The Myth of the "Magic Machine"
The so-called, "Can't you just connect my car to a magic computer that will tell you exactly what is wrong with the vehicle and how to fix it?"
This is a common Myth in the auto repair business. True, the diagnostic equipment has evolved by leaps and bounds, but is not in the Star Trek age...yet!
Today's modern computer-controlled vehicles are truly into the digital age. There may be as many as 11 computers controlling everything from the transmission to the climate control system. Tracking down a problem and determining the process needed to repair the vehicle are still done the old fashioned way. A technician has to gather data by using his senses to see, feel, hear and smell, then collect the vehicle's stored data, and determine what course of action/repair needs to be done. The vehicles' on-board computers have the capability of recording the codes that caused a check engine light to come on. These codes are used to determine what component or system MAY be affected. That is when the testing is done with the best piece of diagnostic equipment in the shop:The Technician's experience !
The "Magic Machine" no-start diagnostic scenario:
"My car won't start! It just cranks and cranks. What's wrong with it?"
Well Mr. Smith, let me just hook it up to the New Super ScanFixer 2000 and see what it says. Hmmmm..it says there is no fuel, and it must be a bad fuel pump, because the pump is getting power but it's not pumping. That'll be $XX for the diagnostic and $XX for the new pump and labor. Seems reasonable enough. Now how about the car was just plain OUT OF GAS! If there were such a "Magic Machine", it would be reading the want ads for a new job!! Rely on the skill and experience of your technician. He's the "Magic Machine" you want !
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