Back to all

Columbus Customer Detective Work

November 26, 2018

One might say the most challenging part of being an automotive service technician at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus is diagnosing a problem before it can be fixed.

Cars are made up of a bunch of complex systems. There usually could be a number of reasons for any given symptom. So, it's challenging to track down the actual cause of the problem. And it can be frustrating for the vehicle owner because it can take time and money to get to the bottom of a problem. If it's not something obvious, it's easy for the customer to focus on the fixing and not the diagnosing.

Let us at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus introduce you to something we'll call 'Customer Detective Work' –  helping your technician find clues to what's wrong.

We start with the detective basics: What, Where and When. Play along with me; You come in to Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus and your car is making a funny sound...

    • Q: Where's the sound?
    • A: Around the right front wheel.
    • Q: What kind of sound?
    • A: Kind of a clunk, clunk sound.
    • Q: When do you hear the sound?
    • A: When I turn and accelerate. 
  • Q: Right and left? Forward and back?

Do you see where we're going? You're gathering additional information to help your technician at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus know where to start. Based on your car and the tech's experience, he'll know where to look and can start with the obvious suspects.

You can see how that would be more helpful than dropping the car off with a note that says "making a funny noise."

If the tech can experience the problem personally, he's better able to make a diagnosis and repair and then test to see if the repair solved the problem.

Ask us for details.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus
6853 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43231
614-895-1588
http://www.tuffycolumbus-clevelandave.com

More articles from Tuffy Columbus (Cleveland Ave.)

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus: Air Conditioning – Common Problem

May 17, 2026

Your auto air conditioning system cools and conditions the air in your passenger compartment when you are driving around Columbus. It also removes moisture from the air to keep your windows from fogging up.A common A/C problem for Columbus drivers that visit Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus is ... More

Round and Round (Wheel Balancing)

May 10, 2026

In a perfect world, all wheels and tires would be perfectly round and weigh exactly the same at every point of the wheel. Unfortunately, they're not, and if they're out of balance, they can reduce the lifespan of your tires, make your vehicle shake like a carnival ride, and maybe even damage a f... More

Straight and True in Columbus: Wheel Alignment

May 3, 2026

Most Columbus folks worry about running out of gas or having a breakdown on the side of the road. That is why we practice preventive maintenance on our vehicles that and to keep our repair bills down. But one important part of preventive maintenance that may get overlooked by drivers in Columb... More