01
WARNING LIGHTS
& FAULT CODES
Check-engine lights, ABS lights, airbag faults and other dashboard warnings investigated properly.
A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS
WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH?
Choose the option that best describes what you need.
Select all that apply.
ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE NOISE?
This part is optional, but any extra detail can help our workshop team.
TELL US ABOUT THE VEHICLE
A few details help us identify your vehicle correctly and give you better advice.
Please enter a valid 17-character VIN before continuing.
If you're unsure, leave this blank and send us a clear photo of your licence disc on WhatsApp.
PHOTOS CAN REALLY HELP
Once WhatsApp opens, send us any useful photos too. This could include your licence disc, dashboard warning lights, leaks, damaged parts, unusual wear or anything else that may help.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU TOO
Let us know who we're helping so we can address your quote correctly.
Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GET STARTED
This isn't an online diagnosis. The information you've given us helps the CBC team understand where to start.
NEXT STEP
Send your enquiry to CBC on WhatsApp and our team can take it from there.
HAVE PHOTOS?
Once WhatsApp opens, please send any relevant photos too, especially your licence disc, warning lights, leaks, damaged components or anything else that may help.
WORKSHOP SERVICES
DIAGNOSTICS
ACCURATE FAULT FINDING.
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS.
Advanced vehicle diagnostics using professional diagnostic equipment, oscilloscope testing and technical data to accurately identify the root cause of complex vehicle faults.
OUR APPROACH
DIAGNOSIS BEFORE PARTS
A fault code is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
At CBC, we combine professional diagnostic equipment, real-world testing and technical information to find the actual cause of a problem, not simply replace parts based on a fault code.
PROFESSIONAL
EQUIPMENT
Industry-leading diagnostic tools.
ADVANCED
TESTING
Oscilloscope testing, live data and component testing.
TECHNICAL
INFORMATION
Professional technical data and service information.
HONEST
ADVICE
Clear explanations and solutions you can trust.
WHAT CAN WE HELP WITH?
From warning lights and electrical faults to advanced testing and key coding, we use professional diagnostic equipment and structured fault finding to get to the root of the problem.
WARNING LIGHTS
02
ENGINE &
PERFORMANCE FAULTS
Rough running, loss of power, poor fuel economy and performance-related problems.
03
ELECTRICAL
FAULT FINDING
Wiring faults, sensors, modules and complex electrical issues investigated through systematic testing.
04
ABS, BRAKE &
STABILITY SYSTEMS
ABS, traction control, stability-control and related electronic brake-system faults.
05
KEY CODING &
IMMOBILISER
Key coding, immobiliser diagnostics and programming for supported vehicle systems.
06
ADVANCED
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Oscilloscope testing, live-data analysis and in-depth component testing for complex faults.
IS YOUR VEHICLE DOING ANY OF THESE?
Not sure what's causing the problem? You're not alone. These are some of the most common signs that your vehicle may need diagnostic testing. Tell our Workshop Assistant what you've noticed and we'll help point you in the right direction.
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
GOING BEYOND THE SCAN
WHEN A SCANNER DOESN'T
TELL THE WHOLE STORY
Some faults need more than a diagnostic scan.
A scanner gives us valuable information about what the vehicle has detected, but it doesn't always tell us why the fault is there. When the scan data doesn't give us a complete answer, we take the investigation further.
Depending on the fault, that can mean analysing live data, testing electrical circuits, checking individual components, using an oscilloscope to examine signals and comparing what we're seeing against professional technical information.
01
LIVE-DATA ANALYSIS
Seeing what the vehicle's systems and sensors are reporting while they're operating.
02
OSCILLOSCOPE TESTING
Viewing electrical signals and waveforms that a standard fault-code scan can't show us.
03
ELECTRICAL TESTING
Checking power supplies, grounds, wiring and circuits to identify where a fault actually originates.
04
COMPONENT TESTING
Testing relevant sensors, actuators and components before recommending replacement.
CBC DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
THE CODE IS THE CLUE.
THE CAUSE IS WHAT MATTERS.
The same fault code can sometimes be triggered by more than one underlying problem. That's why a fault code shouldn't automatically be treated as an instruction to replace a particular part.
Our aim is to gather enough evidence to understand what is actually happening, verify the cause and then recommend the appropriate repair.
WE DON'T BELIEVE IN REPLACING PARTS UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND WHY THE FAULT IS THERE.
WHY CBC
WHY CHOOSE CBC FOR
VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS?
Good diagnostics is about more than the equipment. It takes the right information, methodical testing and the experience to understand what the vehicle is telling you.
01
PROFESSIONAL
EQUIPMENT
Professional diagnostic equipment allows us to communicate with vehicle systems, access live data and investigate faults in greater depth.
02
TECHNICAL
INFORMATION
Access to professional technical information helps us compare what the vehicle is doing against the specifications, procedures and system information it should be following.
03
SKILLED
FAULT FINDING
Diagnostic equipment provides information. Our job is to interpret it, test what needs testing and follow the evidence until the cause of the fault is understood.
04
HONEST
ADVICE
We'll explain what we've found, what it means and what we recommend, so you can make an informed decision about your vehicle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Warning lights and vehicle faults can be confusing. Here are some of the questions we are commonly asked about diagnostic testing, fault codes and finding the cause of a problem.
WHAT DOES A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ACTUALLY DO?
Diagnostic equipment allows us to communicate with the electronic systems in your vehicle, retrieve stored fault codes and view information such as live data from sensors and control modules.
That information gives us a starting point for further investigation. Depending on the fault, additional testing may still be needed to determine the actual cause.
DOES A FAULT CODE TELL YOU WHICH PART IS BROKEN?
Not necessarily. A fault code identifies a condition the vehicle has detected and usually points us towards a particular system, circuit or area of the vehicle.
More than one underlying problem can sometimes produce the same code. That's why we treat the code as a clue and test further where necessary before recommending parts.
WHY IS MY WARNING LIGHT ON?
A warning light means the vehicle has detected something that needs attention, but the light itself does not tell us exactly what has caused the problem.
The next step is to identify which system has registered the fault, retrieve the relevant information and investigate the cause.
CAN YOU DIAGNOSE INTERMITTENT FAULTS?
Yes, although intermittent faults can take longer to trace because the problem may not be present while the vehicle is being tested.
Stored fault information, live data, electrical testing and the circumstances in which the fault occurs can all help us narrow down the cause.
CAN YOU DIAGNOSE ABS AND BRAKE-SYSTEM FAULTS?
Yes. We can investigate faults involving electronic braking systems including ABS, traction control, stability-control systems and related sensors and electrical components.
The exact testing required will depend on the vehicle and the fault that has been detected.
WHY CAN DIAGNOSTICS TAKE TIME?
Reading a fault code can be quick. Finding out why that code is present can take considerably more investigation.
Complex faults may require live-data analysis, circuit testing, component testing, technical research or oscilloscope testing. We would rather spend the time finding evidence than guess and replace parts unnecessarily.
CAN YOU DIAGNOSE A CAR THAT WON'T START?
Yes. A no-start condition can have several possible causes, including battery and power-supply issues, electrical faults, sensor problems, fuel or ignition faults and immobiliser-related issues.
Diagnosis involves establishing what the vehicle is missing and then testing the relevant system.
WILL YOU JUST CLEAR MY WARNING LIGHT?
Clearing a fault code does not repair the problem that caused it. If the underlying fault is still present, the warning light may simply return.
Our approach is to understand why the fault has been recorded and advise you on the appropriate next step rather than simply hiding the warning.
NEED SOME GUIDANCE?
NOT SURE WHAT'S
WRONG WITH YOUR VEHICLE?
You don't need to diagnose the problem yourself. Tell us what your vehicle is doing, which warning lights you've noticed and when the problem occurs. We'll help you work out the best next step.
01
TELL US WHAT YOU'VE NOTICED
Warning lights, noises, starting problems, loss of power or anything else that doesn't feel right.
02
GIVE US YOUR VEHICLE DETAILS
Make, model, year, mileage and VIN help us understand exactly what we're working with.
03
LET CBC TAKE IT FROM THERE
We'll investigate the fault, explain what we find and advise you on the appropriate next step.
CBC Knowledge Hub
CAR WON'T START? BATTERY, IMMOBILISER OR SOMETHING ELSE?
A car that doesn't crank is a different diagnostic problem from one that cranks but won't start. Learn how battery, starter, immobiliser and engine-management faults differ.
CAR WON'T START? BATTERY, IMMOBILISER OR SOMETHING ELSE?
CAR WON'T START? BATTERY, IMMOBILISER OR SOMETHING ELSE?
|The Cape Brake Company CBC
