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Diagnostic Check in Stoke-on-Trent

Instantly compare diagnostic deals from garages near you & book online

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Diagnostic Check

Instantly compare diagnostic deals from garages near you & book online

4.7* on Trustpilot

*Based on Trustpilot: out average rating
4.7 out of 5 from 5455 reviews.

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13,993,519 happy drivers can’t be wrong.

“I’m always on the go, so booking my MOT on my phone was really useful.
I compared garages, picked the best one for me and even saved money, all whilst waiting for my morning coffee!”

4.7/5 based on over 5455 Trustpilot reviews*
* Based on Trustpilot: our average rating 4.7/5 from 5,455 reviews.
DB Autos Logo
DB Autos
Units 3 & 4 Salem Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5PR
676 Reviews
12-month guarantee

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Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £30

At DB Autos, we provide car repairs for any make or model of vehicle. Working to the highest standards, our garage provides quality, efficient and affordable vehicle repairs in Stoke on Trent. We can fix or replace brakes, cam belts, batteries, air conditioning systems, engines, suspensions and timi...

Scotia Road Garage Logo
Scotia Road Garage
Scotia Road Garage, Scotia House, Scotia Road, Stoke On Trent, ST6 4EZ
328 Reviews
More than 25yrs in Volkswagen networkMore than 50yrs motor experience

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Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £60

Scotia Road Garage was founded by Paul Lawrence and Phil Roberts after more than 25 years in the Volkswagen network. Between us, we have more than 50 years motor industry experience and you can be sure that we have the relevant knowledge and experience to maintain your vehicle to the highest sta...

LLOYDS TUNSTALL TEST CENTRE Logo
LLOYDS TUNSTALL TEST CENTRE
380 HIGH STREET, TUNSTALL, STOKE ON TRENT, ST6 5ET
453 Reviews
Family run business20 + years experience

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Diagnostic Check FROM £60

Family run business, 20 + years experience. Open 6 days. Flexible.

Bristol Street Motors Ford Stoke Logo
Bristol Street Motors Ford Stoke
George Eastham Ave, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4TU
111 Reviews

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Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £99

Please note: Collection and Delivery not available on Saturdays At your local Bristol Street Motors dealership, we only use the latest technology and employ the very best highly trained technicians. This ensures we have the skills and equipment to diagnose any problem quickly, making your service or...

Alhambra Garage Ltd Logo
Alhambra Garage Ltd
Herbert Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, ST3 4QR
140 Reviews

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Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £19.99

*AA Approved Garage* Over 30 years trading. We have many satisfied and returning customers because we provide the best and most comprehensive car services in and around Stoke On Trent, with a friendly service from start to completion, you can rest assured that you are getting both excellent value fo...

Johnsons Volkswagen Stoke Logo
Johnsons Volkswagen Stoke
Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4DD
70 Reviews
Free Video Health Check Report Included

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Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £120

In order to keep your car running smoothly, safely and efficiently as possible, it’s recommended that you get your car serviced regularly. How regular a service is recommended will depend on your particular car and you can find this service schedule in your manufacturer’s guidebook. No matter what c...

What does a car diagnostic check do?

A diagnostic check is carried out on your vehicle by a mechanic, who will plug your vehicle into a specialised code reader. It can detect problems with your vehicle which may be difficult to spot manually.

The main components which are tested in a diagnostic check are the car’s:

  • electronic control units (ECUs) - these control various element of the car and its performance including engine running
  • emissions and exhaust sensors
  • braking system
  • electrical components such as central door locking
  • transmission if electronically controlled
  • ignition coils
  • throttle setting
  • fuel injectors
  • air flow and coolant

 

Why is a car diagnostic check important?

A diagnostic check is very important as it can detect a potential problem with your car, even before a breakdown. The computerised equipment scans your vehicle’s system to check for any faults, no matter how minor or major. A diagnostic test is a quick, easy and accurate way to discover any faults and will give you the chance to get them fixed before they turn into bigger and more expensive issues. When your car has a fault, this may show as a warning light on the dashboard. If the light goes out the system will store the fault code so the garage will find this when they do the diagnostic check.

What are the possible signs that your car needs a diagnostic check?

There are many different signs which will indicate that your vehicle needs a diagnostic check. Essentially, if you suspect that there is an issue with your car but don’t know what, you will probably want to book a diagnostic check to find out what the problem is. Here are some of the key signs:

  • Engine warning light - if the engine warning light appears on your dashboard, it’s important to take your vehicle to a garage as soon as possible as there is a wide variety of problems which the light may be flagging up.
  • Strange noises – any strange noises coming from your car need to be checked out before they turn into more serious problem. Some of these sounds may include; whining from the bonnet, abnormally loud exhaust, uneven engine noise, brake squealing or gear crunching.
  • Smoke - if you see smoke or steam coming from under the bonnet, your vehicle may be overheating.
  • Vibrating - if you notice any vibrating or pulling under your brake, the issue may be due to work brake discs or pads. However, it could also indicate a problem with your suspension or steering.

 

How long do car diagnostics take?

You can expect a diagnostic check on your car to take approximately 90 minutes. You may want to allow for more time though as the mechanic who will be carrying out the check might not be available to start right away.

How much does a car diagnostic check cost?

The price of a car diagnostic test can vary, depending on the garage that you visit. Each garage has a fixed price for diagnostic checks, ranging from £30 - £100.

Enter your vehicle registration number and post code into BookMyGarage (at the top of this page) and you can instantly compare diagnostic check pricing from all of the garages in Stoke-on-Trent. As well as price, you can see the garages’ reviews, distance from your post code, extra services offered and availability. You don’t even have to register to get access to all of this information. When you have selected a suitable garage, you can choose a date, any optional extras (such as collection and delivery, loan car etc.) and book online.

How can you save money (and the environment) while you drive?

As every garage owner will tell you, there are some tried and tested ways to cut down on your petrol costs (and consumption) while you’re out and about in Stoke-on-Trent or beyond. One is to shut your windows. If you can hear that wind noise in your car it’s costing you more to drive. This is because the car becomes less aerodynamic and has to work harder to motor along. Removing a roof rack will improve your fuel efficiency for the same reason. Another useful tip is to combine short trips into one; each time you drive after your car has been parked for a while the engine will be cold and need to use a lot more fuel for the first 5 miles or so. If you do one trip from school drop-off to supermarket to office you’ll use far less fuel than if you do all those trips individually.

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Diagnostic Check