Complete Vehicle Evaluation

            As part of our Complete Vehicle Evaluation, Sant Automotive will subject the vehicle you designate to a 78 point inspection. We check everything from safety items like brakes, power steering systems, suspensions, tires, and lighting to maintenance items like motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant. We check for damage like dents, dings, tears in the seats and upholstery, and we look for signs of hidden damage. We explain which items are safety concerns, which items can wait, and we will make you aware of minor items that you may not have noticed.

            Our Evaluations have utility in two scenarios: when you are considering buying a used vehicle or when you are considering a big investment in the maintenance or repair of an existing one. In either scenario, it is an excellent time for a Complete Vehicle Evaluation.

            Many services will tell you the history of a vehicle, but these services only capture information that is related to a vehicle’s title. A report based on a vehicle’s VIN may tell you if a vehicle has been in a flood but probably only if an insurance claim was made. Our evaluation has the ability to tell you if a vehicle has been in a flood and will likely tell you which specific components have been damaged or are at risk. A VIN based history report may never tell you if the seller’s 18 year old has been four wheeling

in the 2009 Grand Prix that you are considering. The physical condition of the vehicle is almost always more important than the title history.

            We will provide an estimate to fix identified concerns. If that 2009 Grand Prix has a hole in the oil pan plus broken motor mounts and leaking shocks, it may still be a good buy if the price is right.

            We specialize in complete customer satisfaction, and we provide value to our customers with every visit. Make Sant Automotive your choice for peace of mind and satisfaction.

What Are Diagnostics?

            In car repair shops, “diagnostics” generally means either determining the

cause of an illuminated “Check Engine Light,” determining why your car is

performing poorly, or determining why your car failed an emissions test. A vehicle

may come in for all three conditions, and the cause of each may be the same.

Sometimes, it is easy to diagnose the root cause of these problems; more often, it is

not. Problems can be complex and may only present themselves under

certain conditions. They may be intermittent, and they may be caused by

multiple interacting systems. Also, the computer input devices, fuel system

components, and ignition & engine control system parts that are the likely

causes of your concern are expensive. Usually, when you buy one of these

parts, it is yours to keep whether it is the cause of your problem or not.

Don’t throw expensive parts at your automotive problem and hope for a fix.

Have your concern diagnosed correctly the first time. This will save you

money.

            Some lower end repair shops, parts, and tire stores offer “free

diagnostics.” Generally “free diagnostics” means that an untrained oil

changer, tire buster, or parts changer will use a generic scanner and tell you

what codes are stored in your vehicles on board computer. Occasionally,

this work. Stored codes indicate that your vehicles computer has received a

signal that is outside of the expected parameters. But the codes set can be

deceptive. On many Chevy products, for example, the code P0171 indicates

that the oxygen sensor on bank one of your engine is reporting a “lean”

condition. Does this mean that there is a restriction in the fuel system, a

problem with the fuel injectors, a problem with the ignition system, or is

the oxygen sensor defective and giving an inaccurate reading? The likely

answer is that the intake manifold gaskets are leaking, allowing air to

bypass the Mass Air Flow sensor. Further testing is required to confirm

this guess.

             Modern vehicles require highly trained and experienced technicians

armed with up to date proprietary equipment and correct testing and repair

information including factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) and repair

manuals. This means that repair shops, like Sant Automotive, that tackle

complex problems requiring diagnostics must invest heavily in terms of

personnel, equipment, training, software subscriptions, and subscriptions

to information sources. Let our expertise work for you. It will save you

money.