Services / Diagnostics
Car diagnostics in Cardiff
A code reader tells you where the fault was noticed. Finding out what actually caused it is a different job, and it is the one we do.
What is included
- Full system scan across every module, not just the engine
- Live data read while the car is running and under load
- Guided fault finding using the marque's own diagnostic routines
- Actuator and component testing to prove the fault before replacing anything
- Electrical fault tracing, wiring and earth faults included
- A written explanation of what we found and what it means
- Fault codes cleared and the repair verified on a road test
What it costs
Diagnostics is charged on time, because the honest answer is that some faults are found in twenty minutes and some take half a day. We agree a first block of time with you, tell you what we have found at the end of it, and you decide whether to go further. Where the repair is done here, the diagnostic time comes off the bill.
How long it takes
Most faults are identified within an hour. Intermittent electrical faults can take longer, and we will tell you that before you commit rather than after.
Which makes
All makes. On Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda and Porsche we run the marque-level software rather than a generic reader, which is the difference between seeing a code and seeing the whole car.
Ring the workshop with your registration and we will give you a price for your exact vehicle, not a range that turns into something else when you arrive.
Diagnostics, questions answered
My engine management light is on. Is it safe to drive?
A steady light usually means drive gently and get it looked at soon. A flashing light means stop as soon as it is safe, because you can destroy a catalytic converter in a few miles. If in doubt, ring us and we will tell you straight.
The garage read the code and replaced the part, but the light came back.
That is the most common story we hear. A code points at a circuit, not always at a component. We test to prove the cause before anything gets replaced, which is slower on the day and cheaper overall.
Do you charge for diagnostics if I have the repair done with you?
The diagnostic time comes off the repair bill when we carry out the work.
Can you code and program replacement parts?
On the German marques, yes. Many modern components need coding to the car before they will work, which is one of the reasons a generic garage sends this work away.
Related services
Car servicing
Interim, full and major engine servicing, to the manufacturer schedule, logged in your car's digital service history.
DPF cleaning
Blocked diesel particulate filters cleaned, and the reason it blocked found.
Brakes and suspension
Pads, discs, brake fluid changes, arms and bushes, with the worn parts kept back for you to look at.
Ring us about diagnostics
Tell us the registration and what it is doing. We will tell you what it needs, what it costs and when we can take it.
Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Drop the car at Cardiff Marine Village, Penarth Road.