Computerizing a car’s components has been one of the technological developments in the automotive industry over the years that’s proved to be the most advantageous to consumers and auto mechanics alike.
A car diagnostic test is a process that involves using specialized equipment to scan a vehicle’s onboard computer system to identify and diagnose any potential issues or malfunctions.
The onboard computer system, known as the engine control module (ECM), constantly monitors various sensors and systems in the vehicle, such as the engine, transmission, brakes, and emissions.
A diagnostic test can reveal any issues with these systems and help pinpoint the root cause of the problem. The results of a diagnostic test can be used to guide necessary repairs and maintenance, ensuring that the vehicle is operating at optimal performance and efficiency.
A car diagnostic test typically involves connecting a specialized scanner or diagnostic tool to the vehicle’s OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics) port, which is usually located under the dashboard on the driver’s side.
The diagnostic tool communicates with the vehicle’s ECM and retrieves any stored trouble codes, which are unique codes that indicate the source of the problem. The codes can provide valuable information about various systems in the vehicle, such as the engine, transmission, emissions, and more.
Once the codes are retrieved, a skilled technician will use their expertise to analyze the data and identify the underlying issue. This information can help guide necessary repairs and maintenance, ensuring that the vehicle is operating at optimal performance and efficiency.
A diagnostic test is crucial because it can help point a mechanic to the part of your car that needs the most care when the Check Engine light turns on or is acting up.
Without diagnostic testing, a technician would have to spend a lot of time figuring out any issues, and you would have to pay for the labour, which is rather expensive!
The only reliable way to identify the problem is through a diagnostic test, even though most automotive centres and automotive parts distributor stores offer a free scan of your onboard diagnostics to help identify the area responsible for the code.
The following are some of the most common reasons that your check engine light has been turned on:
Your gas tank system’s pipes and valves circulate and prevent the escape of gasoline fumes. This small element alone will easily turn on the check engine light if the gas cap is unsecured. A broken or missing gas cap might result in fuel loss from evaporation or improper fuel system circulation, which is one of the more manageable CEL-related problems.
Your engine’s cylinders are powered by combustion, produced when your spark plugs ignite a mixture of fuel and air. If they aren’t firing properly, your engine may misfire, producing higher hydrocarbon emissions and less efficiency.
To help safeguard the environment, the catalytic converter changes carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. A malfunctioning one could prevent you from passing emissions testing because it will decrease performance and fuel efficiency, and raise emissions.
To determine how much fuel is needed to run the engine, the amount of air entering the engine must be measured. That’s the job of the mass airflow sensor (MAS). The MAS is susceptible to oil and dirt buildup, so cleaning it might do the trick.
Before the invention of automobile diagnostic testing, locating issues was time-consuming and expensive, especially considering that owners of cars only brought them to mechanics after a breakdown or other serious defect.
Nowadays, computerized auto parts can spot issues long before they result in a breakdown. To provide specialists with a complete picture and the best possible repair, diagnostic equipment can also analyze a car’s computer system for manufacturer notifications and stored information about the car’s history.
Looking to make your car truly functional? Sil’s Auto Care Centres in Oakville, ON can help with their car diagnostic services. By bringing your car in for diagnostics, the experts at Sil’s can identify any issues or potential problems with your vehicle’s systems and components.
With modern cars becoming increasingly complex, it can be challenging to identify issues without specialized diagnostic tools. By relying on Sil’s Auto Care Centres for car diagnostics, you can be sure that your vehicle is in good hands. Addressing issues early on can help prevent more significant and costly problems from developing over time, ensuring that your car stays functional and reliable.
Trust Sil’s Auto Care Centres for all your car diagnostic needs in Oakville, ON.
Excellent work, as always by the staff at Sil's.
Charles Muller May 5, 2023
I use the services of Sil's Auto for the upkeep of my car and am always reassured by their thorough and professional service. I like their detailed invoices which also include a Deferred Service section which prepares me for what the next service should be to keep my car roadworthy. I appreciate their friendly shuttle service with Tim and the patient answers I receive to all of my questions. On one occasion I had an emergency problem with a window that would not close and it was fixed with a smile and no charge.
Dolores Wielgus Oct 10, 2022
Excellent timely service , always.
Dave Billyard Feb 2, 2022
Great service and super friendly
Michael Capizzano Sep 9, 2023
This is a truly great Canadian company that you can always rely on and every time feel happy for their service quality, price and attitude.
Kui Wu Sep 9, 2023
Best place to take my truck, they are extremely professional, they make a detail summery of what's going on with my truck, with pictures included. Never felt so safe to take any of my cars like I do here, not only they are professional, but all of them are extremely friendly, from reception with Susan and Tommy, to the mechanics and the owner. 100% hands down, best garage out there.
Cynthia Insua Sep 9, 2023
best mechanics in Oakville
Blake Day Music Aug 8, 2023
Sil's is the best place I've found for my car needs. The staff and mechanics are amazing and always greet you with a smile. You will not be disappointed!!!
Natasha Marcoux Sep 9, 2023
Sil's Auto Care Centre came to my assistance when needed most!! While traveling in Mississauga, I needed my brakes replaced. The exceptional team at Sil's was there! All work was complete and competitively priced. Technologically updated with the latest equipment and access to information, my car details were available to the team to ensure best in quality repairs! I am profoundly appreciative for a job well done. Thanks to Susan for incredible scheduling and to Carlos, for keeping up the quality of work, established by his father, all those years ago. It is nice to return to the old neighbourhood and still be able to rely on quality services that we had when we lived here! Way to go!!
Pam Sep 9, 2023
Honest, transparent and they stand behind their work. Price may be higher than other places though they can work with you based on your budget.
R Mendes Nov 11, 2017
I want to express my sincere thanks to Carlo and his professional team at Sil's Auto Care Centre. Affordable diagnostic testing provided a complete and thorough online report along with urgency of each item and cost of repairs to make an informed decision. I was finally able to make the right decision about my car after speaking with Carlo. Carlo and his teams technical expertise and exceptional customer service makes Sil's Auto Care Centre a business I would recommend to my colleagues. Five star automotive service centre for the Toronto GTA. Thank you Carlo and team.
Susan H Sep 9, 2023
Great personal service.
Houston Hacienda Sep 9, 2023
I absolutely LOVE Sil's Auto. Carlo, Susan, Tommy and their great team of mechanics take the cake for me. Their work is a 10/10 and the trust factor is reinforced over time. I would recommend anyone to Sil's without hesitation.
Melinda Prain Sep 9, 2021
I am very impressed with quality and promptness in service provided here at this auto care centre. This was my first visit to this place and I am glad the tow truck guy introduced me to this CAA approved place. Susan was very courteous, knowledgeable. Auto repairs are generally expensive but to find a place where you can trust that the job will be well taken care of … not easy to find.
Preeta Mishra Aug 8, 2023
Excellent service. Sil's is remarkably thorough and checks for all possible issues when a vehicle goes in for seasonal maintenance. This is a trustworthy premium operation, associated with CAA.
Richard B. Day Aug 8, 2023
My recent experience with Carlo and his team at Sil's Auto Care Centre was exceptional. They expertly explained and fixed my car issues while offering a clear cost breakdown. What's also remarkable is their modern web platform providing detailed vehicle reports online. Their shuttle service adds convenience, ensuring a seamless experience. This mechanic and garage excel in both expertise and innovation, making them my top recommendation for automotive needs.
Gift Tshuma Aug 8, 2023
Amazing experience. Quick service, more than adequate diagnostic testing on my car, clearly writenn out with pictures attached to an email. Affordable diagnostic testing. Susan is wonderful, she tells you what needs to be done but doesn't try to upsell you on anything. Really listens to customer needs and uses her knowledge and experience to provide the best customer service.
Trinity Duff Aug 8, 2023
As usual great Customer Service, always keeping me informed of work to be completed and a great job with the repair.
Robert Oakley Apr 4, 2023
Susan was great and helped me with my requirements thus time. She also organised for me to be dropped off and picked up from my residence. Tim was great too. Service to my car was completed on time and was well done.
Andre Leung Apr 4, 2023
The staff and the work here are superior. They are honest and send a complete summary with pics/videos to describe their findings before the work is approved. Shuttle service is great too! I highly recommend these professionals!!!
Alice Kennedy Mar 3, 2023
I could not have asked for a better experience going to a new mechanic. My family has taken their cars to the same auto shop since my mother was a teenager, but after moving to Mississauga and having my car break down, I knew it wasn’t going to be able to make the drive to our regular mechanic in another city. Sil’s was the closest to me, so I chose them on a whim but it was well worth it - I’ve found my new regular shop! They were open and honest with me about every single thing that could be fixed, as well as advising what actually *needs* to be fixed to keep it on the road. Ultimately I decided that the car isn’t worth fixing, but I didn’t feel pressured at all into doing anything, and the inspection price was incredibly reasonable. Thank you so much to the team!!
Carly Preiss Aug 8, 2023
They were fantastic, quick and so lovely!!!
Olenka Karetnik Aug 8, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal service!!! Carlo welcomed me to the shop as if it was my own home and treated me like family.
Mehdy Mesh Aug 8, 2023
While I was out the brakes started to grind. I immediatey brought it to Sil's. Talk about great service Carlo gave me a loaner car and promised to update me on their progress. He delivered. I have always brought my vehicles there and they are always professional, and thorough. Highly-qualified team.
Linda McCutcheon Aug 8, 2023
Sil's is very detailed, does excellent work and is very honest and fair. Carlo, Tommy and Susan in the front are always thorough and helpful. I would recommend them to anyone in the area!
Dave K Aug 8, 2023
Great service -very thorough and honest -highly recommend this place - they keep you informed and deliver what they promise
Margo stuart Aug 8, 2023
I have been driving many years and this is the best place i have taken my car to. Professional, friendly, and detailed in their work. They let me know what needs to be done, what will need to be done, and what was still in good order. Sent me pictures of what they were doing. My car was cleaned on the inside, which was a bonus. Price wise, they were fair... no hidden surprises. I will be going to Sil's Auto Care for all of my car needs. I would rate 10/10.
Luisa Ellis Aug 8, 2023
Excellent customer service, great expertise, and professional report, helping customer reduce cost without compromise quality.
Camilla Li Aug 8, 2023
I've been having my vehicles serviced at Sil's Auto Care Center for over 20 years. I have never been disappointed or had any concerns with the quality of work completed on my vehicles. Sil's is customer focused business and their friendly and knowledgeable staff are always available to answer any questions and discuss any repairs needed for your vehicle. I would highly recommend having your vehicle serviced at Sil's Auto Care Center.
Graeme Hotchkiss Dec 12, 2019
Excellent quick honest service, very professional
Ghazale Restaur Aug 8, 2023
In my 50 years of car ownership Sil’s Auto Service is one of the best businesses of that kind that I’ve dealt with. Every aspect of the service shows professional excellence, from booking the appointment to getting the car back to me. Absolutely highly recommended!
JUDY Gane Jul 7, 2023
Always a great experience with Sil’s. I’ve got a difficult, older car and each time something goes wrong they have been able to take me quickly and fix it up even quicker. Staff and mechanics have always been friendly, respectful, and able to explain everything they need to do. I love thé report of the good to the bad to see how everything is doing. I don’t get pushy notifications or emails from them which I appreciate too.
Bree Mews Jul 7, 2023
Great service. They were able to take my car same day last minute.
Ryan Albright Jul 7, 2023
I had a great experience with the inspection done to my van. both Suan and Corey were courteous and pleasant to talk to, very professional. Establishment is clean and well kept. Issues were clearly identified and upfront with the cost to complete the work. Will definitely recommend Sil's Auto care center to my family and friends.
Eric Sapinoso Jul 7, 2023
Usual excellent service for my regularly scheduled maintenance.
Jim Milway Jul 7, 2023
As always, prompt, efficient, courteous service.
Lyle McQueen Jul 7, 2023
Great experience. They’re very forthcoming about what is happening and what everything will cost. After dropping off the car, they email an assessment with photos of problem areas, and rank the recommended maintenance issues in order of importance. Communication is clear, concise and up front. Highly recommended.
Jason Guerrero Jul 7, 2023
These guys are great! 5 star service freal. I came across this place based on the reviews and they surely did not disappoint. I'm a dummy with cars so their knowledgeable staff definitely helped with my questions. Would recommend.
Michael Y Jul 7, 2023
I've been a customer of Sil's for 7 yrs and can't imagine taking my cars anywhere else. They're professional, efficient, responsive and fair. Thank you for being awesome!
Azeem Mohammed Dec 12, 2022
Oops - they did it again. Sils came to my rescue when I brought a potential car purchase to their garage for a safety inspection. Much to my surprise they found many problems I would have never wanted to inherit. Thank you for helping me dodge a lemon!
Karlene Kerr Jul 7, 2023
They really stand behind their work at Sil’s. Great staff, and they always do a great job!
CHARLES MULLER Jan 1, 2023
Customer service friendly. Grade A rating for servicing and communication for all your needs. Completely reliable and satisfaction guaranteed.
Noel Miller Jul 7, 2023
Great experience at Sil’s! The team was efficient and effective. The communication and understanding I received from the team was unparalleled to any auto shop I’ve previously visited. Highly recommend!
Mikaela Gray Jul 7, 2023
Highly recommend Sils for all auto repair and maintenance.
Jill Henderson Apr 4, 2023
Great service at Sil's again. They took me in and fixed my major power steering leak, and had a loner car while the work was being done.
Douglas Kingsland Feb 2, 2023
Susan was a great receptionist (I hope I spelled the name correctly) She gave us full details of what to expect from the test and after the test she explained everything to us and gave us digital and paper copies for our records explaining what should we know about the findings and even the cost of each repair. Thank you I highly encourage anyone to test their car to be here, and even their existing car to check if there any hidden problems, the inspection is thorough
Laith Rashid Jun 6, 2023
Sil's came highly recommended by friends and I was not disappointed. Excellent customer service, fast turnaround time, reasonable prices and an unbelievable diagnostic reporting system. I will be recommending them to ALL friends and family. They will always be my auto service of choice. Great team! Thanks.
Luther Tower Jun 6, 2023
My first experience with Sils auto is definitely a 10/10, I had my Kia in for an inspection and the service was great, the inspection report was very professional and detailed and also included a lot of pictures and descriptions on what my issues were. They did not try and over sell me on random small things that I didn’t need and the price was fair. If your looking for great customer service, the job done right the first time by professionals and a fair price this it the shop to go to. I will definitely be recommending my friends and family. Thanks Tommy, Josh and John.
Eze Mckay Jun 6, 2023
5 stars as always
Mark McCrory Feb 2, 2021