Pre-Purchase Computer Scan
Also called before buying check
A pre-purchase scan reads every module a car supports before you commit to buying it. It shows stored faults, pending faults that have not yet triggered a light, and readiness monitor status, which reveals whether codes were cleared shortly before you arrived. That is a common way a seller hides a problem. The scan reads electronic systems only. It does not assess body repairs, accident damage, rust or mechanical wear, which need a physical inspection as well.
Signs you need this
- You are about to buy a used car and want its electronic health checked
- The seller says a warning light was fixed but has no paperwork
- The dashboard shows no lights at all, which can mean a recent reset
- You suspect the car has been in an accident
- You want a record of the car's condition on the day of sale
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.
What the job includes
- Scan of all modules the vehicle supports, not only the engine
- Stored, pending and permanent codes recorded and explained
- Readiness monitor status checked, which shows recently cleared codes
- Odometer and system data read where the vehicle reports it
- Airbag module checked for deployment or crash related faults
- Written report you can use in the purchase conversation
How we do it
Scan every module
All available systems are read, because engine, ABS, airbag and body modules each store their own separate faults.
Check readiness monitors
Monitors that have not completed indicate codes were cleared recently, which is a warning sign worth acting on.
Record pending faults
Pending codes show problems the car has detected but not yet confirmed, which a dashboard with no lights hides.
Check the airbag module
Crash or deployment related faults in the restraint system can indicate accident history the seller has not mentioned.
Hand over the report
You get the results in writing, with plain explanations and a clear statement of what the scan cannot see.
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 pre-purchase computer scan
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.
You send this
Takes a minute. No payment, no obligation.
We call you
To confirm the car, the time and the location.
Tell us the car and the symptom
We will arrange a mechanic at your location, or a slot at the nearest workshop. No payment until the price is agreed.