Diagnostics
Check Engine Light Diagnostics
A $125 diagnostic at your home or workplace is the first step in looking for what is behind a check engine light. Then you decide on the repair. If you go ahead, the $125 is credited toward it.
- All makes and models
- $125 diagnostic, credited if you go ahead with the repair
- Nephi to Ogden, including Eagle Mountain and Heber
What a check engine diagnostic is for
A check engine light means the car's computer logged a fault. It does not tell you which part to replace. A diagnostic is the work of looking for the cause. It can fail to find an intermittent fault.
- A code points to a system. It does not always point to one bad part.
- Look-alike causes exist. A misfire can come from a plug, a coil, fuel or an air leak. One code can have several causes.
Why the diagnostic comes first
Guessing at parts to see if the light goes away spends money and can leave the real problem in place. Looking for the cause first means any repair can be aimed at what the diagnostic points to.
A steady light and a flashing light call for different responses.
Having it diagnosed
Call or text and say what the car is doing. The diagnostic visit is $125 on every job. It pays for the time spent looking for the cause. Then you decide on the repair. If you go ahead, the $125 is credited toward it. The $125 is not refunded if you decide not to go ahead. Travel is $75 to $100 in addition to the diagnostic, depending on miles and fuel.
- Diagnostic
- $125On every job. Credited if you go ahead with the repair. Kept if you decline it.
- Travel
- $75 to $100Depends on distance and fuel. Charged in addition to the diagnostic.
- Repair
- By vehicle and laborThe price depends on your vehicle, the parts and the labor it needs.
When not to drive it
A flashing light with a car that runs badly is not one to drive anywhere.
Questions
Questions about check engine diagnostics
Is the $125 diagnostic credited toward the repair?
Yes. If you go ahead with the repair, the $125 is credited toward it. If you decide not to, the $125 is not refunded. Travel is $75 to $100 in addition to the diagnostic, depending on miles and fuel.
Can I just replace the part the code names?
Not reliably. A trouble code points to a system, and one code can come from more than one cause. Replacing the named part without finding the cause often leaves the real fault in place.
Is it safe to drive with the check engine light on?
A steady light does not always mean stop right away, but do not ignore it. If the car is running badly, stop driving it. Check your owner's manual, and do not pull a trailer or carry a heavy load. A flashing light means stop driving as soon as it is safe.
Why would a diagnostic not find the problem?
Some faults come and go. If the car is running fine when the diagnostic happens, an intermittent fault can be hard to find. Note when it happens, such as cold starts or highway speed, and say so when you call.
Start with a diagnostic for the check engine light
Call or text and say whether the light is steady or flashing.