Most Independent Shops Aren’t Trying to Scam You with Diagnostics
Independent shop shows us why OBD diagnostics are great, but not the definite answer to every check engine light.
Like the sunrise and the sunset, cars develop problems that will set off a check engine light. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Mercedes or a Mazda. With age, things happen. But what exactly happens when a car goes in for diagnostics and repair? Well the folks over at SPR Autos show why it’s more in depth for your own good.
SPR specializes in Mercedes, but the same principals apply across the automotive world. Check engine lights, service lights, and OBD codes are simply guides. They only tell part of the story. And they don’t even say that something broke. They simply indicate that something is causing a system to operate outside of specified parameters.
SPR charges two line items for their diagnostics – the first to plug in their machines for testing, and the second for an “investigation” of the underlying issue. A perfect example is a miss-fire code. Only the code will come up. But it won’t tell you if it is a coil, a spark plug, a fuel injector, or some other larger issue. These things are only uncovered after investigation.
This is an important part, says SPR, as it would be very expensive to try new parts that may or may not fix the problem. Parts aren’t cheap, either. Just because you think it could be a coil pack doesn’t mean thats the fix. Next thing you know, you’re spending more on parts than you would have with the investigation labor time.
Additionally, modern cars are an absolute headache. One such example from SPR is a facelifted W204 sedan. It has a light on the dash indicating a headlamp malfunction. Lightbulb out? Nope. In fact, all the bulbs are illuminating. Wiring faulty? Nope. It ended up being a headlight module.
So before you go in to a service center and believe you’ll have an easy fix, don’t be surprised when you find out its a much bigger issue. Not only have they diagnosed it correctly, but they will be happy to show you how it was diagnosed, too. In all, with a proper diagnostic service, you’re paying for the expertise of the service center, the cost of the diagnostic equipment and the assurance that your issue will be fixed.
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