24/7 mobile service · Riverside
Check engine light on? A code is a clue, not a diagnosis.
Free code readers tell you which system is unhappy. Our diagnostic visit goes further: we read live data, test the likely parts, and tell you what's actually wrong and what it costs to fix.
Sounds like this?
Signs it's time to call
- Solid check engine light
- Flashing check engine light (pull over and call)
- Rough idle, stumbling, or misfire
- Worse fuel economy than usual
- Failed or upcoming smog check
What we measure
P0300- Random or multiple cylinder misfire
P0171- System running lean, bank 1
P0420- Catalytic converter efficiency below threshold
P0455- Large evaporative (EVAP) system leak
P0128- Engine not reaching temperature, often a thermostat
From our jobs
The visit
What happens when we arrive
- Read stored and pending codes and freeze-frame data
- Review live sensor data with the engine running
- Run targeted tests on the most likely causes
- Explain the finding in plain language with a written quote
- Clear codes only after a repair is made
When it's a shop job
Some problems need a smoke machine, a scope, or a lift, and a few intermittent faults take more than one visit to pin down. We tell you what we confirmed and what we didn't, so you're never paying for a guess dressed up as a diagnosis.
Questions people ask
Is a flashing check engine light worse than a solid one?
Yes. A flashing light usually means a severe misfire that can overheat and damage the catalytic converter. Reduce speed, avoid hard acceleration, and get it checked right away.
Can you clear the light so I pass smog?
Clearing codes resets the readiness monitors, and California smog checks will fail a car whose monitors haven't completed. Fixing the cause is the way through.
Is the diagnostic fee applied to the repair?
Yes. If you approve the repair, the diagnostic fee is credited toward it. See pricing.