For many drivers who lead busy lives, they often don’t think much about the mechanical systems of their cars other than filling it up with gas, an oil change or replacing the brakes every couple of years. While these tasks are very important for regular car maintenance, there’s a whole lot more going on under the hood that makes your car roll down the road.
Automobiles in the past 10-15 years have become incredibly complex machines and for most people, the days of the shade tree mechanic, fixing the car at home on a Saturday afternoon are long gone. Cars today (like many other products in our lives) are equipped with onboard computers that constantly monitor their performance and can actually make undetected adjustments to the vehicle as you happily drive down the road.
Another really beneficial aspect of having computers in cars today is their ability to alert you if the computer detects that a component in the car is not functioning normally. Most people are familiar with the “check engine” light that sometimes comes on during a journey. But the check engine light is not the only problem indicator that can let you know something is wrong. Other systems such as brakes (ABS) for example are monitored as well. These lights are the manufacturer’s way of telling you that the computer has detected an abnormal reading somewhere within the car that it could not correct itself.
WHEN YOU NOTICE A WARNING LIGHT COME ON FROM THE DASHBOARD, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.
Vehicle computer diagnostic checks are a specialty we offer. J&Z Garage has over 20 years’ experience working with automobile computer diagnostics. We have invested heavily in both sophisticated diagnostic tools and extensive training to accurately diagnose and repair your car back to its optimal running condition.
Your car’s warning lights come from a computer called an Engine Control Module (ECM), which constantly receives signals from sensors and makes adjustments as you drive along. When the computer cannot correct a condition, it sends a warning light to let the driver know that service is needed. When you bring your car in to J&Z Garage, our highly trained technicians will plug your car’s Engine Control Module (ECM) into one of our advanced automobile computer diagnostic tools.
The ECM communicates with the automobile computer diagnostic machine by sending a trouble code that can be used to identify the general nature of the car’s problem. Many car owners believe that trouble codes pinpoint exactly to the technician not only what the problem is with the car, but also how to fix it. However, this is one of the greatest misconceptions in the automobile repair industry today. It’s important for every car owner to understand that trouble codes do not diagnose car problems, they only provide general information. The actual diagnosis of a problem and repair must be done by a highly qualified, professional technician working with vehicle computer diagnostic equipment.
Let’s take a look at an example. Code P0171 for a certain make of car reads as a “lean exhaust bank” problem. A lean exhaust condition is normally caused by an excessive amount of air into the engine or not enough fuel. A common misperception is that the solution to this issue is to replace a part called an oxygen sensor.
However, in the vast majority of cases, the lean exhaust bank is caused by a vacuum leak in the engine or a clogging fuel filter, not the oxygen sensor. This is a great illustration of how a trouble code picked up from the ECM can only be used as a general reference, not a diagnosis of the actual problem with the car.
This kind of mistaken diagnoses often stems from a well-meaning motorist taking their car to an auto parts store who offers a complimentary plug in of the ECM into an inexpensive diagnostic tool. What many people don’t know is that these rudimentary diagnostic checks can only read the simplest of codes and also completely miss the ones the ECM has stored in memory.
THE HIGHLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS AT J&Z GARAGE KNOW THAT INTERPRETING TROUBLE CODES IS JUST THE START OF THE PROJECT WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS SERVICES FOR CARS.
Our experienced staff starts with trouble codes and then goes on to accurately diagnose the cause of the car’s problem. From there, the car can be repaired correctly – the first time. With over two decades of experience using the latest diagnostic equipment, you can be assured that our people will find the problem and get you back on the road in no time.
Whether your car is a four door domestic or an exotic, imported sports model, we have the vehicle computer diagnostic skills and experience to save you time, money and frustration down the road. Contact us today to learn more about how we can add you to our growing list of very satisfied customers. For after all, 20+ years of happy clients can’t be wrong!
