The human body is a complex machine. It has an array of parts and systems that work together to keep you healthy and strong. 

In many ways, today’s automobiles closely resemble the human body. It’s a complicated network of more than 30,000 parts, all creating systems that allow you to travel safely wherever you need to go throughout your day. 

While cars used to operate with fairly simple systems, now it’s a complex network that relies on modern technology. It’s no longer possible to pop the hood, take a glance underneath, and know what’s wrong. 

In modern medicine, a diagnostic test is a procedure that is used to identify specific areas of weakness in order to determine a condition or disease. Diagnostic tests for vehicles are used in a similar manner. 

A diagnostic test used on a car, truck, SUV, or CUV can help an auto mechanic determine what’s wrong with the vehicle. It can also give them a snapshot of the vehicle’s overall health. If you’re buying a used car, for example, this snapshot can be a valuable piece of information in helping you determine whether to sign on the dotted line. 

By utilizing specialized diagnostic equipment, it allows a technician to pinpoint problem areas within the various systems quickly, and get to the root of the problem better, faster. 

Sounds like a good idea to run a diagnostic test, right? 

According to Kelly Blue Book, the average price of a new vehicle in the US here in 2021 is $40,472. The average vehicle produced today is expected to last 11.4 years, while the average length of time drivers keep a new vehicle is at 71.4 months. 

Doesn’t it make sense to keep your car in as good working condition as possible? 

It’s time for an annual checkup

When you go in for your annual checkup, it gives your doctor a chance to assess your vitals. They can check your blood pressure, assess your weight, perform blood tests to determine how healthy you are from the inside out. 

A diagnostic test for your vehicle works in much the same manner. If you bring your vehicle in annually, a diagnostic test can pinpoint weaknesses in the system, and give you a chance to fix it before the problem escalates. The sooner you make a repair, the less chance it has of breaking other parts around it, potentially stranding you by the side of the road. 

If you partner with an auto mechanic right here in Denver, you can be sure to build a relationship with someone who understands your vehicle, can help you make the best decisions for you and your wallet, as well as ensure your car remains in the best condition possible for as long as you own it. 

Pay attention to the check engine light

The average vehicle produced today comes with more than two dozen computer modules working together in the form of a network, linking all the components together to make your car run. In order to keep you apprised of potential problems, each of these computer modules is linked to a dashboard light, signaling to you there is a problem you shouldn’t ignore. 

While you should take all of them seriously, one of the most crucial is the check engine light. It’s one of the most common to illuminate on the dashboard. It’s also one of the least specific. That’s because the check engine light is connected to so many different parts, and can be warning you of many different potential problems. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, or be more urgent in telling you there’s a loss of compression, which could quickly lead to engine failure. 

When this little light comes on, don’t ignore it. Schedule a diagnostic test and bring it in for inspection. This one simple test can use technology to get to the root of the problem, make the necessary changes, and get you back on the road in as little time as possible. 

Listen for changes in noises

Cars are built with a network of parts placed together to keep you safe as you drive each day. The first time you started up your car, you paid attention to the different sounds it made. You could feel the engine turn over. You could hear the gears as they clicked into place. All of these sounds became ingrained in your mind. It became your normal. 

Over time, as a vehicle begins to wear down, it can start creating sounds out of the ordinary. This isn’t something that happens quickly; in most cases, it’s a slow process that happens over time. 

It’s easy to ignore these noises. With so many other things going on in your daily life, why pay attention to small changes that are hard to hear? Yet these little noises are your warning sign of bigger problems. 

Do you hear a squeak, grinding sounds, a rattle, or a hum? Has it been intensifying over time? 

It’s time to schedule a diagnostic test. 

Before you buy a used car

Given how well cars are put together today, it sometimes makes sense to buy a used car instead of new. New cars are expensive; used cars can save you money. A new car built today can operate well for more than a decade, and provide several hundred thousand miles of driving. 

But how do you know if you’re sitting in a quality car or a lemon? While the condition of the car is a good representation of how well it was maintained, it isn’t everything. A diagnostic test can alert you to minor problems and help you choose wisely before putting money down on a used car. It’s an easy way to get third-party approval before you complete the transaction. 

Have you made diagnostic testing a part of your regular routine? 

Think of it as a checkup for your vehicle. It can help you understand how well your car is operating, allow you to make smaller repairs before they escalate in damage and price. 

Schedule your diagnostic test today.