Saturday, April 14, 2012

Computer diagnostics are one of the first steps used to figure out drivability problems on a car. Many people do not understand the complexity of problems that can occur on an automobile. Some people feel that if a car is doing a specific problem, there is a simple explanation. This may be true some of the time but not always. Drivability can be one of the most difficult situations on a car that auto mechanics can face.

The first signs of a drivability problem may include a noticeable change in the way a car runs or drives. People that drive a car everyday should be able to feel when something changes in the way a car is driving. If a car starts sputtering, hesitating, bucking, jerking, or hiccupping, people usually can tell something is wrong immediately. When a car starts showing these types of problems, you need to start noticing your gauges and warning lamps more carefully to see if anything is trying to warn you of a pre-catastrophe.

Other types of drivability may include a simple check engine lamp illuminated. In some cases no noticeable changes in the vehicle will be visible. Many people think when this occurs that a high tech machine will simply spit out the exact problem and it is an easy diagnose situation. The truth is that a diagnostic computer will help point the error the computer sees, but not a specific problem in all cases. This means basically that the computer is not a tell all machine and this is more less a starting point for the technician to start looking for the problem.

Diagnostic test equipment is the starting point for a check engine lamp, but there are many other tools used to help pinpoint the actual diagnostic problems. For example a diagnostic machine may spit out some codes at the mechanic like a P0300 which simply says your engine has a multiple misfire. This code sounds simple, however there are many things that must be checked or specific services may need to be performed first. Sometimes, repairs may need to be made and the code may need to be rechecked. In this hypothetic scenario, there could be more than 20 different possibilities that could cause this one code. Some automotive owners may think the code has a simple answer, but in reality, the auto technician must sift through many different factors to come up with the actual culprit. This is where it is nice to have a mechanic with experience and the proper diagnostic tools to find your problem. Having an accurate diagnose also saves the owner of the car money on not performing unnecessary repairs.

Sometimes a customer may think a diagnostic machine can tell anything wrong with a car. This is truly a myth. Diagnostic equipment or scan tools can not tell mechanical problems with suspension, oil leaks, electrical wiring for lights, and many other problems. In fact the diagnostic machine can only read your car’s computer. A car computer reads only the sensors and switches that are connected to that computer system. If a computer is not linked to a ball joint for example, there is no way for the computer to sense if the ball joint is bad. Once again, this is where a good quality auto mechanic should be able to look at the car and between driving and inspecting the car, will be able to determine the failure without a diagnostic machine.

Think of a car like a medical problem. If you have a real sharp stomach pain, and go to the doctor, is there only one answer for the doctor to tell you? Is there only one test to run to find out the source of your pain? You may have 1 to 10 different tests run for the doctor to figure out what is wrong and it may be a common problem or a rare problem. The same goes on a car. Some car makes may have model specific problems that all have the same symptoms which are easy to figure out. Or, some cars may have the absolute worst problems and the diagnose may be nearly impossible to figure out. Some cars simply break on there own while some cars break because of problems stemming off a poor previously performed repair. Whatever the case may be, having an auto technician that is good is the best solution for you since drivability is among the hardest repairs performed on your car.

by Guy's Automotive