Archives for August 2023

Diagnostic Codes are a vital diagnostic tool in any auto technician’s toolkit. Located in your car’s OBD (on board diagnostic) computer, they pinpoint faults and errors that are invaluable to the diagnosis of your car’s woes.

At Sommer Car Care, your Euro car specialist in Brisbane, we recognise it can be very tempting for car enthusiasts to scan their own cars and look up diagnostic faults. We’d like to share some reasons why it’s important that you don’t allow anyone to clear your diagnostic data before your next visit to your auto technician.

What is a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)?

A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is a five-digit alphanumeric code which is triggered by your car’s onboard diagnostic computer when a malfunction occurs. The code will frequently take the form of an alphanumeric digit followed by four numbers. Each code corresponds to a specific fault that may have occurred within the car’s engine, transmission, body, chassis, network or other systems. Whilst generic DTC codes do exist for many cars, not all manufacturers or brands follow a standard set of codes. Different brands or foreign cars may have their own custom set of manufacturer’s diagnostic codes that are specific to the manufacturer.

How are Diagnostic Codes Read?

Diagnostic trouble codes are usually only visible with the use of a diagnostic scanning tool connected to your OBD computer. Some passionate car owners may own their own scanners, or these scanners may be used by your roadside assist service. If you have experienced a car malfunction, or called out an auto assist service, it is important that you make sure the diagnostic codes are not cleared before you have taken your car to your preferred auto service technician. Even if you believe that the fault is fixed.

Why you Shouldn’t Clear Diagnostic Codes

When it comes to diagnostics, accurate data is an auto technician’s greatest advantage. Sommer Car Care will always recommend that you don’t clear diagnostic codes before your car is checked by your auto technician. If, for some reason, a vehicle owner or your roadside assist service clears the codes, this will result in the freeze frame data and all mode 6 information to be lost. Sub codes are also not reported by cheaper global fault code readers, so this information may never be accessed if your diagnostic codes are cleared

What May Happen if Your Diagnostic Codes are Cleared

If your codes are cleared, they disappear from your onboard computer forever. Sommer Car Care can try to recreate the fault in your car to gain access to the correct data, but the fault may not appear in the first appointment, requiring additional visits. This causes delays and potential extra expenses if it’s an intermittent fault.

We enjoy sharing our passion for diagnostics and hope that sharing our findings and having a quick chat about our processes can convince you that your car is in good hands with the experts at Sommer Car Care, your Euro car specialist.

Contact Sommer Car Care for Prestige European Car Repairs

Talk to Sommer Car Care about repairing your prestige European car or call us to schedule your Auto Service on 07 3171 9377 today.

As modern cars become more sophisticated, specialist mechanics have also evolved: from basic mechanics to fully trained auto technicians. The days of diagnostics being given away as a “freebie” to detect problems in your car’s air conditioning unit are long gone. Modern cars use integrated computer data systems to perform a variety of essential tasks that increase the safety and performance of your vehicle, from keyless ignition to ANCAP safety systems.

Sommer Car Care is a Brisbane Euro specialist. We specialise in diagnostics and European auto service in our modern workshop. In this article we will discuss the importance and modern-day challenges in diagnosing faults in European vehicles

Car Diagnostic Equipment

We use state of the art diagnostic equipment to diagnose issues in modern prestige cars. Our auto specialists are trained to detect, diagnose and correct problems that develop with your engine, transmission, exhaust system, fuel system, auto-electrical system, air conditioning and other systems. Amongst some of our most effective diagnostic equipment is our oscilloscope. An oscilloscope helps to examine voltage over time of automotive systems in action. This allows us to isolate, identify and pinpoint anomalies in signal waveforms over a span of time; essentially recreating the anomaly and recording the data points for analysis. We also use ADAS calibration equipment to calibrate safety systems, cameras and sensors for peak performance and safety.

When to Calibrate Your Cameras and Sensors

ANCAP Safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and rear collision sensors rely on accurate data from outward facing cameras and sensors to keep you safe. To keep the data they collect accurate, it is important to regularly calibrate your cameras and radar sensors. A brand-new car will arrive factory calibrated from the dealer, but it is important to ensure your car is recalibrated following:

• Front or rear collisions, windscreen replacement, repairs or bodywork
• Scheduled servicing, including steering and suspension work or wheel alignment
• every three years at a minimum
• After noticing any problems with your car’s performance during use

European Car Repair Specialists, Sommer Car Care, Brisbane

Sommer Car Care is a Brisbane Euro specialist, specialising in European auto service and prestige car diagnostics. Our Stage 1 diagnostics costs $209. Ninety Nine percent of the time, we find the exact fault within that first stage.

Call Sommer Car Care on 07 3171 9377 for specialist Porsche service, Land Rover service and prestige car diagnostics in Brisbane.