With many years experience, across a very broad range of vehicles, Auto Workshop offers a well tried and tested approach to diagnostics. Whatever the problem, we’re happy to have a look at it for you..!

 

‘Diagnostics’ refers to ‘Fault Finding’ or ‘Troubleshooting’. It can be applied to any system on a vehicle, whether it is; mechanical, electrical or hydraulic.

When something goes wrong, and the cause is not obvious, you need diagnostics.

 

Often faults are easy to fix because the cause is obvious (i.e. ‘My car won’t start’ - ‘The battery has gone flat’). Sometimes the symptom is obvious (i.e. ‘My car wont start’) but the cause is not so obvious and we need to dig a little deeper to discover what’s really going on.

 

Diagnostics goes like this...

 

· The problem is usually identified by the customer: e.g. ‘My car won’t start’.

 

· The first stage in the diagnostic process is to discover what is causing the symptom: e.g. ‘The car wont start because there is no ignition spark.

 

· Once the cause has been identified we can then work on finding out what is responsible for the problem: e.g. ‘There is no spark because the ignition module has failed’.

 

· Once we know what’s going on we can implement a repair/replacement of the faulty component: e.g. ‘Replace the ignition module’.

 

Competent technicians will test appropriate parts of a particular system making sure that everything is within specified limits. It is no good to just look for a fault and then repair it. There maybe more than one fault. It is imperative to any truly effective diagnostic process to check that everything is right rather than just look for what is wrong..!

 

Many different tools can be used for diagnostics but each is only as good as the person who is operating it.

Diagnostic tools include:

 

· Handheld diagnostic tools (or ‘Scanners’) for interrogating ECU’s.

· Dyno’s.

· Test lights.

· Multimeters.

· Bore scopes.

· Stethoscopes.

· Eyes, ears and noses..!

 

The most important factor is that the technician understands the system that he is working on..!

 

If you’re having car problems, whether it be; shakes, vibrations, engine problems, transmission problems, knocks, rattles or squeaks give us a call or email and we’ll be happy to take a look it for you.