Live Data Analysis
Also called live reading test
Live data analysis records what the engine management system is seeing while the car is driven: fuel trims, sensor voltages, timing, load and temperature. It is how intermittent faults are caught, and how a sensor drifting slowly out of range is found when it has never set a code. It suits complaints such as poor economy, hesitation, or a fault that only appears in traffic. It is an investigation. The outcome is a diagnosis, with the repair quoted afterwards.
What the job includes
- Agreed list of parameters recorded for your specific complaint
- Road test covering the conditions where the fault occurs
- Fuel trim analysis at idle, cruise and under load
- Sensor values compared against expected figures and against each other
- Interpretation explained to you rather than handed over as raw numbers
- Written findings with the recommended next step
Signs you need this
- A fault that comes and goes and never sets a code
- Fuel consumption is worse than it should be with no warning light
- Hesitation or a flat spot only under certain conditions
- A repair has already been attempted without resolving the complaint
- The car runs well when cold and poorly when hot, or the reverse
Not all of these have to be present, and one of them on its own can mean something else entirely. That is what the diagnosis is for.
How we do it
Define the complaint
We agree exactly when the fault appears, because that decides which parameters are worth recording.
Select the parameters
A focused list is chosen, since recording too many values slows the sampling rate and hides brief events.
Record on the road
The car is driven in the conditions you describe, with data logged continuously rather than sampled at idle.
Analyse the log
Fuel trims and sensor values are compared against expected figures to find the point where behaviour goes wrong.
Explain the finding
The result is explained in plain terms with the evidence shown, followed by a quote for the recommended repair.
How we work
The same on every job, which is why we can write it down.
Diagnosis before quote
We find the fault first. A price given over the phone for a noise nobody has heard is a guess.
The price is agreed first
You approve the work and the cost before a spanner is picked up. Extra work means another call.
Parts you can check
We tell you whether a part is genuine, OEM, aftermarket or used, and what each one costs.
Old parts returned
Ask and we will hand back whatever we replaced. It is the simplest proof that the job was done.
Book live data analysis
Fill this in and a person will call you back to confirm the time and the price. Only your name and one way to reach you are required.
Before you book
Questions we get asked
If your question is not here, ask it. We would rather answer honestly now than have you find out after booking.