Back to all

The Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield Guide to Vehicle Diagnosis

July 23, 2022

Modern Plainfield vehicles have several computers on board that control all kinds of things like engine functions, transmission shifts, traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emissions – and on some vehicles, even steering, braking and the throttle.

Think about that for a minute – things that used to be controlled by simple mechanical connections now have electronic controls that rely on computers, software and sensors. It's no wonder that when something goes wrong with their vehicle it can be pretty complicated for Plainfield drivers to track down the source of the problem.

To help your service advisor at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield figure out what's wrong, your vehicle is equipped with on-board diagnostics. The Check Engine light comes on to tell you there's a problem and the engine management computer stores a trouble code. Your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield technician connects a scan tool to your vehicle's diagnostic port and retrieves the trouble codes as well as other important data.

Trouble codes are like clues for the technician to follow as he diagnoses what's wrong with your vehicle. In a way, it's like going to your Plainfield doctor with a problem. She'll run some additional tests and gather the information she needs to make a diagnosis and form a treatment plan. How much a vehicle diagnosis costs at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield in Plainfield depends on how much time it takes to sort out the symptoms and find the underlying problem.

Give us a call.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield
815-436-1337
23846 W 135th St
Plainfield, Illinois 60544

More articles from Tuffy Plainfield

Flat Tire? Three?s the Charm (Tire Repair)

August 17, 2025

For most drivers, at some point youre going to have a flat tire. Depending on how it was damaged, it may have to be replaced. But sometimes, a repair will do the trick, as long as the puncture isnt on the sidewall and the hole is smaller than inch/6.35mm in diameter. Here are the three common w... More

Motor Oil?The Synthetic Advantage (Synthetic oil vs Conventional)

August 10, 2025

Youve probably already heard that regular oil changes are extremely important for the health of your vehicles engine. Thats sound advice. But what you might not know is when it comes to motor oil, the real thing may not be the best thing for your engine. There are different types of motor oil: ... More

Your Vehicle's Other Power Plant (Alternator Replacement)

August 3, 2025

Your vehicle's engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant. But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator. The alternator is what puts out the electricity that powers such things as your lights, power windows, sound system, and na... More