Back to all

On Board Diagnostics for Tampa Motorists

January 17, 2021

Some Tampa vehicle owners wonder why Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) and other Tampa auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics.

Receiving a diagnostic charge at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Tampa 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 FL road, you pull off at 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 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) diagnosis may be much more involved.

Much of the Tampa 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 FL drivers that the trouble code tells the Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) 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 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) 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 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) customers. The service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.

Tampa 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 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy) wants to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Tampa (Gunn Hwy)
4353 Gunn Highway
Tampa, FL 33618
813-908-0438
http://www.tuffygunn.com

More articles from Tuffy Gunn

Full Stop (Brake Master Cylinder Replacement)

September 1, 2025

When you step on your brake pedal, you want to feel confident that your vehicles going to stop. If your brakes arent working right, its a risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road. After all, youre driving a machine that weighs thousands of pounds, and you have to be able to stop... More

How Cool is That! (Coolant level sensor replacement)

August 25, 2025

Your vehicles engine runs hot. It should, since its a series of little explosions that create the power that gets you going where you want to go. To keep the engine cool, engineers have designed wonderful cooling systems that use liquid coolant, hoses, and a radiator to transfer the heat from t... More

Why is Air Not Coming Out of My Vents?

August 18, 2025

You climb inside your vehicle, start the ignition, and reach for the fan control for the heating or air conditioning. But when you try to crank it up, no air comes out of the vents. It can make for a very uncomfortable trip, whether its hot or cold outside. Its important for the comfort of you a... More