the knobs and buttons, but no luck there. I haven’t tried putting any signals into my signals generator from the Micsig. Maybe, I’ll look into that, if I have time. I’ll make a video if I’m successful. I will say, that when I transfer all the videos, pics, and reference waveforms into my computer, I can open everything except the reference waveforms. Micsig said, that’s just how it is. They can only be opened in the scope itself. Good luck my friend. PS, you shouldn’t need to inject any signal in, to diag bad cam crank signals. Just connect scope to each of them, see that you have signal. If so, compare yours to a known good one. That’s the hard part. Finding a known good one. One thing about the Pico automotive scopes, is once you have one, you can access their waveforms library. I usually just use Alldata DIY. You can pay per vehicle, and they usually have a picture of the cam and crank signals to compare to. Good luck my friend. Let me know how it goes

[@maksym3d]

@@atomsworkshop195 The idea with injecting a signal is to test the wiring and ECM, not the sensor itself - basically, if you feed a sensor-like signal to the connector, you should be able to see the computer reading this signal and interpreting as RPMs. If you feed the signal, but do not see the RPM readout via ODBII - there might be a short in the harness or the computer might be bad. See 3:00 in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6u9f5-GpNh6ibs

[@atomsworkshop195]

I see what your saying. You can also use the signal and 5 volt reference wire to do the same thing. Instead of me trying to explain it here, I’ll send you to the source of where I learned how to do it. If you go on KZbin, and put in Scanner Danner circuit integrity testing, you’ll see videos of how to do it without a signal generator. I don’t know if you’ve watched Scanner Danner (Paul Danner) before, but I personally have learned a lot from him.

[@donm7645]

Hey Atom, I just got this scope and want to use it to test intermittent ESP (Electronic Stability Program) failure on my 06 MB R350. I can give more details if you have any Ideas. Only happens on long drives at freeway speeds, say 55 to 70 miles of continious driving

[@donm7645]

forgot to mention the code. "Zero point steering angle variation" I replaced the SAS (steering angle sensor) like you said not to do right away before confirming its bad. Spent 400 bucks for it. Didn't fix the problem. MB Xentry DAS said it would. Nuts!

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello Don. How are you liking the scope so far? What kind of failure are you having? Is the light just coming on after 55 to 70 miles of driving? Is it affecting the ride? It’s really hard to say (for me anyway). To be honest with you; I have a Nissan 350Z, and after driving about the same amount of distance, my TPMS light will come on. It doesn’t seem to affect the vehicle or drive any. All my tires have the proper air pressure. I still don’t know why this happens. To be fair, I haven’t really looked into it, since it doesn’t seem to affect anything. Have you tried googling the problem? Maybe there is a TSB (trouble service bulletin) explaining what is happening, and the most common fix. With that said, if you just want to play with your new scope, lol (which I completely understand). You could connect to your Cam & Crank sensors, and save the waveforms using the quick save button. This way, in the future, should you have a problem and need to test them, you will have known good waveforms to connect to. You could also do this with other sensors and components on you vehicle(s). Sorry I don’t have a good answer to your question, right off my head. PS, I’m really liking using the stylus pen on my scope. I used it for most the day yesterday. Thanks again for the idea. It really makes a difference.

[@atomsworkshop195]

Wow! Sorry you lost out on $400 for nothing. Maybe you can return it. I was diagnosing a car yesterday, that someone fired the old parts shotgun at, and missed. I think he only lost about 160 bucks on an EGR valve thought. Well, we live, we learn. Good luck my friend.

[@donm7645]

@@atomsworkshop195 taught me the lesson that i need to really learn the cars i have.

[@manuel7958]

Hello can you check secondary ignition with it

[@atomsworkshop195]

Yes you can. I made a video using the Pico COP probe (paddle probe). However, the waveform looked a little odd. I don't think that was because of the scope or probe though. After talking with others in the comment section; I think it was the COP's on the vehicle I was testing. Some have more insulation than others, making it harder to get a good waveform. Another subscriber told me, he was able to get good secondary waveforms, so I'm pretty sure it was the COP's on the car. I will try to make another video testing it on a different video.

[@brunoc9376]

Does it have peak detection?

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello Bruno, Yes it has Peak Detect sampling mode.

[@brunoc9376]

Atom’s Workshop sweet, thanks!

[@atomsworkshop195]

Anytime my friend. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for stopping by the channel.

[@wzthonda8013]

@@atomsworkshop195 good job. can you make how to use current probe for ignition coil & injector?

[@atomsworkshop195]

Hello ZhaoTang Wu. I am currently waiting on a Micsig current probe CP2100 to arrive in the mail. Do you want to see it with the Pico current probe or the Micsig current probe? As soon as I receive the Micsig current probe, I plan on making a few videos using it to test different current circuits on vehicles.