Question for the IT guys

[Bradu]

I've been doing remote diagnostics using TeamViewer on trucks and equipment to help our other mechanics troubleshoot aftertreatment issues. Some guys don't have the software like Cummins insite on their laptops because management doesn't think you need anything to troubleshoot newer trucks and equipment.

If they have the adapter to communicate to the trucks or equipment, is it possible to use software on my laptop to be able remote in or am I limited to using what is installed on their laptops? IT has the company laptops locked down with admin passwords that we can't even update software so I don't have the ability to remotely install software or even activate a license for the program if the company did want to spend the money.

 

[mercracing]

Sounds like a place I used to work at. It sounds like if they’re locked down that much, and you can’t even install team viewer, you’re SOL. If the guys can’t even use Insite they should be walking off together. This isn’t the days of blink codes, you need the computer and software to troubleshoot and diagnose. If you can’t do that all you’re doing is guessing and throwing parts at it.

 

[Bradu]

We have TeamViewer already so that's not an issue. The mechanics and management still don't understand all they are doing is loading the parts cannon without having software and testing equipment. A lot of the aftertreatment faults I deal with can be dealt with by walking the guy through the troubleshooting steps over the phone once I'm able to look at faults and different parameters.

They are over $10k in parts and dealer visits on one mechanics truck and still have the same fault they've been fucking with since mid December. Most of the fuel system parts were replaced without any testing done at all. The guy doesn't like me after the last time I fixed his truck because he ran him mouth the whole time telling me what I was doing wouldn't fix the problem. Apparently, asking him if he is so smart, why am I fixing his truck while he was power washing equipment pissed him off. They would rather send it to the dealer and let it sit for weeks at a time now.

 

[mercracing]

if team viewer is already on their laptop you should be able to use Insite on their laptop.

What Cummins motor? What code?

 

[Bradu]

Yesterday was an x15 and a 3251 fault. Problem with this is the dipshit thought he could clear faults and just move onto the other state we are working in. Called the boss saying he only had derate faults so I was able to remote in and see he deleted the actual fault saving a trip to the dealer. All that was wrong was bad batteries after he messed with it Monday night and half the day yesterday.

 

[Bradu]

Some of our guys don't have the software and aren't capable of using what they do have. I am trying to find a way to avoid driving across the country for stupid shit like this.

 

[mercracing]

Quick google says that’s DPF pressure out of range high. Ohm out the sensor and disassemble the DPF and see if it’s clogged.

 

[mercracing]

I mean Cummins gives you the whole troubleshooting tree for those. Print em out and email em to the guys.

 

[NoDopes]

Go buy a cheap laptop and install what you need. Ship it around if necessary. Run a wifi hotspot if necessary for Internet

 

[Bradu]

Quick google says that’s DPF pressure out of range high. Ohm out the sensor and disassemble the DPF and see if it’s clogged.

Truck is already fixed. Days of using ohms to test sensors are pretty much over with smart sensors. That fault has nothing to do with the dpf. Scr is a completely different component of the aftertreatment system. That's the problem I see everyday, people think aftertreatment is one component instead of breaking it down into individual systems that do separate things.

 

[Zap_Rowsdower]

IT has my place so screwed, you can't do anything. If not, wait five minutes and they'll have something else broke all in the name of cyber security.

Only way around I've found is to run your own laptop so you can install the software you need, change IPs as needed, and USB access. I only use it at work for work related things.

 

[Bradu]

Go buy a cheap laptop and install what you need. Ship it around if necessary. Run a wifi hotspot if necessary for Internet

That's actually been discussed but they are concerned about downtime. Not concerned enough to give people the tools they need though. We have machines that bill over $1k an hour but $1200 for software is a poor investment to them.

 

[Bradu]

IT has my place so screwed, you can't do anything. If not, wait five minutes and they'll have something else broke all in the name of cyber security.

Only way around I've found is to run your own laptop so you can install the software you need, change IPs as needed, and USB access. I only use it at work for work related things.

That's why I currently do. I have two laptops dedicated to software and other testing equipment in my roll cart. I can't even do updates to the ecm with the shop laptop because of the security. The company laptop has nothing to do with the offices or any of the information in their system, so I don't understand why it's locked down.

 

[HPIguy]

Sounds like the company either doesn't understand what you need to do your job, or doesn't care. Or they're just cheap or shady.

For whatever reason, if they aren't willing or able to provide you the tools to do your job, it's time to find another gig. That's a huge red flag.

 

[Bradu]

Sounds like the company either doesn't understand what you need to do your job, or doesn't care. Or they're just cheap or shady.

For whatever reason, if they aren't willing or able to provide you the tools to do your job, it's time to find another gig. That's a huge red flag.

That's been almost every single shop I've worked at in over 20 years. It's a huge problem with any kind automotive, truck, or equipment repair shop. Same goes for training with all of them. I have done my own training over the years on my own time and using my own money to stay somewhat current with technology. The industry is pretty much fucked and only getting worse as things get more complicated to work on.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I read all of this and am so glad that in the last few years I have focused on older equipment that is in good shape. My 855's and 3406B's are so trouble free. We have been through some big learning curves lately on the Ram 6.7 diesels. The whole fed epa, dealership warranty, def, etc. is crippling our equipment and transportation reliability.
Good luck.

 

[Bradu]

I read all of this and am so glad that in the last few years I have focused on older equipment that is in good shape. My 855's and 3406B's are so trouble free. We have been through some big learning curves lately on the Ram 6.7 diesels. The whole fed epa, dealership warranty, def, etc. is crippling our equipment and transportation reliability.
Good luck.

The older stuff is so much simpler and less finicky. The problem I see is the guys that want to have pre emmision stuff tend to have poorly maintained shit and the rest of the truck or machine is junk. The engine will run forever with minimal work but the rest of it is run down and causes just as much downtime as the newer shit. We have quite a few kenworths with c15's that they are keeping but the last one I went through had $30k in parts stuck into it and still needed a hood and a few other things when I was told to stop fixing it. A couple more years and the frames will be rusted through where the air bag mounts and other suspension components bolt to the frame.

 

[fpgt72]

I don't think there is anything that you are looking for. It would need to transfer all the ports back to your machine where the current version of the software lives.

Not a real fan of TeamViewer, we use Zoho now, and while it does cost it is much more robust and has a thin client.

We don't have admin access to normal "humans" as well. They are just too stupit to be trusted with that connecting to MY network. Who knows what kind of crap they would bring over. I did relent and give them USB access several years ago, and it has only bitten us once or twice.

You are stuck, you need to get with their IT people and get them to unlock it so you can install the software you need.

 

[Bradu]

I don't think there is anything that you are looking for. It would need to transfer all the ports back to your machine where the current version of the software lives.

Not a real fan of TeamViewer, we use Zoho now, and while it does cost it is much more robust and has a thin client.

We don't have admin access to normal "humans" as well. They are just too stupit to be trusted with that connecting to MY network. Who knows what kind of crap they would bring over. I did relent and give them USB access several years ago, and it has only bitten us once or twice.

You are stuck, you need to get with their IT people and get them to unlock it so you can install the software you need.

That's what I was thinking but wanted to make sure. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

I understand why most people aren't allowed admin rights. In the past, other companies would temporarily grant me access to do what was needed which made it nice for software installation. Now, we wait a month or two for IT to come up to so our laptops will work.

 

[psharon78]

As a network engineer, there's no way in hell I would give local admin access to employees. If they need software to do their job, I have to review the software they need, they need to provide business justification for why they need it, and it has to be reviewed to ensure the software isn't collecting and sending out sensitive information. Not to mention the propensity of spyware and worms that can spread across the network and hose every computer and server on the network.

 

[fpgt72]

That's what I was thinking but wanted to make sure. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

I understand why most people aren't allowed admin rights. In the past, other companies would temporarily grant me access to do what was needed which made it nice for software installation. Now, we wait a month or two for IT to come up to so our laptops will work.

I have seen as more and more companies "out source" their IT you come across this.

Years ago I had a manager tell me that IT was just grease, they did not do any actual work they just made the machine run more smoothly. I had to be drug out of his office.

This is the way most companies think about IT. It is just something that costs money, and does not bring any plus to the org past making things go a little smoother.

Our office runs the AVL (car 54 where are you) software for several agencies that surround us. We run into the exact same thing. Can't install the GPS drivers, or software without their IT "unlocking" the laptop first. We just tell them, can't do it till your IT provider unlocks the thing for us.

I am so happy I am going to retire at the end of June. I am so done with this shit.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

The older stuff is so much simpler and less finicky. The problem I see is the guys that want to have pre emmision stuff tend to have poorly maintained shit and the rest of the truck or machine is junk. The engine will run forever with minimal work but the rest of it is run down and causes just as much downtime as the newer shit. We have quite a few kenworths with c15's that they are keeping but the last one I went through had $30k in parts stuck into it and still needed a hood and a few other things when I was told to stop fixing it. A couple more years and the frames will be rusted through where the air bag mounts and other suspension components bolt to the frame.

It's not just trucks. It's everything mechanical. Farm equipment is on the same path as trucks and that relates to "food"... Or lack of food.

 

[fpgt72]

It's not just trucks. It's everything mechanical. Farm equipment is on the same path as trucks and that relates to "food"... Or lack of food.

Don't get me started on the farm equipment and the long battle over "right to repair". JD is the worst, and really pisses me off to no end. I will never own an Apple product for the sole reason over their policy on "right to repair". All that just sticks in my craw.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

Don't get me started on the farm equipment and the long battle over "right to repair". JD is the worst, and really pisses me off to no end. I will never own an Apple product for the sole reason over their policy on "right to repair". All that just sticks in my craw.

We will see a day when the JD is shut down and the Cub is producing food.

 

[fpgt72]

We will see a day when the JD is shut down and the Cub is producing food.


View attachment 8403824View attachment 8403825

I don't know if "we" will live to see it, but that is the plan. Control of the food supply is a top 10 item.

 

[Bradu]

We will see a day when the JD is shut down and the Cub is producing food.


View attachment 8403824View attachment 8403825

You haven't tried getting parts for older stuff have you? I'm still waiting for an hvac box for a early 2000 mack that is probably at the 6 month mark still waiting to be built. There are a lot of parts that have to come out of the junk yards that are obsolete on some stuff we have. Then you hope what used parts you get are usable. I can give you a list of parts that are discontinued and have no aftermarket support on vehicles in the 2007-2013 range.

 

[kenny1773]

I would go with this

Go buy a cheap laptop and install what you need. Ship it around if necessary. Run a wifi hotspot if necessary for Internet

Your only way to win is to use a laptop that has everything you need, setup the way you want, and ship it out to whomever needs to use it. Good news is if you do not need a lot of computing power, used laptops are cheap as crap these days.

If you can't install software and the person at the other end can't install software on their machine, there really isn't much you can do. If the USB ports are not turned off, you may be able to boot a live OS off a USB, but that is probably more work than you are looking for, shipping an entire laptop is much easier.

Most companies view IT as a necessary evil, so they do it wrong. That or they trust some "IT Director" that is a total idiot to design and budget everything.

They also do not understand what support should cost and when they are doing it wrong. The price of everything goes up every year, I can't tell you how many years I am told, you need to cut by 5% or 10% we can't afford the IT costs. Ok, what do you want to not have anymore? you pick, only way to cut is to do without. We can get rid of people we can get rid of security we can get rid of equipment you call it mr big wig IT director man, but put it in writing so it will come back to bite you

 

[NoDopes]

You don't need a lot of compute power... these things are reading data over USB. $299 at Amazon will do it.

https://www.amazon.com/A315-24P-R7VH-Display-Quad-Core-Processor-Graphics/dp/B0BS4BP8FB?tag=p00935-20&ascsubtag=07zD4uSL8F5Pl4MP00ZOm5c&th=1

Somebody really needs to fix the Amazon links.

 

[HPIguy]

That's been almost every single shop I've worked at in over 20 years. It's a huge problem with any kind automotive, truck, or equipment repair shop. Same goes for training with all of them. I have done my own training over the years on my own time and using my own money to stay somewhat current with technology. The industry is pretty much fucked and only getting worse as things get more complicated to work on.

That really sucks, and I hope that's not the case nation wide.

As others have said, there's no way I'm giving access to a user supplied device on our network. Sounds like you guys need a better system of IT support, and better management as well. But, as others have pointed out, they don't usually understand the issues either. It's a tough situation to be in for sure.

 

[Bradu]

That really sucks, and I hope that's not the case nation wide.

As others have said, there's no way I'm giving access to a user supplied device on our network. Sounds like you guys need a better system of IT support, and better management as well. But, as others have pointed out, they don't usually understand the issues either. It's a tough situation to be in for sure.

It is, that's why people keep talk about a mechanic/tech shortage. People are leaving to go to other trades where you make similar or more money without spending $100k plus on tools.

The thing is, these computers are never on the network with anything else company related, or I would completely understand. Other than what comes on the laptop, we have 2 or 3 diagnostic programs loaded on each one of them. We use Hotspots or the guest account at the shop. The only time I've ever seen one hooked up to the company wifi is when IT is here doing updates.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

You haven't tried getting parts for older stuff have you? I'm still waiting for an hvac box for a early 2000 mack that is probably at the 6 month mark still waiting to be built. There are a lot of parts that have to come out of the junk yards that are obsolete on some stuff we have. Then you hope what used parts you get are usable. I can give you a list of parts that are discontinued and have no aftermarket support on vehicles in the 2007-2013 range.

All my life, I have restored old stuff and made it perform dependably. That is the only way I can survive financially on a fixed income.
Rebuilt many Lincoln SA200 welding machines. Many were older than me.
Everything I run is older that the 2007 -2013 range. Man, that stuff is like new to me. I could only wish I had some of that "new" stuff.

 

[Franko]

Don't go around IT policy/practices because if something goes wrong your going to get completely fucked by the same managers that are too cheap and stupid to actually fix the issue. Write up the issues and drop them on your manager and if your feeling frisky push the issue up the ladder if your manager isn't interested in fixing the it.

I know this shit is painful to deal with but if it goes wrong your going to be the scapegoat.

 

[sharac]

For starters:

How to Remotely Access USB Storage With TeamViewer

Need to access data on a USB device attached to a remote PC? Here's how to control remote USB storage devices with TeamViewer.

www.makeuseof.com

What you need is USB passthrough so that software on your end sees USB ports on far end and device that is being connected to the usb line be it hard drive or OBDII/other vehicle communications port...

Now older RS232/com ports i doubt it will work directly you will need USB interface and even then i think you will find more problems and issues than solutions. If morons on the far end are unable to setup basic laptop with diag software that is needed for their downtime mitigation there is little you can do.