On Board Diagnostics For Moore Motorists
March 21, 2016
Some Moore vehicle owners wonder why South Side Garage and other Moore auto repair shops charge a fee for 
Receiving a diagnostic charge at South Side Garage for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Norman 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 OK road, you pull off 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 South Side Garage diagnosis may be much more involved.
Much of the Norman 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 Oklahoma City and Valley Brook drivers that the trouble code tells the South Side Garage 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 South Side Garage 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 South Side Garage customers. The service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.
Norman 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 South Side Garage wants to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
South Side Garage
2220 Pole Rd
Moore, OK 73160
405-308-1514
http://southsidegarage.autotipsblog.com
More articles from Southside Garage
The Light Nobody Wants to See (Check Engine Light)
June 29, 2025
You've probably had your Check Engine Light go on. Then it goes off and you figure, hey, whatever the problem was, it's gone now and I don't have to worry about it. Well, the problem may have gone away and it may not have. Your vehicle likely has one of these warning lights on the instrument pa... More
Hold the Oil! (Oil Pan Gasket Replacement)
June 23, 2025
You've likely heard how important oil is to your vehicle's engine. Did you know that there's one part that's responsible for holding that oil so you can use it every day? It's called the oil pan, and it sits at the bottom of the engine. The oil pan is a vital, though simple, part of your engine's... More
Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)
June 16, 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