TAMPA, Fla. — Mitchell1 is unveiling its new Repair-Connect system this March, offering a visual system that connects shop computers to the Web, and guides mechanics through each step of a repair.

Technicians that need to access service information manually input an engine’s related Diagnostic Trouble Code or simply plug into the cab’s nine-pine Deutsch connector. The related repair guide is sent to a laptop within 30 seconds.

The information that appears on the screen offers a brief description of the challenge, how long the code lasted, and the number of times the code was set. Perhaps most important of all, it offers a clear look at every related component.

“The wiring diagrams offered up today are spaghetti,” notes Dave Costantino, director, commercial vehicle group. But the new system allows techs to focus on the wiring diagram for a specific component such as a coolant temperature sensor, or see the component in the context of the broader wiring diagram. Images even show the individual connectors. “We went out and literally shot every connector for every sensor for every engine out there,” he says. Clearly labeled photos of the related engine identify where the connectors can be found.

Content for the systems will be updated on a weekly basis.