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Business Break: January

White’s Automotive: What to do when your car is having issues

In my last blog, I compared Computerized Diagnostics to going to the doctor. This comparison hopefully explained the diagnostic procedure to where it’s easier to understand. Now I want to do that again and explain how more than one problem can give the same symptom.

In this example, let’s pretend you have a limp on your left leg. Now, remember trouble codes only give general explanations. Three months ago, you had a limp and I replaced your knee. This time, you set a code for your ankle. Both problems will give you the symptom of limp, but they are two totally different repairs.

On the car, it is the same. For example, we have all seen the check engine light flash on and off and the vehicle is shaking violently. This is usually caused by a misfire on one or more cylinders. Now a misfire is when a cylinder does not burn the fuel and does not help the engine run. This misfire can be caused by spark plugs not giving spark. Whether it’s a plug, plug wires, or coil. Also, if the fuel injector did not deliver fuel, this can cause a misfire. In a worst-case scenario, the engine itself could be bad causing it to misfire.

In this example, I am going to talk about something we all want down here in the south, Air Conditioning. There are several things that can fail that will cause the A/C not to cool. Is there a Freon leak? Did the A/C Compressor break internally or did a sensor fail causing you to be hot and sweaty in your car? All these problems are different repairs at different places.

Just remember, if your car had the same symptom last month, it does not mean it was the same problem. If you take it in to be repaired, find out what the problem is before assuming it was the same problem. It could be under warranty, or it could be a new problem causing the same symptom.

Why Does it Cost So Much to Correct a ‘Check Engine’ Light?

Many might wonder, “Why does it cost so much to correct a ‘check engine’ light?” In our last article, we looked at what car codes are and what a check engine light really means.

Since the engine light diagnostic process can be a bit technical, it can be described using a simple analogy that most all of us can relate to: Going to the doctor.

Going to the doctor when something is wrong with you, is like your check engine light coming on and getting it looked at. When the doctor asks you what is wrong or checks your vitals, that is similar to automotive technicians using a scan tool to retrieve a car code.

Let’s say you have pain in your left-hand index finger. If you use a cheap code reader, it will tell you your finger hurts on your left hand. If you use a scan tool, it will tell you that your index finger on your left hand hurts. This is similar to doctors using more advanced tests to diagnose your ailment. Doctors might think the problem can be fixed simply, with just a band-aid, if they don’t run all the tests.

Similarly, if you took your car code problem to an automotive parts house, they would likely say that the issue can be fixed with a simple part, without looking at all the factors. But, if you took your car to a certified technician upfront, they could diagnose the problem and correct the specific problem, and not just provide a temporary fix.

These are the basic diagnostic steps a doctor takes, when assessing your finger pain:

• The first step is the doctor would look at your finger to see if it is cut and decide if a band-aid will fix it.
• If it is not cut and not in the wrong position, then he must take an x-ray.
• If he does not see broken bones, then the doctor must use an MRI to check tendons and ligaments.
• If there is no problem found, he must check the nerves (wires) to your brain (computer).
• Now he must make sure all other components, nerves, fingers, blood flow, etc. are all correct. Once he determines that all other parts are good, then he will look at your brain (computer).

The problem with simple finger pain, is that it could be caused by a variety of issues, meaning that it could be overly complicated to fix it. This is also true when it comes to car codes and getting that check engine light to go away.

At White’s Automotive, every mechanic has undergone training to thoroughly understand and diagnose engine problems. The diagnostic problems could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 8 hours or more to complete. It may take one test or more to diagnose your vehicle and provide a viable solution.

Look for next month’s article from White’s Automotive Center, where they will look at the same system, but different problems.

Check Engine Light: What Does it Mean?

Everyone hates to start their car and see the dreaded check engine light come on. By the end of this article, I hope to help you understand the process it takes to correct this problem. I also would like to bust the myth that there is a machine that you plug into the vehicle that tells you everything that’s wrong with the vehicle.

First, what is a check engine light? The check engine light is a warning light that the ECM (Engine Control Module) turns on when it detects a problem. The United States Government passed a law that requires the light to come on only for catalyst damaging or pollution. Some manufacturers have implemented settings that will turn the light on for other problems also. There are over 100 codes that can be stored in a vehicle and more than 3 times that amount for manufacturers’ specific codes.

What is the machine that you use to work on this problem? This machine is a scan tool. A simpler or cheaper version is also known as a code reader. The scan tool reads codes and provides information in real time on how the sensors are reading. It also allows us control over some systems in the vehicle. The code reader style only reads the Government Regulated Generic Codes. This reader may not show you the code that is currently stored in your vehicle.

What is a code? A code is a 4-digit number preceded by a letter. This letter corresponds to which computer set the problem. For example: P0301 refers to a misfire on #1 cylinder. At this point it is a mechanic’s job to find out why it is misfiring. Is it a spark plug, a coil, spark plug wires, fuel, or internal engine damage? You could also have damage to the wire harness, or the computer may be broken and can’t fire the spark plug or deliver the fuel.

In conclusion, when your check engine light comes on, we use a scan tool to ask the computer what’s wrong. In return, the ECM gives us a code that signals a sensor not working or a sensor that has the wrong information. This scan tool only reports what is not working but not why it’s not working. As a mechanic, we have several years of training and education to find out the why.

At White’s Automotive, every mechanic has undergone training to thoroughly understand and diagnose engine problems.

Be sure to read our article next month because I’ll be diving deeper into the diagnostic procedure. I’ll go over why your vehicle can have the same symptoms but have 2 different problems.

Buying a Used Car? Always Check These 4 Things

Whether you’ve decided to buy your very first car or you want to exchange your current vehicle for something else, a used car can save you thousands of dollars. A gently used vehicle offers smart value by giving you the performance and reliability you need without the new-car price tag.

Unfortunately, these prospective bargains can end up costing you more money down the road due to unseen or unaddressed problems that spurred their owners to put them up for sale. If you want to make sure you’ve found a reliable, mechanically sound car, pay attention to the following four things as you shop.

1. Maintenance and Repair Records
Before you hand over your money to a used-car dealer or private car owner, you must know the history of the vehicle. A car that didn’t receive regularly scheduled maintenance or recommended repairs may not have as much useful life in front of it as you think. A car that never received a critical recall may pose serious hazards to occupants.

Always ask for a complete set of maintenance and repair records from the person or company offering the car for sale. Take note of any apparent gaps in the records, which might indicate mechanical neglect. Consult one of the major vehicle report providers to look for any reported accident damage or recall work.

2. Frame Integrity
Even after checking all the available documentation on your prospective car’s maintenance and repair history, you still might not know for sure whether the vehicle ever sustained an accident. Unfortunately, high-impact accidents can damage the frame that helps to protect you and your passengers against impact.

You might not see underlying frame damage with the naked eye, causing you to buy a potentially dangerous vehicle without realizing it. If you have any suspicions about the car’s accident history, ask automotive professionals to check the frame and advise you on the cost-effectiveness of fixing any problem they find.

3. Signs of Water Damage
Cars don’t have to get into fender benders to sustain significant damage. Some cars suffer through major floods that leave them with everything from engine and transmission damage to electrical problems, which can include damage to the airbag system that might otherwise save your life in an accident.

Many owners of waterlogged cars try to cut their losses by selling their vehicles to private owners or used car lots. Even before you get the car inspected, however, you can often spot signs of water damage. Examples include water inside the headlights, malfunctioning electrics, a rusty undercarriage, and a moldy-smelling cabin.

4. Potential Fluid Issues
As cars age, their rubber seals, gaskets, and other components start to wear out. This natural deterioration can allow water, engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, or coolant to leak. While a mechanic can fix these leaks easily, a long-uncorrected leak may have left the car with other, more extensive damage.

You may spot signs of leakage inside the engine bay, on the undercarriage, or in the form of spots that form underneath the vehicle. Different colors can help you identify the nature of the leak. For instance, red may mean a transmission fluid leak, while orange could indicate a power steering fluid leak, and black points to an oil leak.

Clear fluid under a car usually indicates water. Puddles of condensation typically form due to air conditioner operation. However, if you see clear fluid under a car that hasn’t had its AC running, you’d better have a mechanic double-check the vehicle for issues such as a brake fluid liquid (since brake fluid sometimes appears clear).

If you really want to make sure you’ve covered all your bases when considering a car purchase, drive that prospective purchase over to White’s Automotive Center. Our technicians can perform a detailed inspection to catch any problems that you need to know about. Contact us to learn more.