Back to all

Diagnosing Your Vehicle at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus in Columbus

September 17, 2023

When we Columbus residents get a car repair bill, we really shouldn't be surprised to find “diagnostic fees” as one of the line items. When we get a computer fixed, there is usually a charge for the time it takes to diagnose the problem. When we go to a medical doctor, most of his fee is for his ability to diagnose what's wrong. It's no different with our vehicles.

Some diagnoses are fairly simple. Brake repairs at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus usually require only a visual inspection, for instance. But other problems are much more difficult to diagnose. An intermittent engine problem, for example, takes time and expertise to pinpoint.

Modern vehicles have multiple computers that monitor a variety of sensors throughout the vehicle. When one of those sensors has a reading that is higher or lower than the standard parameters, the computer turns on the Check Engine light. Technicians at a service center such as Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus in Columbus can scan the engine's computer for a trouble code. This code tells the technician which reading is too high or too low.

That's where some Columbus residents get confused. They think that this reading concludes the diagnosis, and they don't understand why the diagnostic fee is as much as it is when all the technician did was to scan the computer. But the truth is the trouble code is only the beginning of the diagnostic procedure.

Remember, the trouble code only tells which reading is out of parameter. It doesn't say what is causing the reading to be too high or too low. Your Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus service technician still has to find the underlying problem. It's a lot like going to the doctor. He can take your temperature and discover that you have a fever, but that doesn't tell him what is causing your fever.

Automotive diagnostic technology can cut down the time it takes to figure out what's wrong with a vehicle that isn't running right. But it doesn't do away with the need for your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus service technician to make a proper diagnosis. Car care, like medical care, still requires the human touch.

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.)

Save Fuel by Watching Your Weight

May 5, 2024

Most Columbus drivers are all talking right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Ohio folks want to save the environment and our pocketbooks.And we Columbus drivers all know or should know that preventive maintenance will help maintain maximum fuel efficiency. But is there something more w... More

Stay Headed in the Right Direction, Columbus

April 28, 2024

Power steering is standard on nearly every vehicle in Columbus, Ohio, these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine. Contact the automotive professionals at Tuffy Tire &... More

A Stitch in Time at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Columbus

April 21, 2024

You probably have heard that expression, "A stitch in time saves nine." In other words, if you fix an issue at its early stages, it will prevent a much more difficult problem later. That's certainly the case with your vehicle, and here's a true story to demonstrate it. A driver noticed his vehicl... More