Why Is Regular Car Diagnostic Testing Important?

Imagine you’re planning a long road trip. You’d want to check the tire pressure, oil levels, and other essentials before you go. Regular car diagnostics are like a pre-trip inspection for everyday driving. It keeps your vehicle in good shape to handle the demands of the road.

Here are some key reasons why regular car diagnostic testing is important:

• Early detection of issues: Diagnostic tests can detect problems before they become apparent, allowing you to address them promptly.
• Improved fuel efficiency: Faulty components or systems can negatively impact your car’s fuel economy. Regular testing helps identify and resolve these correlative issues.
• Enhanced performance: By ensuring all systems are functioning correctly, diagnostic testing can help optimize your vehicle's performance for a smoother ride.
• Reduced emissions: Properly maintained vehicles emit fewer harmful pollutants.
• Safety assurance: Diagnostic tests can identify potential safety hazards, such as faulty brakes or suspension issues that can put you and your passengers at risk.

Signs You Should Book a Car Diagnostic Service

You don’t necessarily need a flashing light or a grinding halt to benefit from diagnostics. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you notice any subtle changes like decreased fuel efficiency, strange noises, vibrations, or even lingering warning lights that go on and off, a diagnostic check is worthwhile.

Here are a few signs that indicate it’s time to book our car diagnostic service:

• Check engine light is illuminated
• Decreased fuel efficiency
• Noises or vibrations
• Difficulty starting the engine
• Smells or smoke
• Erratic shifting or transmission issues
• Brake performance problems
• Dashboard warning lights
• Failed emissions test

Assessing Your On-Board Diagnostic System

Most modern vehicles come with an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system built right into the vehicle. Using specialized computer software, we will tap into your OBD system. This will give us a broad overview of your vehicle’s current health and functioning. If there are inefficiencies or malfunctions, the software will accurately identify it for us. If you have ever seen your ‘check engine light’ come on, you are already familiar with your vehicle’s OBD.

This process dramatically improves the efficiency of our vehicle diagnostic tests. Once we know where the issues are located, we can go in and repair both the electrical and mechanical components that are failing.

What Are the Differences Between Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and Manufacturer-Specific Codes?

Diagnostic trouble codes and manufacturer-specific codes are both used to identify issues with your vehicle, but they differ in standardization and scope. DTCs are defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), while manufacturer-specific codes are unique to each automaker.

Here are a few key differences:

• Scope: DTCs primarily cover emissions-related and powertrain issues, whereas manufacturer-specific codes can address a broader range of systems and components.
• Interpretation: While DTCs can be interpreted using resources like advanced scanning tools, some manufacturer-specific codes require access to proprietary documentation.
• Compatibility: DTCs are designed to be compatible with all OBD-compliant vehicles, while manufacturer-specific codes are unique to each manufacturer’s vehicles.

Automotive Diagnostic Testing

In addition to the information we’re able to get from your vehicle’s computer system, we will also run a series of tests on specific components. In most cases, we will run these tests regardless of whether you know what is wrong with your vehicle or not. These tests may include:

• Brake tests
• Signal and headlight tests
• Electrical system tests
• Transmission tests
• Engine efficiency and cooling
• Exhaust system tests

By diagnosing current and future malfunctions, we ensure that all our clients leave Performance Auto Center with a vehicle that’s efficient and safe.

Book an appointment for automotive repairs today and take advantage of our thorough and comprehensive diagnostic testing systems.

How Often Should You Get a Brake Test?

You shouldn’t risk compromised stopping power. Brake tests can pinpoint issues that require solutions, such as replacing worn brake pads and rotators, adjusting or calibrating the anti-lock braking system (ABS), or replacing brake fluid.

You should have your brakes checked at least once a year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, if you experience any brake-related issues such as noises, a soft brake pedal, or vibrations, you should bring your vehicle in for our technicians to evaluate.

What Are the Symptoms of Car Transmission Problems?

Your car’s transmission transfers power from the engine to the wheels. At low speeds, it provides more power to get you going, and on the highway, it allows the engine to run more efficiently.

Here are a few symptoms caused by car transmission problems:

• Slipping gears
• Grinding or shaking sensations
• Delayed or harsh gear shifts
• Leaking transmission fluid
• Warning lights on your dashboard
• Difficulty shifting gears

Can Car Diagnostics Improve Your Fuel Efficiency?

Our professional car diagnostics are information-gathering processes that give you a picture of the health and well-being of your vehicle. They generate actionable insights that help you make an informed decision about your car and are extremely valuable for gas, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles. More importantly, they can help you improve your fuel efficiency.

Here are some of the ways that our diagnostics process can help:

• Identify issues with engine components like faulty spark plugs, oxygen sensors, and air filters, all of which can negatively impact fuel economy when left unaddressed
• Detect issues with your fuel injection and ignition systems and other components that, when malfunctioning, can create an imbalance in the air-fuel mixture and lead to inefficient combustion
• Highlight trouble codes related to emissions control, which has a significant impact on fuel economy and the mileage you get from a single tank of gas
• Ensure your engine runs at optimal performance levels and discover power output and acceleration issues
• Flag developing problems that may worsen over time if left unaddressed

What Information Is Learned During Vehicle Diagnostics?

By performing vehicle diagnostics, our technicians glean insights about the condition and performance of your car’s systems. Diagnostics help us form a comprehensive picture of your car and flag issues that need current or future service to address.

Some valuable insights that are learned from professional diagnostics include the following:

• Engine issues: Engine testing can help identify problems with camshaft position sensors, knock sensors, compression levels, and other components that could result in engine failure.
• Transmission problems: Diagnostic scans can accurately identify the root causes of issues like hard shifting or gear slippage. These may include faulty solenoids, worn clutches, low fluid levels, or bad sensors.
• Electrical system analysis: Measuring voltage, resistance, and current flow can help clarify why system components are failing and allow for the accurate diagnosis of issues like voltage drops and shorts.
• Future repair needs: In addition to uncovering reasons for current problems, diagnostics can reveal components and systems in poor condition that may require future repairs.

What Equipment Is Used During Car Diagnostics Tests?

Our car diagnostics technicians rely on specialized equipment to read current systems and perform testing. The equipment analyzes electrical systems and inspects hard-to-reach areas commonly overlooked by drivers.

Some commonly used diagnostics equipment includes the following:

• OBD2 scanners: These devices connect to your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics port to read trouble codes related to your car’s engine, transmission, and emissions systems.
• Multimeters: These measure voltage, resistance, and current in your vehicle’s electrical circuits and are used to diagnose electrical issues.
• Battery testers: These check the condition and charge level of your car’s battery.
• Cameras: Borescopes and inspection cameras help our technicians inspect hard-to-reach areas, including inside engine cylinders and behind trim panels.
• Scan tools: These enable our technicians to view live data from your vehicle’s sensors, perform functional tests, and reprogram control modules as needed.

Engine Diagnostic Testing

If your check engine light has come on, it’s time you brought it to Performance Auto Center for a closer look.

Your engine needs to be running at peak efficiency at all times. What does ‘peak efficiency’ mean? It means your engine will have the longevity you expect without wasting your money on extra fuel to power it. Engine diagnostics give us an inside look at the functioning, wear, and efficiency of your engine.

We will run your engine through our computer system to check the exhaust, transmission, oil tank, and the unnecessary heat it may be producing.

Book an appointment for engine diagnostics today! We can’t wait to restore your confidence in your vehicle.