Back to all

On Board Diagnostics for Wyoming Motorists

June 21, 2020

Some Wyoming vehicle owners wonder why Tuffy Wyoming and other Wyoming auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics.

Receiving a diagnostic charge at Tuffy Wyoming for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Wyoming 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 Michigan 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 Tuffy Wyoming diagnosis may be much more involved.

Much of the Wyoming 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 Michigan drivers that the trouble code tells the Tuffy Wyoming 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 Tuffy Wyoming 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 Tuffy Wyoming customers. The service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.

Wyoming 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 Tuffy Wyoming wants to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Tuffy Wyoming
4315 Clyde Park Ave. SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49509
616.534.8643

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Tuffy Wyoming

Round and Round (Wheel Balancing)

January 26, 2025

In a perfect world, all wheels and tires would be perfectly round and weigh exactly the same at every point of the wheel. Unfortunately, they're not, and if they're out of balance, they can reduce the lifespan of your tires, make your vehicle shake like a carnival ride, and maybe even damage a f... More

Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)

January 19, 2025

So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle. O... More

The Light Many Drivers Fear (Check Engine Light)

January 12, 2025

Ask just about any driver about one thing they fear seeing inside their vehicle and they'll say it's the Check Engine light coming on. You know, that little light on your instrument panel that is in the shape of a vehicle engine, often accompanied by the words Check, Check Engine, Check Engine Se... More