Safety Precautions
Purpose
To provide general preventive measures before, during, and after using our Innova scan tools.
Introduction
This describes common test procedures used by experienced service technicians when using our Innova scan tools. Many test procedures require precautions to avoid accidents that can result in personal injury, and/or damage to your vehicle or test equipment. Always read your vehicle's service manual and follow its safety precautions before and during any test or service procedure. Always observe the following general safety precautions:
- When an engine is running, it produces carbon monoxide, a toxic and poisonous gas. To prevent serious injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning, operate the vehicle only in a well-ventilated area.
- To protect your eyes from propelled objects as well as hot or caustic liquids, always wear approved safety eye protection.
- When an engine is running, many parts (such as the coolant fan, pulleys, fan belt, etc.) turn at high speed. To avoid serious injury, always be aware of moving parts. Keep a safe distance from these parts as well as other potentially moving objects.
- Engine parts become very hot when the engine is running. To prevent severe burns, avoid contact with hot engine parts.
- Before starting an engine for testing or troubleshooting, make sure the parking brake is engaged. Put the transmission in park (for automatic transmission) or neutral (for manual transmission). Block the drive wheels with suitable blocks.
- Connecting or disconnecting test equipment when the ignition is 'On' can damage test equipment and the vehicle's electronic components. Turn the ignition 'Off' before connecting the Scan Tool to or disconnecting the Scan Tool from the vehicle’s Data Link Connector (DLC).
- To prevent damage to the onboard computer when taking vehicle electrical measurements, always use a digital multimeter with at least 10 megOhms of impedance.
- Fuel and battery vapors are highly flammable. To prevent an explosion, keep all sparks, heated items, and open flames away from the battery and fuel/fuel vapors. Do not smoke near the vehicle during testing.
- Don't wear loose clothing or jewelry when working on an engine. Loose clothing can become caught in the fan, pulleys, belts, etc. Jewelry is highly conductive and can cause a severe burn if it makes contact between a power source and ground.