Imagine waking up one morning with a stomach ache. You pick up the phone, call the doctor’s office and say, “I’ve got a really bad stomach ache. How much will it cost to make me feel better?” Of course, you wouldn’t do that because you understand that there could be a lot of reasons for your symptoms and that the doctor will have to examine you, ask some questions, and probably run some tests before she/he can tell you what’s wrong and give you treatment options.
This same scenario plays every day at auto repair facilities. When the cause of the concern isn’t obvious, the vehicle will need to undergo a diagnostic process. The typical vehicle has about 30,000 parts, including several networked computers and miles of wiring. Finding exactly what is wrong can be very complicated and take some time. The most experienced technicians at the shop are the ones that tackle the difficult diagnostic jobs. Once they have determined the cause of the problem, they can work out the plan for how to fix it and tell you how much it will cost.
When you look at it this way, it makes perfect sense that, 1) the Service Advisor can provide an estimate once the diagnosis is complete, and 2) there is a fee for diagnostic services. You expect to pay for an office visit to the doctor and for any needed tests before you can be presented with your treatment options and costs; same goes for your vehicle.
Signs a diagnostic service is needed:
- Dashboard lights are on
- Car won’t start
- Notice strange smells
- Hear odd noises
- Vibrating or shaking
- Brakes are not responding or require extra pressure
- Overheating
- Fluids are leaking
- Car is smoking
- Dimmed lights or electric issues
We know it can be frustrating when something is wrong with your vehicle and you aren’t sure what is going to be involved in having it repaired. We will do everything we can to help you through the process and communicate with you at each step along the way. We have highly trained ASE certified diagnostic technicians and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to uncover the cause of your problems. We use quality replacement parts to help make sure you stay on the road after the repair is done. That’s our prescription for automotive peace of mind.
Give us a call!
Eureka Brake & Automotive <br/>707.443.2122 <br/>eurekabrake.com
Revised from content contributed by NAPA Service Assistant