Diagnosing Vehicle Issues: Why Further Work Is Sometimes Necessary
At Accomplished Auto, we take great pride in our ability to diagnose and repair your vehicle with precision and care. However, we want to share some insight into why, on occasion, additional problems may surface after an initial repair is completed.
Modern vehicles are incredibly complex machines, equipped with multiple computer systems constantly monitoring various subsystems, especially emissions and safety-related components. These computers are designed to ensure your vehicle operates cleanly, efficiently, and safely. When a fault occurs in one system, the vehicle's onboard computers often continue to monitor the issue to see if it self-corrects. However, many diagnostic tests depend on other systems being fully operational before they can run. As a result, when we repair one problem, it often allows the vehicle to complete tests that were previously blocked by the initial fault.
For example, if your vehicle has an emissions-related fault, it may prevent certain emissions monitors from completing their tests. Once the original issue is repaired, these monitors can finally complete their checks, sometimes revealing additional issues that were previously hidden or untestable.
Another factor involves the physical process of repair itself. During disassembly and reassembly, we occasionally encounter components that are brittle, aged, or deteriorated. Rubber hoses, plastic fittings, seals, and wiring that have become fragile over time can fail during the process of being gently moved or reinstalled. In some cases, corrosion or wear may only become apparent once a component has been disturbed. While we take every precaution to avoid such issues, some failures are simply the result of time and material fatigue.
This is why part of our repair process includes a thorough after-repair test drive. This critical step allows us to verify the repair under real-world conditions and catch the vast majority of potential follow-up issues before the vehicle is returned to you.
We understand that discovering additional problems after a repair can be frustrating, and we never take lightly the need to contact you with such news. However, our primary goal is to ensure that your vehicle leaves our shop fully operational and safe. An incomplete repair serves no one.
At Accomplished Auto, we stand behind our work with a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty. On the rare occasions when additional problems arise, we strive to address them fairly and efficiently. If the issue is directly related to our workmanship or a part we've installed, it's fully covered. However, there are times when new, unrelated problems emerge that were not visible or testable before, and these may fall outside the scope of the original repair.
We appreciate your understanding and trust in our expertise. Our commitment is always to your safety, satisfaction, and the reliable performance of your vehicle.