Some Wilsonville vehicle owners wonder why Lance's Superior Auto and other Wilsonville auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics.

Receiving a diagnostic charge at Lance's Superior Auto for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Wilsonville 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 Oregon 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 Lance's Superior Auto diagnosis may be much more involved.

Much of the Wilsonville 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 Oregon drivers that the trouble code tells the Lance's Superior Auto 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 Lance's Superior Auto 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 Lance's Superior Auto customers. The service advisor makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem. This takes time.

Wilsonville 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 Lance's Superior Auto wants to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Lance's Superior Auto
30775-D SW Boones Ferry Road
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
503-682-8522
http://www.lancessuperiorauto.com