Scanning is a critical part of today’s automotive repair industry. Today’s car and vehicle manufacturers use an intricate computer network in vehicles. This network is responsible for everything from monitoring tire pressure to ensuring fuel economy. It would be best if you had the right software programs and hardware to read these codes when something goes wrong.

Autel diagnostic tools from Triad Diagnostic Solutions give your teams everything they need to successfully plug into the OBD II ports and read engine or error codes in various makes and models. When you can read these codes, your techs can make repairs more efficiently. Read on to learn why clearing these error codes is an important part of the repair process.

The Repair Process

When any of the dash lights illuminate in a vehicle, it can cause a sudden sense of panic for the driver, especially if the problem isn’t apparent. Because most of today’s cars and trucks are equipped with computers responsible for monitoring all the systems, these lights can come on for various reasons. The check engine light is notorious for representing a variety of different malfunctions. Another common error code is the oil light, which can easily be monitored and cleared with a scan tool like the MaxiSERVICE OLS301.

Checking these error codes means you can repair a vehicle thoroughly before it leaves the lot. The only way to read these codes is with a scan tool. If you don’t have a scan tool, then you can’t check the fault codes that caused the light to go off in the first place, which means your techs could spend hours troubleshooting the problem or failing to fix the original issue. Not repairing a vehicle completely could leave you making major fixes later, costing your shop time and money.

Why Clearing is Important

Because each dashboard light is an indicator that something is malfunctioning, it’s essential that techs don’t clear codes without making repairs. They should make a note of the error and then make the necessary fixes to clear the code. When a code clears, you know that the vehicle has been restored to good working order. However, there could be occasions when clearing the codes manually is part of the repair process.

For example, a check engine light can be triggered when the gas cap isn’t tightened correctly. However, tightening the cap down correctly doesn’t always fix the issue, and it can often take 10-20 cycles before the computer registers that the problem has been fixed. Here is an instance where you can clear the code so that the computer can continue to read other malfunctions and errors correctly without having to relearn driving behaviors.

Monitor the Health of Your Vehicles

Noting, repairing, and then clearing codes is a great way to monitor the health of your fleet or the health of your regular customer cars and trucks. Not only can you detect malfunction patterns in your vehicles, but you can also monitor driving habits or find out what could be causing your cars to break down. However, failing to clear a code after a repair could leave you second-guessing the issue or doubling your work to recheck the codes. That’s why you should always make clearing codes an essential part of your repair process.

Scan Your Fleet with Autel

Autel diagnostic tools are reliable and easy to use, which is why Triad Diagnostic Solutions offers them exclusively. We have everything you need to read hundreds of error and fault codes in heavy-duty commercial and automotive vehicles. Contact Triad today!