Mobile car diagnostics at your home or workplace
A warning light tells you something's wrong, but it can't tell you what. Our car diagnostics service reads the fault codes and live engine data where your vehicle is parked, then explains what needs fixing, for £100 + VAT.
- £100 + VAT per diagnostic visit
- Cars and vans of most makes
- Fault codes and live data checked
- Covering Greater Manchester and the North West
What a diagnostic check looks at
Fault codes
Stored and pending codes from the engine ECU, with an explanation of what each one points to.
Live engine data
Boost pressure, fuel pressure, sensor readings and temperatures with the engine running, which shows what a code on its own can't.
DPF, EGR and AdBlue readings
Soot load, DPF pressure, EGR flow and AdBlue system status on diesels, where most modern warning lights start.
Turbo and boost
Actual boost against what the ECU is asking for, which helps track down underboost and overboost faults such as P0299 and P0234.
A plain-English explanation
You're told what the codes mean, what's likely causing them and what the fix involves, without the jargon.
Contact Us Now
Get in TouchWhy a code reader isn't enough
A cheap code reader gives you a number like P0401, but the same code can come from a blocked valve, a split pipe or a failing sensor. Replacing parts on the strength of a code alone is how bills climb.
Our engine diagnostics combine the codes with live data and a look over the vehicle, so you know the cause before spending money on parts.
Common reasons people book a diagnostic
- The engine management light is on, or flashing
- Limp mode or a sudden loss of power
- The glow plug light is flashing
- White, black or blue-grey smoke from the exhaust
- Turbo problems such as whistling, overboost or underboost
- Swirl flap faults and rough running
- DPF, EGR or AdBlue warnings on the dash
How mobile diagnostics works
Book and describe the problem
Tell us the registration, the warning lights and what the vehicle is doing.
We plug in where it's parked
The technician connects to the ECU at your home or workplace and reads the codes and live data.
You hear what we've found
We explain the fault, what's causing it and what the repair involves.
You decide what happens next
If it's a job we do, such as a DPF clean or smoke test, we can quote for it there and then. If it isn't, you'll have a clear diagnosis to take to your garage.
When the fault is one we fix
If the diagnostic turns up a problem we can sort ourselves, you avoid booking a second company.
DPF cleaning
A soot-blocked filter is cleaned on site with a cleaning solution and forced regeneration. £275 + VAT.
Smoke test
For underboost codes and lost power, smoke in the intake shows exactly where boost is escaping. £120 + VAT.
Carbon cleaning
Clears carbon from the intake to bring back smooth running. £125 + VAT.
BMW, Mercedes and other makes
We run diagnostics on most car and van makes, including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen.
For vans, that covers Transits, Sprinters, Vivaros and Transporters, so fleet operators can have a fault checked at the depot without taking the van off the road for a day.
What our customers say
How much does a car diagnostic cost?
A mobile diagnostic check is £100 + VAT. That covers coming out to you, reading the codes, checking the live data and explaining what we find.
What happens after the diagnostic check?
We explain what we've found and what the fix involves. If it's work we carry out, such as a DPF clean or a remap, we'll give you the price before anything else is done.
Can you clear my engine management light?
We can clear the codes once the cause is known. Clearing a light without fixing the fault only means it comes back, often within a few miles.
Can I keep using the car with the engine light on?
A steady light usually means get it checked soon. A flashing light often means a misfire that can damage the catalytic converter, so stop and have it looked at.
Do you carry out diagnostics on vans?
Yes. We check single vans and fleet vehicles on site, from small vans like the Caddy up to Sprinters and Crafters.
Find out what that warning light means
Book a diagnostic for £100 + VAT and we'll bring the kit to read it properly. You'll know the cause, and what the fix involves, before you spend anything on parts.
Got a code already? Email it to sales@sgrautomotive.co.uk
Eccles, Manchester M30 0SF