Engine diagnostics are not as complicated as they might seem, and they sure are helpful to us when we need to diagnose what is wrong with your car, truck, or utility vehicle. Engine diagnostics can point us directly to the problem without wasting unnecessary time taking your engine apart. Let’s talk about engine diagnostics below so you know why they are so helpful with modern automobiles.
Engine Control Module
There is a main computer chip in your vehicle that is called the engine control module. We like to abbreviate it and call it the ECM. This module is the heart of the computer system. It not only handles some of your vehicle’s operations but also communicates with the sensors located throughout your automobile. This communication is non-stop while the vehicle is running.
Some examples of how the ECM helps your vehicle operate are the spark plugs and combustion chamber. The ECM controls the firing order of the spark plugs in the cylinders to ensure that your engine does not misfire. The cylinders need air and fuel in order to ignite, and the engine control module balances the air and fuel to make sure the mixture is just right.
Computerized Sensors
In addition to helping with your vehicle’s operations, the engine control module also keeps an open line of communication with the computerized sensors in your vehicle’s systems. This is important because the sensors are there to report errors when errors occur. They also let the ECM know that everything is okay when you first fire up your automobile.
If something does go wrong, the system sensor that is associated with the problem will send an error code to the ECM. This is a call to action for the ECM to resolve the problem. If the ECM cannot resolve the problem, it will turn on a dashboard warning light that is closely associated with the problem. If it turns on the check engine light, there could be a number of things wrong with your automobile.
Diagnostic Check
Enter the diagnostic check. When you bring your vehicle to our shop, we hook up our diagnostic testing machine to the ECM to download its data. We can then see the specific error code that was reported to the ECM. This code tells us precisely what is wrong with your automobile. This makes it quicker and much easier for us to fix the problem.
Aren’t engine diagnostics an amazing thing? Bring your vehicle to our shop today if you have an illuminated dashboard warning light.