Quick connect diagnostic apparatus and method for a vehicle cooling system

A quick connect diagnostic apparatus for attachment to the cooling system of a vehicle engine including a radiator, a thermostat coupled to the engine, a heater core and various liquid hoses connecting the components of the cooling system to analyze the cooling system, the diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• first, second and third temperature sensors, the first sensor measuring the temperature of the cooling liquid in the engine and generating a first signal, the second sensor measuring the temperature of the cooling liquid entering the radiator and generating a second signal, the third sensor measuring the temperature of the cooling liquid leaving the radiator and generating a third signal;
• an analyzer for analyzing the measured temperatures, each of said sensors being electrically coupled to the analyzer, the analyzer comparing the first signal with the second signal to generate a first difference signal and comparing said first difference signal to a thermostat threshold signal to generate a thermostat signal indicating the operational status of the thermostat;
• the analyzer comparing the second signal with the third signal to generate a second difference signal and comparing said second difference signal to a radiator threshold signal to generate a radiator signal indicating the operational status of the radiator;
• the analyzer comparing the first signal to a temperature threshold signal to generate an engine temperature signal indicating the engine temperature;
• the analyzer utilizing the engine temperature signal, radiator signal, and thermostat signal to generate output signals which indicate the operating conditions of the engine, radiator, and thermostat;
• output circuitry electrically coupled to the analyzer to receive the output signals and provide a humanly perceptible output denoting the engine temperature and the operation of the cooling system.

A method of analyzing the cooling system of a vehicle engine including a radiator, a thermostat coupled to the engine, a heater core and various liquid hoses connecting the components of the cooling system, the method comprising:

• measuring the temperature of cooling liquid in the engine with a sensor and generating a first electrical signal in response to the measured temperature;
• measuring the temperature of cooling liquid entering the radiator with a sensor and generating a second electrical signal in response to the measured temperature;
• measuring the temperature of cooling liquid leaving the radiator with a sensor and generating a third electrical signal in response to the measurement;
• electronically inputting said signals from said sensors into an analyzer, the analyzer automatically comparing the first signal to the second signal to generate a thermostat output signal indicative of the operation of the thermostat;
• comparing, with the analyzer, the second signal with the third signal to generate a radiator output signal indicative of the operation of the radiator;
• comparing, with the analyzer, the first signal to a temperature threshold signal to generate an engine temperature output signal indicative of the engine temperature;
• electronically outputting the output signals to an indicator for producing humanly perceptible indications denoting the engine temperature and the operation of the radiator and thermostat.