In this segment we are going to go into discussion on the topic of diagnosis, and how it pertains to your vehicle.
Audi VW service repair and diagnosis at Avalon Motorsports
DIAGNOSIS; the word just radiates dollar signs and excruciating explanations. So why is it that there are so many pre-conceived connotations surrounding this maligned topic? Perhaps it is the stereotyped misuse of the term as an avenue for justifying undue labor charges, or more likely it pertains to the fact that so many service shops do a sub-par job at providing accurate diagnosis. This is more prevalent, of course, in instances when general service shops attempt to do work that is outside of their means or uneducated technicians are performing the diagnoses using lower grade equipment.
Needless to say, the peace of mind in knowing that you are being treated fairly and thoroughly is invaluable. But along with this premise comes the realization that diagnosis can become somewhat of a frustrating and time-consuming process. The more experience the technicians have, the more likely they are to be able to assess your vehicles issues promptly, making it easier to swallow. However, there are many cases in which diagnosis can stretch beyond the first hour and require a much more painstaking process to identify the issues at hand. This is not always as easy to reason with, but it is the nature of automotive repair.
Let’s use some real-world analogies to make some sense of the diagnosis process and what you can expect when it comes to necessary repairs.
When you are sick and need to see a doctor, you know from the onset that you will be billed for the checkup. It is vital that you get in quickly to have the assessment done, and you fully expect the doctor to diagnose your illness appropriately. Once the checkup is finished, you may be scheduled for follow-up appointments and there will undoubtedly be necessary medical treatments, therapy or specialized attention prescribed to bring you back to health. These treatments cost money as well and although sometimes the costs are hard to digest, they are inevitable and necessary. In some cases, the initial diagnosis may have been incorrect and a process of elimination must ensue. However, you TRUST your doctor and you have faith that they will get you back to normal as timely as possible.
In another example, let’s use your dentist. It is important to see your dentist at least twice per year, and if you have gone beyond these recommended intervals then you likely know the results. Additionally, if you do not treat your mouth as your dentist recommends then you will probably endure some level of dental repair whether it be a cavity, root canal or even gum surgery. Now, let’s discuss the dental diagnosis process. The first thing that usually takes place when you go in for your check-up is to get your dental x-rays. This is what the dentist uses as a basis for determining the condition of your teeth and it makes identifying their health much faster and easier. But, the dental x-ray equipment is very expensive and you must pay for this specialized evaluation. Subsequently, you do not ask the dentist if he can take the x-ray cost and roll it into the cavity filling procedure, right? You know that once the job is finished, you will have no more pain [hopefully] and you will take better care of your teeth until your next checkup.
Ultimately, we hope that these daily life applications help you better understand automotive diagnosis protocol. As an industry standard, the recommended diagnosis shop rate is to be defined as 1.5-2 times the hourly rate. The justification behind this is that most shops will use their best technician and most expensive equipment to perform vehicle diagnosis, and the cost to do so is higher than that of general service or repair. Now although these rates may vary from one shop to another, the most important thing is that you trust and have faith in your technician and your service advisor and allow them to do whatever is necessary to get your car functioning at its best.
Proper vehicle diagnosticians should aim to address the issues as effectively and timely as possible, in turn avoiding having to ‘throw’ parts at your car to eliminate possibilities one-by-one. This is not to say that diagnosis, even amongst the best technicians in the world, can be accurate on the first or second attempt. In many cases, a vehicle’s engine scan may point a technician to the general area of concern. Even when the vehicle’s fault codes are specific, there can be multiple parts attributing to the ailment, and further diagnosis is necessary. As difficult as it is, try to be patient and understanding while allowing your shop to do what they do best.
Avalon Motorsports’ end goal is to earn your trust and retain you as a long-term customer. We take diagnosis very seriously and we utilize expert, factory-trained technicians along with the finest equipment in the industry. We are proud to be Denver’s finest service and repair facility for your Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche!
