Articles on Computer Diagnostics, car maintenance, repairs, engines, transmissions, drive trains, tires, wheels, exhaust, air conditioning, tune-ups, suspension and brakes. Most cars have some form of a computer to operate the performance system. Computers have evolved in recent years, so there are any number of operating systems running from primitive to very high tech depending on the age of the car.
Computers generate signals called data streams.
These streams of data flow through the operating system of the car at all times, constantly adjusting and re-adjusting the engine. Diagnostic computers that are interfaced with the car's computer read the data streams flowing through the system. The problem could be in the form of a bad sensor, malfunctioning electrical or mechanical component, or damaged wiring and plugs. This code is supposed to lodge in the onboard computer's memory for retrieval at a later date, aiding in diagnostics. The shop must have access to information either in book form or online to decipher what the codes mean and how to go about diagnosing the particular problem area.