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Writer's pictureThe Garage Eccleshall

Diagnostic Checks: What is it and why it can be really important

The vast majority of modern vehicles are more computerized than ever before, and truth be told, that’s a good thing. In fact, relying on digital components allows vehicles to be thoroughly checked with self-running diagnostic tests that enable your car to be in tip top working order all of the time.


Diagnostics tests, usually run through your garage, scan all your car's components and integrated systems for errors or malfunctions before they become dangerous.



How Do Diagnostic Tests Work?


When a car warning light illuminates on your dashboard or an error message or code appears, this is a signal that your car's on-board computers recognise an issue with a component or system of your car.


These on-board computers or Electronic Control Units (ECUs) continuously monitor the performance of the vehicle and can alert the driver via the dashboard warning lights to faults or issues in the car. Problems such as low fluid levels, engine temperature or even whether passengers are wearing their seatbelts.


When a fault is identified, not only does a dashboard warning light show but the ECU will generate an error code. These codes can be read by a special scanner that will read the codes and find out more about the fault.


Why should I get a diagnostics check?


Even if your dashboard warning light shows for a short amount of time and has since stopped showing, this could be a sign of a longer term problem and may need immediate attention.


Generally, the light, which is likely to look like a small engine, but this varies with manufactures, will show amber and be constantly on. This means the car needs to be checked. If the light shows red, this means a serious issue has occurred. In some cases, the light being on will cause the vehicle to go into a mode that reduces power to prevent further damage, meaning the only option is to drive slowly to a garage.


We use state-of-the-art diagnostic test equipment to identify issues early before failure or damage occurs, checking a large range of components for issues.


Car diagnostic tests can also check your car’s ECU for any manufacturer notifications, stored information or updates. This can then help us provide the best repairs possible for your car.



What Parts of a Car Are Checked?


Car diagnostics tests check a wide range of components, parts and systems but specifically, they check for:

  • Engine or individual components

  • Transmission and responsiveness

  • Brake responsiveness

  • Potential contamination or faults with your car’s exhaust system

  • Wear and tear or breakage with major components, such as the fuel injector, ignition coils, and throttle

Technicians can use the error codes to identify the location of issues so that they can be fixed and get you back on the road in no time.


Diagnostics Checks at The Garage, Eccleshall


At The Garage, Eccleshall we offer our initial diagnostics checks for free because we charge for fixing cars, not saying what is wrong with them. This normally requires 15 minutes to scan and interpret the findings, and will give an initial view to what the problem is and next actions.


If this does not identify the problem, full diagnostic checks can take at least, and at this stage do become chargeable. This is either carried out in our workshop where we can physically inspect components and relate this back to the diagnostic findings, or in more complicated cases this is sent out to a skilled auto-technician, who follows manufacturer specific procedures as well as applying years of experience to get to the bottom of what is going on.


For more information or to book please contact The Garage, Eccleshall on 01785 851 239 or get in touch today.



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