Back to all

The Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton Guide to Vehicle Diagnosis

November 20, 2016

Modern Appleton vehicles have several computers on board that control all kinds of things like engine functions, transmission shifts, traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emissions – and on some vehicles, even steering, braking and the throttle.

Think about that for a minute – things that used to be controlled by simple mechanical connections now have electronic controls that rely on computers, software and sensors. It's no wonder that when something goes wrong with their vehicle it can be pretty complicated for Appleton drivers to track down the source of the problem.

To help your service advisor at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton figure out what's wrong, your vehicle is equipped with on-board diagnostics. The Check Engine light comes on to tell you there's a problem and the engine management computer stores a trouble code. Your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton technician connects a scan tool to your vehicle's diagnostic port and retrieves the trouble codes as well as other important data.

Trouble codes are like clues for the technician to follow as he diagnoses what's wrong with your vehicle. In a way, it's like going to your Appleton doctor with a problem. She'll run some additional tests and gather the information she needs to make a diagnosis and form a treatment plan. How much a vehicle diagnosis costs at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton in Appleton depends on how much time it takes to sort out the symptoms and find the underlying problem.

Give us a call.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton
920-954-8500
2940 E. College Ave.
Appleton, Wisconsin 54915

More articles from Tuffy Appleton

Don?t Meddle with the Pedal (Brake Caliper Replacement)

February 8, 2026

If you drive a newer vehicle, chances are it has disc brakes, and one of the components of that type of brake is called a brake caliper. The caliper allows the pressure from your foot on the brake pedal to eventually move brake pads against discs in your wheels, which then slow and stop your veh... More

Why is My Brake Pedal Hard to Push?

February 1, 2026

When you push on your brake pedal, you should find your vehicle easy to stop. But at some point, you might notice stopping takes much more pressure on the pedal than it used to. When it gets to that point it becomes a safety issue, and you should bring your vehicle in so we can track down whats... More

The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)

January 25, 2026

Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you ... More