What’s Included In an Auto Diagnostic Service?

• Check Engine Light
• Engine Oil Light
• TPMS Sensor
• NAPA Auto Care

NAPA Auto Care: Diagnosis & Testing Services

Just like you go to your family doctor once a year for a routine checkup, taking your vehicle to a reliable mechanic for regularly scheduled maintenance is critical. But, just like medical issues, sometimes problems can arise when you least expect them. 

When an unfamiliar light illuminates on the dash, you notice an inexplicable rumbling, roaring or grinding, or something just doesn’t feel quite right, there’s no need to panic and frantically search “What does my check engine light mean?” Just take your vehicle to your friendly local NAPA Auto Care center for auto diagnostic service. Our ASE-certified NAPA Auto Care technicians are trained to perform thorough car diagnostic tests to get a good understanding of what is—and isn’t—working under your vehicle’s hood. 

What is a Check Engine Light Diagnostic?

Modern vehicles are designed with complex mechanical components and electronic systems that work together to power your vehicle. These systems are constantly monitored by your ECM (engine control module) computer, which is also programmed to report engine performance issues. When the Check Engine Light (CEL for short) is illuminated, you can experience anything from decreased acceleration to a rough idle or a totally non-starting engine. If the CEL light is flashing, it usually indicates an engine misfire. 

An illuminated CEL can also mean that your ECM has detected a problem and an error code was generated and stored in the computer. You may also see an “SES” (Service Engine Soon) or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light). Each code generated corresponds to a particular procedure. Once the issue is diagnosed, the NAPA Auto Care technician will alert you of the problem and perform all needed repairs, ensuring you get back on the road safely and quickly. 

Why is My Engine Oil Light On?

If you drive an internal combustion engine, you probably realize how important it is to have regularly scheduled oil changes. When you first open a bottle of motor oil, the oil is transparent with a bright golden color. Once inside your engine, it acts as a lubricant, cleaner and cooling agent, which keeps things running smoothly. After cycling through your vehicle’s engine for 7,500–10,000 miles, the oil becomes dirty and needs drained for recycling. It is replaced with new oil, and the engine oil filter is also replaced. 

Your engine oil light will illuminate if your engine oil is low. If the light comes on, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a critical oil leak. A considerable amount burns off while it circulates through your engine, so if you wait too long between oil changes or drive an older vehicle, you are possibly due for an oil change. If your oil level is fine and there’s no leak, you may have a failing oil pressure sensor or your oil pump is potentially malfunctioning. Stop in to NAPA Auto Care for a full engine oil light diagnostic and let us get to the bottom of your engine oil light issue. 

Illuminated Tire Pressure Sensor Light 

Most vehicles built after 2007 are designed with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. These sensors and their electronic systems alert a driver of low pressure in the tires. There are two different types of TPMS—direct and indirect. Regardless of the type of system your vehicle uses, an indicator light will illuminate on the dash if you have low pressure in one or more of your tires. Your TPMS indicator is a yellow light with an exclamation point inside of a circular shape with a flat bottom.

Decreased tire pressure usually results from a slow leak caused by a puncture from a nail or road debris. The fast and temporary solution is to patch the leak, refill your tire and clear the code, which should turn off the indicator light. However, the NAPA experts recommend you promptly bring your vehicle into NAPA Auto Care for a TPMS diagnosis. Just because your indicator light is not on, does not mean your tire is not compromised. Additionally, driving for long distances with a patched leak in your tire is dangerous. 

Your Next Test Drive

It’s time to buy a new used ride! You use an app to find a friendly reseller nearby offering your dream car—a 2015 Dodge Challenger—for a great price. You meet the owner and go for a test drive. Everything seems great, except for a troubling noise coming from the air conditioner. Oh, and that annoying vibration coming from the rear. The owner says it’s nothing, just a loose A/C bolt or a rock in the rear tire tread. Nothing to worry about, right?

It is sometimes difficult to spot major issues before you buy a used car, but if you miss a big problem, you may have to pay for a big repair bill on top of the cost of the car. Luckily, your local NAPA Auto Care offers a pre-purchase inspection for your prospective vehicle. We test the vehicle’s condition and give you an objective report, which alerts you to upcoming maintenance and expenses. Along with a pre-purchase inspection, we can also perform a thorough road test and a noise and vibration diagnosis, as well as wheel alignment and A/C services (and many more) to get to the heart of the issue. That way, you can buy the Challenger of your dreams without worrying that it’s a lemon in disguise! 

From NAPA Auto Care to Your Garage

By now, you know NAPA Auto Care is here for all your car diagnostic testing needs. But, if you want to learn more about your vehicle and start wrenching under the hood at home, you’ve come to the right place. NAPA Auto Parts has stayed at the cutting edge of the automotive aftermarket industry for a century and is proud to offer premium brands like Bosch, Carlyle, Milwaukee Tool and more. 

Whether you’re looking for the best tools to build a fully-functional at-home auto shop, you want to trick out your ride or you just need to get a straightforward oil change done at home, NAPA’s got you covered. NAPAonline.com carries a vast range of parts, tools and accessories to get you started. Now you can save even more when you sign up for NAPA Rewards! Sign up and earn one Point for every $1 you spend. Earn 100 points and automatically receive $5 off your next purchase at NAPA.