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

Tire or Re-Tire? (Getting Tires Ready for Hot Weather)

May 10, 2026

Heat isn't easy on vehicle tires, and as the seasons change, make sure yours are ready to take the heat. Let's talk first about inflation. Heat causes air to expand, so heat alone can raise the pressure in your tires. If you are driving on overinflated tires, they won't have as much contact w... More

Cabin Air Filter and Engine Air Filter: What’s the Difference?

May 3, 2026

You may have heard someone say they just got the air filter replaced in their vehicle. But did you know your vehicle has two different major air filters and they both perform quite differentbut very importantduties? Todays vehicles have a cabin air filter, and an engine air filter. The engine a... More

(Ball Joint Replacement)

April 26, 2026

Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them. Our vehicles have the same issue. The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear. Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow y... More