Ford’s Diagnostic Testing: A Tool for Preventive Maintenance

Diagnostic testing is a quick and simple process for identifying issues that can affect your Ford. Your vehicle contains numerous systems and components, all of which work together to deliver the high standard of performance expected of a Ford. As your Ford dealer, we want to tell you more about this testing and how it benefits you and your vehicle.

From Your Ford Dealer: What is Diagnostic Testing?

Computer and Sensors

Since the 1980s, computers have been part of every vehicle. They simplify and automate many processes that previously required manual adjustment or intervention. This frees up the driver’s time to concentrate on the road and enjoy the drive, making this process smoother. However, the computer doesn’t work alone, as a vast network of sensors assists it.

Every essential component in your vehicle has a sensor connected to it. These sensors receive instructions from your computer, and they also relay information back to the computer to allow it to make decisions. Sensors also monitor the health of their connected component and inform the computer if they detect something is wrong.

Warning Lights

If your computer receives information from a sensor warning of trouble, it logs the situation and assigns it an error code. The computer will then illuminate a warning light related to the issue to let you know something is wrong. Most warning lights identify specific systems, like the brake warning light or the engine temperature light.

The engine warning light is a special case, as it lights up if anything affects engine performance. If any warning light appears on your dash, we advise contacting us ASAP so we can identify and fix the problem.

How Testing Works

Our technicians will connect an OBD II scanner to your Ford computer. This specialized machine will display a list of any error codes recorded by the computer. We then check these error codes against the list of Ford error codes to identify the system or section of your vehicle affected by the issue.

Code scanning and identification take only a few minutes and can save time that would otherwise have been spent on checking and testing components that are working correctly.

Benefits of Testing

Testing can identify numerous issues, from a loose gas cap that allows air into the fuel system to a blocked catalytic converter that increases pressure in the engine and forces it to shut down. Speeding up diagnosis also helps to reduce repair costs due to the time saved.

An additional benefit of testing is the sensors are very sensitive and identify an issue when it starts. This helps prevent the issue from turning into a more serious problem and reduces the chance of additional damage.

Don’t delay testing. Contact us today at Ewald Ford in Hartford, WI.

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