Diagnostics & Modern Electronics
Auto Electrical Diagnostics & Fault Finding
Scan tool diagnostics, CAN-bus communication faults, sensor and actuator testing, and intermittent electrical fault finding, with the findings explained to you.
The numbers
- First hour
- Findings and progress explained
- Location
- Albion Park Rail, by appointment only
Quick answer
What is auto electrical diagnostics and how is it charged?
Auto electrical diagnostics is the process of locating a fault before parts are replaced. At Wired Right in Albion Park Rail it combines a scan tool reading stored codes and live data with electrical testing of the circuit, where the vehicle and the fault call for it. Diagnosis is charged by the hour. During the first hour you are told the findings, what has occurred and what has been identified. If the fault has not been found within that hour, you are told the progress and can choose to continue diagnosing at the hourly rate, or get a quote for the recommended repair once the fault has been identified.
A check engine light is a symptom, not an answer. A misfire code tells you which cylinder is misfiring; it does not tell you whether the cause is an injector, a coil, a wiring fault or a poor earth. A fault code points to a circuit or system, and testing is how the cause is narrowed down before parts are replaced.
Diagnosis uses a scan tool to read what the vehicle’s modules are reporting, and standard electrical test equipment to check what the circuit is actually doing. Which tests are carried out depends on the vehicle, the fault and the scope you book.
For intermittent faults, the ones that only appear over bumps or after rain, the conditions you have noticed help us try to reproduce the fault. Some take longer to find, which is why progress is explained to you before diagnosis continues past the first hour.
What this covers
Scan tool diagnostics
Stored codes and live data read from the modules the scan tool can access on that vehicle. Coverage varies by make, model and year.
Check engine light & fault code analysis
Codes read with freeze-frame data where available, so the conditions at the time of the fault can be considered.
CAN-bus & network communication faults
Lost-communication faults traced to wiring, connectors, terminals, water ingress or a module, using tests suited to that vehicle’s network.
Sensor & actuator fault finding
Supply, signal and earth checked where accessible, to help separate a wiring fault from a faulty sensor or actuator.
Electrical system troubleshooting
Body, lighting, charging and accessory circuits tested to find where power, earth or signal is being lost.
Suspected module faults
Where testing points to a faulty module, the findings and repair options are discussed with you, including what that vehicle may need for replacement and setup.
Intermittent fault finding
Live data and targeted testing used to try to reproduce faults that do not appear on demand.
How the job runs
- 1
Tell us the symptoms
When it happens, how often, and anything that changed before it started.
- 2
Scan and interpret
Codes and data are read from the modules the scan tool can access, then checked against the symptom. A code is a starting point, not a parts list.
- 3
Test the circuit
Power, earth and signal are tested where the vehicle and the booked scope allow. A part is recommended for replacement once testing supports it.
- 4
Progress after the first hour
If the fault has not been found within the first hour, you are told the progress and can choose to continue at the hourly rate, or get a quote for the recommended repair once the fault has been identified.
- 5
Findings and options
Any diagnostic charges and proposed work will be discussed with you before authorisation. Written findings are available on certain jobs or on request.
Diagnostics & Modern Electronics: common questions
What does a paid diagnosis include?
A code read on its own tells you which system has logged a fault. A paid diagnosis goes further: the codes and live data are interpreted and the circuit is tested, as far as the vehicle and the booked scope allow, to narrow down the cause. It is charged at $110 per hour. During the first hour you are told the findings, what has occurred and what has been identified. If the fault has not been found within that hour, you are told the progress and can choose to continue diagnosing at the hourly rate, or get a quote for the recommended repair once the fault has been identified.
A part was replaced and the warning light came back. Why?
There can be several reasons. A fault code names a circuit or system, not always the failed component, so the cause may be in the wiring, an earth or a connector feeding that part. The new part may also be faulty, or there may be more than one fault. Testing the circuit helps work out which applies.
My fault only happens sometimes. Is it worth booking in?
Yes, but tell us the pattern: cold start, over bumps, after rain, or only with the air conditioning on. Intermittent faults are found by reproducing the conditions, so the trigger you have noticed is useful information. Some take longer to find, and progress is explained before diagnosis continues past the first hour.
Do you diagnose faults caused by aftermarket accessories?
Yes. Poorly installed accessories can cause parasitic drains, warning lights and communication faults. Where an aftermarket install is found to be the cause, the repair options are discussed with you before work continues.
Will a scan tool find a wiring fault?
Only indirectly. A scan tool reports what a module has measured; it cannot see a chafed wire or a high-resistance earth. That is why diagnosis here includes testing the circuit where the vehicle and the fault allow, not just reading data.
Where we do this work
Based in Albion Park Rail, by appointment only, serving customers from across the Illawarra and Shellharbour. Contact us to discuss the work you need and current availability.
Related work
Diagnostics & Modern Electronics
Talk to us about this job
Ring or send the vehicle details and what it needs. We will get back to you about the work and current availability, and the scope is confirmed with you before any work is authorised.