The DIY’ers Diagnostic Guide
Car lovers have a tendency to want to know everything they possibly can about their vehicles,
but this can be difficult if you don’t have a way to check out exactly what is going on deep inside the vehicle. To get to that information, nothing can beat owning your own diagnostic tool.
The things to consider boil down to three main steps, namely Need, Budget and Support once you have purchased your diagnostic tool. This can seem daunting, but that is where we come in! So, to help make your decision easier, we have put this guide together to lay out all the points to consider when upgrading, or buying your first diagnostic machine!
Step 1: Need - consider what you want to do
Diagnostic machines offer a huge number of functions, ranging from the simplest to the most complex tasks. The more you want to do, the more you will have to pay in the end. For your home garage, the simpler things are probably what you are after, such as:
- Detecting faults
- Understanding fault codes
- Reading live data from your engine
After this, it gets more complicated. If you require more, it may be better to look into our “A-Z guide”.
Step 2: Budget - how much do you want to spend
Diagnostic tools range in price – from something very simple costing as little as R800, up to the most advanced costing in the hundreds of thousands of Rands. Too low a budget can limit you in what the tool can do though – so it is important to first know what you need the tool to do before deciding on your budget. This is why we believe it is important to have as your second step in the decision making process.
Step 3: Support - what will you get after you have purchased the tool?
Not all businesses operate the same way, and as with anything you spend money on, you want to be sure that you are looked after as much as possible in case anything happens. You may also just need a little help along the way! Always make sure you are getting the best support possible by checking these points:
- Is there a guarantee?
- What is covered under the warranty?
- How long am I covered for?
- Will anyone be able to help me if I need assistance to use the tool?
- If the tool is sold to me incorrectly, or I am not happy with my purchase, what kind of return policy do you have?
Overall, the best thing to do when looking into making your purchase is to talk to the experts. At Autosupply, our sales team is always happy to share their knowledge of the products that we stock, as well as to give you assistance in deciding on what you need!
