Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Testing Videos

NVH Videos

Pico has added a PicoBNC+ accelerometer and a PicoBNC+ microphone, and has created three new PicoBNC+ NVH kits. For more visit the PicoBNC+ NVH Page on Garage Lube's website. These two videos introduce the new accessories and kits.

PicoBNC+ NVH Kit: What's in the box?

Welcome to the Pico Workshop! In this video, we proudly introduce the highly innovative Pico BNC+ Diagnostics Kit, engineered to give you the essential tools you need to confidently diagnose Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) issues at pace.

Key Features & Upgrades in the New Kit:

• Redesigned NVH Probes: Discover the new compact accelerometer and the easily installable microphone, both featuring industry-standard magnetic mounts and improved, re-engineered, highly flexible 2.8 m cables based on customer feedback.
• Groundbreaking 3-into-1 Channel System: Gain unparalleled flexibility to triangulate mechanical faults inside cabins, around machinery, or next to the engine. By placing an accelerometer in each corner of a chassis, you can instantly pinpoint the source of brake, wheel, bearing, or tyre faults.
• Plug-and-Play Simplicity: Connect the probes to your scope and load up PicoDiagnostics—you are instantly ready to start finding faults without complex setup procedures.
• Maximum Compatibility: The kit includes 3 m extension leads to help you capture vibrations from the hardest-to-reach areas
• Plus, these probes work perfectly alongside our full range of BNC+ and standard BNC accessories.

The probes are available in custom kits containing one, two, or four of each accessory, with the larger setups housed in a robust, heavy-duty case to keep your tools safe.

PicoBNC+ NVH Introduction and Setup

Welcome to this comprehensive setup guide for the new Pico BNC+ NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) Kit. This kit is designed to build your diagnostic confidence with true plug-and-play functionality, helping you find vehicle faults faster than ever.

Key Setup Steps Covered: Learn how to connect your PicoBNC+ NVH diagnostics kit and configure the PicoDiagnostics NVH software.

Smart Sensor Recognition: Watch as we connect the PicoBNC+ NVH microphone and PicoBNC+ NVH accelerometer inside the cabin. Discover how the software automatically recognises which probes are connected to which PicoScope channels.

Pre-Test Checks & Vehicle Configuration: See how to quickly verify your sensors are working by tapping the accelerometer or clicking near the microphone, and ensure your specific vehicle configuration (like drivetrain, cylinder count, and gear ratios) is correctly populated.

3-Axis Single Channel Analysis: Discover the groundbreaking feature where the software displays three axes of vibration (X, Y, and Z) simultaneously from a single channel.

Advanced Data Visualisation: We explore how to analyse the captured data, including isolating vibration axes. Learn to navigate different display modes, including vector sum, bar graphs, 3D diagrams, and time domain views to pinpoint the exact cause of the noise or vibration.

Introduction to NVH Video Series

The following videos comprehensively introduce and explain NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness). Have a look at the NVH Kits and Accessories for more details.

1. An Introduction to NVH

Pico has created a series of videos presented by Frank Massey and Steve Smith, which introduce you to Noise, Vibration, and Harshness. The first video in the series introduces NVH and explores some basic concepts.

Running time: 25 min 14 sec.

2. Theory

The second video in the series tackles NVH theory. Understanding this theory is vital when deciphering NVH data. Vibrations vs sounds? How are they generated, transferred, and what effects do they have? Is a particular noise or vibration a characteristic of the vehicle?

Running time: 22 min 48 sec.

3. Working with NVH

The third video shows how to use NVH when solving customer problems. Learn how to set up a session using the Pico Diagnostic Software. Understand how the data can be presented as frequencies, bar graphs, and in the time domain.

Running time: 7 min 49 sec.

4. Deciphering Road Test Results

The fourth video in the series takes NVH data from a road test, and you learn how to decipher it to track down the source of a vibration. Always try to reduce the number of variables. You can pinpoint vibrations by using multiple accelerometers.

Running time: 12 min 5 sec.

5. Pinpointing using the Time Domain

The fifth video investigates how vibrations travel. Find an impulse noise (knock, bang or rattle) by measuring delay by using the PicoScope as a conventional oscilloscope and working back to the source. Use the PicoScope 6 or 7 software to find minute time differences.

Running time: 14 min 25 sec.

6. Noise and Sound Analysis

The sixth video in the series investigates Sounds and Noises. Learn how to use an Optical Sensor and a microphone. Find problems at frequencies unrelated to conventional engine (E) transmission — i.e. prop-shaft (P) or tyres (T).

Running time: 11 min 43 sec.

7. NVH Case Studies

The seventh and last video analyses real-world problems and their solutions. Drive shaft misalignment, transmission problems, combustion anomalies and imbalances, customer recordings, frequency generation, and wheel bearings can all be diagnosed. NVH is so much more than just finding annoying vibrations and noises. It is a powerful diagnostic tool.

Running time: 24 min 12 sec.

Learn more? Garage Lube offers advanced NVH Training.

Finding the cause of Cabin Vibration with the PicoScope Function Generator

Steve Smith demonstrates how he used the function generator in the NVH software to find the cause of a vibration in his car, which had been bothering him for a long time.

Running time: 2 min 59 sec.

Find that Rattle!

Diagnosing the source of cabin squeaks and rattles is time-consuming and consequently, costly. Trying to reproduce these offending noises may involve multiple road tests with at least one Technician and a driver, many times without success! Using the Pico NVH Function Generator, the vehicle can be “excited” using a broad range of frequencies generated by the in-car audio system without leaving the workshop. This will leave the Technician free to pursue the source of the rattle, which may not even be located inside the cabin!

This video follows on from the previous one and is a case study involving a rattle in a Corvette.

Running time: 7 min 54 sec.

Prop-shaft Balancing

Steve goes through the prop-shaft balancing feature in PicoDiagnostics. He shows you how the software guides you through the process and helps you to balance the prop-shaft correctly.

Running time: 13 min 18 sec.

NVH Kit Introduction

This video demonstrates an old NVH Starter Kit (one accelerometer and one microphone) with the previous '4425' oscilloscope. It demonstrates how to connect the NVH kit and how to use the software. It shows how powerful NVH is, even when using an old single channel accelerometer. The use of a microphone is demonstrated on 4 and 6-cylinder engines. A radial force variation vibration was also diagnosed using the accelerometer.

Running Time: 20 min 25 sec.