How Are Faults Found in Vehicles?

There are a very large number of registered vehicles in Turkey. More than half are passenger cars; the rest are vans, motorcycles, tractors, and other vehicle groups. With so many vehicles on the road, driving has become an important factor affecting everyone in traffic. Another issue that concerns everyone on the road is faults that occur in vehicles.

Wherever we go while driving, the most important thing for us is to reach our destination safely. To travel safely with our vehicle, we need to understand its language to some extent. Being in control of the vehicle means correctly identifying the signs and warnings on the instrument cluster.

A vehicle typically has around 20 indicators on the instrument cluster. It is always useful to know what these gauges mean. 

The most important of the fault lights on the instrument cluster is the engine fault light. If there is a problem in the engine, the yellow engine fault light on the instrument cluster is not something that can be ignored. Of course, this light may also indicate that routine maintenance has not been performed, the fuel cap is loose, or that the oxygen sensor, spark plug wires, or spark plugs need replacement.

Vehicle tires are also among the items that require the most attention. For this reason, tire-related fault lights are among the vehicle faults we need to pay most attention to. Warning lights come on when tire pressure drops or when chains are required but not fitted.

In today's technology, all systems in automobiles operate electronically. Alongside the electronic system, there are vehicle control units. Operations performed on these electronic components are called diagnostics. Diagnostics is also a fault detection process. All engine-related faults mentioned above are detected through diagnostics.

How Is Fault Detection Performed Through Diagnostics?

Control units receive information from sensors and, through various evaluations, control the operation of other system components and the engine. For example, they receive information from parts such as the temperature sensor and lamp sensor and manage the fuel and ignition system through injectors and spark plugs. Every measurement performed through control units is called diagnostics, including fault detection, reading and clearing fault codes, and adaptation. 

Information flows from electronic sensors such as the engine, ABS, ESP, and airbag to the vehicle control unit, i.e., the ECU. This information may relate to vehicle performance, faults, or purely informational data. To access information in the vehicle control unit, a diagnostic tool is connected through the vehicle's diagnostic connector sockets. Information stored in the control unit is read and analyzed to perform fault detection.

For heavy-duty, passenger, and light commercial diagnostic tools, you can contact Nitro Mekatronik to obtain diagnostic devices.