What Is Known Good Scan & Scope Data?

Known good data is a reference capture taken from a vehicle that is operating correctly. It includes OBD live data (PIDs), freeze frame snapshots, oscilloscope waveforms, and component-level measurements recorded by professional automotive technicians during routine servicing or inspections. When you're diagnosing a fault, comparing the suspect vehicle's readings against verified known good values is one of the fastest ways to isolate an abnormality — without wasting time chasing manufacturer specifications that may not reflect real-world operating conditions.

How Technicians Use This Database

TaT's scan and scope database is built entirely from submissions by working technicians across Australia. Each record is tied to a specific vehicle — make, model, year, and engine — so you can find reference data that matches what's on the hoist. Members can browse sensor PIDs, view oscilloscope waveform images, download raw capture files, and compare readings across similar vehicles. Whether you're checking a MAF sensor output, verifying injector balance rates, or confirming a CKP waveform pattern, having a known good baseline eliminates guesswork and speeds up diagnosis.

Types of Data Available

Submissions cover a wide range of diagnostic data types: OBD-II live data streams including engine, transmission, ABS, and body control parameters; oscilloscope captures of ignition primary and secondary patterns, injector waveforms, sensor signals, and actuator circuits; as well as scan tool screenshots showing system status, adaptation values, and module configurations. The database grows continuously as members contribute new captures from vehicles they work on, ensuring the data stays relevant as newer models enter Australian workshops.

Why Known Good Data Matters

Factory service manuals provide specification ranges, but those ranges are often broad and don't account for real-world variables like ambient temperature, altitude, fuel quality, or vehicle mileage. A MAF sensor reading of 4.2 g/s at idle might be within the manufacturer's published range but still be significantly low compared to what a healthy example of the same vehicle actually produces. Known good data captured from real vehicles gives you a practical, field-tested reference point that specifications alone cannot provide. For independent workshops without dealer-level tooling, this kind of peer-sourced reference data is invaluable.