Have you been ignoring that blinking light on your dashboard? If so, you’re making a big mistake. Car manufacturers didn’t install that light just for the heck of it. They’re there to tell you there’s something seriously wrong with your vehicle, and that it’s time you bring it in for car diagnostics testing.
What is a car diagnostics test?
The majority of cars, especially newer models, have an OBD or On-Board Diagnostics computer system. Technicians can access this system using a variety of diagnostic tools and software that will help them pinpoint problems in a vehicle as accurately and quickly as possible, all without having to perform a time-consuming and costly full inspection.
Why get car diagnostic services?
Think of it like going to the physician for a regular checkup. While some car owners take their vehicles to the shop only when they see a blinking dashboard light or begin noticing drivability issues and reduced fuel economy, there are those who go for a car diagnostic test simply as a preventive measure.
With car diagnostic testing, technicians will be able to catch and repair any problem before your vehicle suffers extensive damage. Better yet, you also won’t have to pay so much more to fix that kind of damage. Most importantly, a car computer diagnostic test will help spare you from the agony and danger of suffering an engine failure or breakdown while on a remote road.
Check engine and other indicator lights
Typically, the dashboard light that commonly gets activated to alert you about a vehicular issue is the check engine light, also known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).
When this light comes on and is steady, there is a problem in your car somewhere, but it isn’t an emergency. Still, you need to set up an appointment for a Check Engine Light Diagnosis In Phoenix, AZ the soonest possible time.
A blinking check engine light, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. Usually, that flashing light means your engine is misfiring badly. A misfiring engine could eventually damage your catalytic converter, as it heats up due to the dumping of unburned fuel into the exhaust system. So if you’re driving and that blinking check engine light comes on, head to your preferred car repair shop and get a Check Engine Light Diagnostics done straight away. If the issue worsens or you’re far from a repair shop, emergency towing may be necessary to prevent further damage. The sooner you have your vehicle checked, the earlier it would be for it to get back to being road-worthy.
You should also take your vehicle for a car computer diagnostic upon activation of the airbag fault, brake system, reduced power warning and ABS lights.
How often should you get engine diagnostic services?
Ideally, your vehicle should undergo a car diagnostics test once a year, even when none of the indicator lights in your dashboard comes on. This way, any potential problem can be nipped in the bud. It’s your best option to make sure your car is running in tip-top shape at all times.
Car diagnostics testing is cheaper in the long run
A routine check engine light diagnosis could set you back about $88 to $111, taxes and other fees not included.
Many would probably think that that price tag is too high for a “simple” car diagnosis. What we should realize, however, is that the kind of damage that arises out of not knowing what’s wrong with our vehicle would cost us even more. Repairing a damaged catalytic converter, for example, could cost you thousands of dollars. Even with vehicles, that cliché about an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of cure also applies.
Know more about car diagnostics testing through this infographic:
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