Diagnostics Workshop

When you plug a diagnostic computer into a car, it doesn’t just check the power and communication lines — it can also spot problems with the sensors that feed information to the engine and other systems. In simple terms, it’s looking for anything electrical that isn’t giving the right readings or isn’t talking properly to the car’s computer. Typical faults it can detect include:

• No power or bad ground at the OBD port — blown fuse, loose earth, or wiring issue.
• Weak battery voltage — battery struggling or dropping under load.
• Faulty ECU communication — the car’s computer isn’t waking up or responding.
• CAN bus wiring faults — broken, shorted, or noisy communication lines.
• Sensor faults — things like oxygen sensors, temperature sensors, throttle position sensors, crank/cam sensors giving incorrect or impossible readings.
• Real‑time data problems — live values (RPM, coolant temp, airflow, fuel trim) that are out of range or not changing as they should.
• Intermittent or missing signals — sensors that cut out, freeze, or send erratic data.