Jul 22, 2019
Regular checkups for your car are important so you can find minor problems with your car before they become serious, expensive repairs or to prevent your car from breaking down on the side of the road.
If you find yourself seeing a warning light on your dashboard, we recommend that you take your car for a diagnostic test to find out what is wrong with your vehicle.
But first, you might be wondering…
Most cars now come with a built-in automatic recording and computer system, so if any faults occur, the car is able to record them using this programming. If you bring your car into a garage because of, a warning light on your dashboard for example, a car diagnostic tool is used by a technician to identify the root of the problem in the vehicle.
The car diagnostic, however, doesn’t tell you why the problem occurred. It simply tells the technician which engine or element is faulty. That’s why it’s more beneficial if a technician uses this device rather than the Average Joe because they have the knowledge and expertise to actually understand the codes and identify the issue.
When you see a warning light appear on your dashboard, it’s a visual indication that something isn’t right with your car. A full diagnostic test is beneficial because it will check and show the full degree of what is wrong with your car.
If this happens to you, then you should go to mycarneeds.com and GET A QUOTEfrom us by simply entering in a few details to get the best deal for a diagnostic test in your local area.
Other than finding out the major faults in your car, a diagnostic test can also determine any other underlying problems. These minor faults may not be a big deal, to begin with, however, down the line, they will become more serious faults. By having a diagnostic test completed, it will save you money in the long run by diagnosing and treating the fault sooner rather than later.
Car diagnostics tests are also really accurate, as the car’s computer system records all of its information, so when a test is carried out, the problem is accurately identified early on. This, in turn, means the mechanic is saving time on the job and therefore costing their customer (YOU) less money.
You might be curious about what is actually happening when your car is undergoing a diagnostic test? Well, below is a step by step of what is actually going on when you take your car to the garage for a diagnostic test;
1. Plugging the Tool in
Depending on whether your car is fitted with an OBD-I (On-Board Diagnostic I) or an OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostic II) system, will depend on where the mechanic will plug in the tool. But the device is usually plugged in under the dashboard or near the engine compartment.
2. Ignition Off → Insert Code Reader
When the ignition off, the code reader will be plugged into the diagnostic tool. When everything is securely in place, the ignition will be turned on to provide power to the code reader.
3. Enter Information
When the code reader has power, the mechanic will enter in some details about the type of engine and the VIN (XXX)
4. Scanning
When the information has been entered in, the code reader will start to do its job and provide stored codes.
5. Problem Codes
The mechanic will be able to recognise the problem codes, what they mean and where that is in your car.
6. Investigate and Repair
From the codes that the mechanic has gained from the reader, he will be able to look at your car and find the faults and repair them.
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