Blog

What Are Car Diagnostics & Why Are They Important?

red hyundai driving on windy road, mountain in back

You can take one look at the cars lining the streets in old movies and tell today’s vehicles are altogether different. The outside of cars from the 1950s look nothing like today’s, and the insides are even further apart.

Yes, a classic Cadillac or even a Chrysler convertible from decades ago is beautiful to behold. The cars coming off today’s production lines have impressive digital features that drivers back then couldn’t even comprehend.

These electronic and digital components can all be tested to ensure they work properly with diagnostic equipment that can spot problems before they pose dangers for drivers and other road users or at least increase in size.

Let’s take a closer look at how it works to learn more.

What Is a Car Diagnostic?

Electronic diagnostic tests scan the various systems in your car to ensure they’re in good condition, like the car’s engine, transmission, brake responsiveness, and parts like the fuel injector, ignition coils, and throttle. From the main things that make the car run to components like the infotainment system, everything can be digitally tested.

These tests aren’t supposed to be 100% precise, but they help provide important information which can be used to narrow down the causes. Technicians and mechanics need this data to pinpoint problems quicker and more effectively.

Modern cars require high-tech auto service with diagnostic equipment as advanced as the vehicles themselves. There’s a lot to be said for old-school mechanical know-how, but nothing replaces having the essential tools.

How Frequently Should Cars Be Diagnosed?

Anytime a tool helps find problems before they grow, it’s wise not to wait until you know there’s a major issue. The question is, how long should you wait?

Regular auto maintenance service is a vital way to know your vehicle is safe to drive. If you see the “check engine” light on the dashboard, that’s an obvious sign you need to make an appointment.

Checking your vehicle once a season or every three months gives you peace of mind. There’s actually diagnostic equipment designed for motorists to use at home, so they can do a basic scan of their vehicles without taking it to the shop.

However, if you decide to get some of these tools, the info these tests provide gives you only the basics. You need a mechanic like the specialists at Auto One to go beyond for auto maintenance service that leverages what the tests find.

The diagnostic testing tools don’t take long to work, but it’s the probing and mechanical work technicians do afterwards that can be time-consuming and difficult. Let the pros at AutoOne Service handle it, so you don’t have to waste time or worry that a misstep can make driving risky.

Why Diagnostic Tests Are Recommended

The money you put into testing your car now helps you save in the long run. Small errors or issues can grow into catastrophic problems that endanger people on the road and end up costing more to fix.

dashboard and steering wheel of a fancy new Audi

The Canadian winter can take a toll on the electronic components in your car. All the salt, sand and water add up over kilometres of driving, wreaking havoc on your electronic parts. It may lead to small issues that can loom large, like windshield wipers that don’t wipe properly or a car that fails to start.

The problems you discover through diagnostic assessment may be considerably larger. Just imagine your sigh of relief when you run a diagnostic test that finds a problem with your brakes before you take your car to the highway!

The electronic components in vehicles today make them interconnected, and checking your car’s onboard computer system for manufacturer notifications or stored information supplies data helps technicians do the best repairs possible. Imagine that a car is a human body and mechanics are doctors; the electronics make it easier for one doctor to do their job, but the information your car posts helps other doctors tackle the same issue, improving everyone’s overall health. 

We have a range of advanced, high-tech tools in our garage which complement the latest diagnostic equipment we use to pinpoint the problems with your engine to faulty brakes. To be sure, AutoOne Service has the most up-to-date and cutting-edge diagnostic equipment.

You can buy home tests, but visit a real mechanic devoted to the latest equipment to get serious about car repair.

Booking an Appointment is Easy

Electronic diagnostic equipment for vehicle repair is something drivers of decades ago could never dream of. Likewise, motorists from years ago used to hope the local mechanic knew what they were doing or needed a friend or relative who could look under the hood and tell what was wrong.

Today, anybody in major Canadian cities like Toronto and Halifax can book an appointment with a mechanic from home through their smartphone or computer. Just let us know what type of vehicle needs repairs, what’s wrong, and whether you’d like to wait until the repairs are finished on-site or pick it up later.

Whether there are exhaust system issues or transmission problems, or you want some modifications and customizations, AutoOne Service does it all. If something is wrong with your vehicle, we’ll repair it quickly and thoroughly. We also go above and beyond to soup it up to increase performance and give it a signature touch.

Today’s cars have modern components which can’t be serviced with old-fashioned equipment alone. The latest diagnostic tools give insights into various components, from the fundamentals, like the engine or transmission, to things like a car’s infotainment system and more. Knowing about the vehicle’s subsystems isn’t exactly new, but the “check engine” light is extremely basic compared to today’s more robust systems.

Don’t bring your modern vehicle to a body shop that has obsolete equipment. To keep your ride in great shape and enjoy effortless peace of mind, visit AutoOne Service today.