Diagnostics
Check Engine Light Diagnostics in Westwood, NJ
Check engine light just came on? Alice Motorsport does check engine light diagnostics in Westwood, NJ. We find out what's causing it, explain it in plain words, and give you the price before we fix anything.
Call (201) 664-6556 to bring it in.
- 4.7 Google rating (opens in a new tab)
- Free estimates
- Warranty on repairs
The light
What does the check engine light mean?
It means your car's computer has found a fault and stored a code. The code points to the system with the problem, not always to the exact part, which is why a proper diagnostic matters.
The cause can be small, like a gas cap that isn't sealing. It can also be the first sign of a problem that gets more expensive the longer it waits. You can't tell which by looking at the light.
Light types
Steady light or flashing light?
- Steady lightsomething needs checking soon. You can usually drive, but book a diagnostic instead of waiting for your next service.
- Flashing lightoften a sign of a serious engine misfire. Reduce speed, avoid hard acceleration, and get the car checked as soon as you can. If the car shakes badly or loses power, pull over safely and call us.
Symptoms
Signs that often come with a check engine light
- Rough idle or shaking at a stop
- Hesitation or loss of power when you accelerate
- Worse gas mileage than usual
- A smell of fuel or a "rotten egg" smell
- The car starts hard or stalls
Tell us what you notice when you call. Those details help us find the cause faster.
Our diagnostic
How we diagnose it
A code reader in a parking lot gives you a code. A diagnostic tells you why the code is there. We do the second.
- Read the stored codes with a scan tool.
- Check the data: sensor readings, fuel trims and freeze-frame data recorded when the fault happened.
- Test the suspect parts and wiring instead of replacing parts on a guess.
- Explain what we found and what it takes to fix it, with the price.
Nothing gets repaired until you approve it.
NJ inspection
Check engine light and your NJ inspection
New Jersey's inspection for most gas cars is an On Board Diagnostic and emission check, so a stored fault is one of the most common reasons cars fail. If your inspection is coming up and the light is on, have it diagnosed first. We do NJ state inspections too, so you can take care of both at one shop.
Pricing
What affects the cost
We don't post prices, because the same light can come from very different problems. The cost depends on:
The diagnostic tells us what's wrong. Then you get the repair price before we start, and estimates are free.
Ask for a free estimate- The cause
- A sensor, a vacuum leak and a catalytic converter are very different repairs
- How many faults are stored
- One problem can trigger others
- Your car
- Make, model, engine and how easy the part is to reach
- Parts
- Availability and the parts you choose
Why Alice Motorsport
Why drivers choose Alice Motorsport
Diagnostics first: we find the cause before recommending parts
We explain it: what failed, why, and what it means for your car
Price before work and a warranty on repairs
All makes, including Jeeps
Open weekdays until 6 pm at the Exxon on Kinderkamack Rd
These guys are the best very friendly and highly skilled. They were able to fix our performance car when literally every other shops could not! They diagnosed the problem and fixed it!
Diagnostics questions
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Call and you'll get a straight answer.
Call (201) 664-6556Is it safe to drive with the check engine light on?
If the light is steady and the car drives normally, you can usually drive it to the shop, but get it checked soon. If the light is flashing, or the car shakes or loses power, slow down, avoid hard driving and call us.
Can a loose gas cap turn on the check engine light?
Yes. A gas cap that doesn't seal can trigger an evaporative emissions code. Tighten it, but if the light stays on after a few days of driving, bring the car in for a diagnostic.
Why not just use a free code reader?
A code reader tells you which system reported a fault, not what failed. A full diagnostic tests the parts and wiring behind the code, so you pay to fix the actual problem instead of guessing.
Will a check engine light fail my NJ inspection?
New Jersey's inspection for most gas cars reads the car's onboard computer, so a stored fault usually leads to a failure. Have the light diagnosed and fixed before your inspection date.
The light went off by itself. Do I still need a diagnostic?
The code usually stays stored for a while even after the light goes out. If the light came back more than once, or you noticed the car running differently, it's worth a diagnostic to catch the problem early.
Visit or call
Get your check engine light checked
210 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood (at the Exxon).
| Monday to Friday | 8:30 am to 6 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | closed |
Serving drivers from Westwood, Emerson, Hillsdale, Township of Washington, River Vale, Park Ridge, Oradell and River Edge.
Get in touch
Ask a question or request a free estimate. We'll call you back.