Just like having a dentist check your teeth, your annual engine diagnostic will find any problems your car might have before they become really painful or expensive to fix. During a diagnostic, the technician at your local Chrysler dealer retrieves a great deal of data from your vehicle’s onboard computer systems and uses it to delve a little further and identify possible faults. Let’s take a look at four types of issues they might uncover.
Engine Issues
A diagnostic will lead the technician to find any issues causing your dashboard “check engine” light to blink. Your onboard computerized monitors cannot themselves identify a specific problem. Rather, they keep tabs on various levels and indicators of engine health and warn you when they sense that something is wrong. It’s then the technician’s job to find out specifically what’s at fault in your engine.
There are quite a few potential engine issues, such as a faulty fuel pump or fuel injector, or a problem with the ignition coil or spark plugs in your combustion chambers. The engine’s vital airflow might be impeded by a clogged air filter, which is an easy fix. Or you might have an issue with your coolant or cooling system. A full diagnostic check and examination will get to the bottom of things.
Transmission Trouble
Beyond the engine, a diagnostic can also point to problems in the second-most complex part of your car: your transmission. The transmission is responsible for transmitting the power of your engine to your wheels. Under so much continual pressure and heat, a variety of problems can occasionally develop, which your onboard computers will detect.
Possible transmission problems include transmission fluid lessened by leaks or dirtied by contaminants and age. Gears inside the gearbox can wear down or round out over time, causing gear slippage. The clutch can also wear down, losing the traction necessary to properly engage and disengage. In automatic transmission systems, the needle roller bearings can also sometimes fail.
Faulty Braking System
Another critical part of your car is the braking mechanism. Your onboard computer will often sound the alarm if there’s any sign of overheating in your rotors, calipers, or brake pads. And it will warn you if your brake fluid levels are dropping, which might point to a leak.
Exhaust System Issues
Diagnostics can also uncover faults in your exhaust system, which might include leaks, cracks, rust, or smoke. You might also have a broken exhaust oxygen sensor, or broken hangers, which keep the exhaust from knocking around.
How Your Chrysler Dealer Runs a Diagnostic
The first stage of a diagnostic checkup is data retrieval, where the technician plugs their diagnostic scanner into your car to read the codes provided by your onboard computer. They’ll then run verification testing on all the systems of your vehicle, and narrow things down to identify specific problem areas.
At this point, they’ll know exactly what’s wrong, so it’s time to carry out repairs. Lastly, they’ll always do repair verification, testing all the car’s systems once again to make sure the problem is one hundred percent solved.
To have experienced professionals run a diagnostic check on your car, visit Ourisman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Alexandria. We pride ourselves on offering an unbeatable customer service experience to everyone who steps through our doors.
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