Some Coos Bay vehicle owners wonder why Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. and other Coos Bay auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics.
Receiving a diagnostic charge at Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Coos Bay area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your vehicle brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy OR road, you pull off at the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you're having an intermittent problem with your vehicle engine, however, a Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. diagnosis may be much more involved.
Much of the Coos Bay driver's confusion comes when the problem involves the Check Engine light. The Check Engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem.
There's a common misconception among OR drivers that the trouble code tells the Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. technician exactly what's wrong. They wonder why there is a diagnostic charge because the scanner quickly gave the diagnosis.
In reality, it is not that easy and straightforward. The computer monitors many sensors throughout the vehicle. When one of these sensors has a reading that's out of parameters, the computer will record a trouble code and turn on the Check Engine light.
The vehicle computer's trouble code just tells the Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. technician what engine parameter is out of range, not what's causing it. The technician needs to determine the underlying problem that's causing the malfunction.
There are many problems that could cause a troublesome sensor reading for Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. customers. The service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.
Coos Bay service centers subscribe to databases that document possible causes for all the possible trouble codes. The databases outline procedures for confirming a diagnosis and provide the documented repair. These databases are specific to each vehicle and engine combination.
Some diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved, time-consuming and difficult. Of course Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc. wants to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Tom's Bulldog Automotive Inc.
63075 HWY 101
Coos Bay, OR 97420
541-269-0399
www.tomsbulldog.com