Services

• General Service Description
• Sample Report Note: If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader to open a pdf file, follow this link.
• Additional Services and Convenience Features
• Enhanced Mechanical and Pre-Trip Safety Inspection Description
  • Overall/body
  • Suspension Components
  • Steering Components
  • Brakes
  • Electrical, Charging and Starting Systems
  • Cooling System
  • Engine
  • Emissions and Computer Control Components
  • Transmission
  • Differential(s)
  • Transfer Case
  • Drive train components
  • Climate Control/Air Conditioning
  • Accessories
  • Road Test
  • $PRICE$
• Detailed Lease End Inspection Description
  • $PRICE$
• Service Terms

• Pre-purchase inspections for used vehicle buyers.
• Lease Termination Inspection
• Inspections for people going on a vacation or an extended trip.
• Inspect vehicles for sellers who believe that an accurate inspection report insures buyer's satisfaction and ultimately increases the selling price.
• Perform inspections for extended warranty companies to verify cause and extent of mechanical failures.

• Precision Auto Diagnostics, Inc. is a locally owned and operated, community-oriented business, not a faceless national chain.
• Superb customer service - when you call, and the phone is answered around the clock, you talk to one of our Inspectors who will answer ANY questions you might have.
• We can accommodate your schedule, no matter how hectic it might be, by maintaining flexible business hours including weekends and holidays.
• Over 95% of all our inspections are done the same day.
• We have recently updated our fleet of trucks so that inspections can be performed at your site regardless of weather.
• Our inspection takes about three hours, and covers virtually every system (see the detailed list of covered components below) - its condition, malfunctions, approximate cost of repairs (if needed) and how urgently the problem(s) need to be addressed.
• Condition of well over 400 components is carefully evaluated, and described in the written SEVEN-PAGE REPORT.
• You have an option to tailor an inspection to your particular needs, and if you feel that certain tests or procedures are not needed, an appropriate discount will be applied.
• We employ ONLY ASE/MAC Certified Inspectors with at least 20 years of automotive experience.
• All of our inspectors MUST follow the strictest procedures developed over the 17-year period we've been doing inspections.
• We use state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment.
• We constantly add new tests and procedures to our service menu to make sure that our customers take advantage of the latest technology.
• We offer re-inspection and other discounts and convenience features - see the following section for details.
• Our price structure is simple and fair - you know what you pay in advance with no surcharges, hidden fees or other surprises.
• For your convenience, we accept checks, cash, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.

• Should you decide not to purchase a vehicle we have inspected, two subsequent inspections of other vehicles will be done @10% discount. See the Service Terms Section for details.
• If you need transportation to or from the inspection site, it will be provided to you. See the Service Terms Section for details.
• If requested, our Inspector will take professional quality digital pictures that can be sent via e-mail at no additional charge.
• A Lease-End Inspection includes photographs on a CD at no additional charge.
• Photographs on a CD can be added to a Mechanical Inspection for a $15.00 fee.

• Inspect glass for scratches, dings and cracks
• Inspect painted surfaces for dents, scratches, signs of pealing, corrosion or previous repairs using digital paint thickness gauge where appropriate
• Inspect body panels for proper fit and uneven gaps
• Inspect doors, trunk and hood lids, hinges and weather strips
• Inspect interior for excessive wear and damage
• Inspect undercarriage for signs of prior collision damage, dented or distorted frame or unibody components
• Road test: check for squeaks and rattles

• Inspect drag links upper end lower control arms and ball joints for looseness/excessive play and wear
• Inspect all dust boots and bushings for signs of wear and deterioration
• Inspect shock absorbers and struts for leakage and/or excessive bouncing
• Inspect strut mounts, shock absorber bushings
• Inspect sway bar links and bushings for signs of excessive play and deterioration
• Inspect torsion bars, torsion bar mounts, coil and/or leaf springs for excessive sagging and cracks
• Visually check wheel alignment
• Inspect tires for abnormal wear - an indication of wear/damage to suspension and/or steering component(s)
• Measure tire thread depth
• Road test: check for handling deficiencies and abnormal noises with digital stethoscope if appropriate

• Inspect tie rod ends, pitman/idler arms, center link
• Inspect power steering hoses for leaks and deterioration
• Inspect power steering gear box or rack-and-pinion assembly for leaks, noises or looseness
• Inspect power steering pump belt for cracks or deterioration
• Inspect power steering pump for leaks, excessive noise (with digital stethoscope) and inadequate performance
• During road test, check for noises, adequate handling and stability

• Check brake pedal play
• Check parking brake performance
• Check fluid level and condition
• Inspect rotors and pads for abnormal wear and remaining thickness
• If applicable, remove a wheel and a drum to inspect thickness of linings, drum wear, and cylinder/axle seals condition
• Inspect master cylinder, booster, lines and fitting for signs of leakage and deterioration
• Road test: verify performance during normal operation and emergency braking ABS operation
• Check temperature of brake components after the road test using laser non-contact thermometer

• Inspect battery condition by measuring voltage with and without load using a battery load tester
• Measure parasitic current draw using an inductive meter with 10 mAmps tolerance
• Inspect alternator belt for cracks and signs of deterioration
• Inspect alternator for excessive noise level with digital stethoscope
• Measure alternator voltage and current output using a voltmeter and an inductive current meter
• Verify rectifier performance with an electrical system tester
• Measure starter current draw and cranking RPM using a clamp-on high-precision inductive current meter

• Inspect water pump belt for cracks and signs of deterioration
• Check radiator for internal corrosion and deposit blocking
• Inspect hoses for signs of internal or external deterioration
• Pressurize cooling system for 30 minutes, check for leaks and pressure drop
• On a running engine, check amount of time needed for complete warm up
• Measure engine temperature with external laser non-contact thermometer
• Verify thermostat operation using laser non-contact thermometer
• Verify electric cooling fan operation, and "kick-in" temperature

• Check seals and gaskets for leaks - valve cover gasket(s), head gasket(s), timing cover gasket, front and rear crank seals, oil cooler and lines, oil filter gasket, etc.
• Inspect upper end for presence of sludge, varnish or intermix in the valve train
• Check compression using either a compression gauge or an Electronic Engine Analyzer
• Inspect cylinder walls, piston top and head gasket for damage using a fiber scope
• Inspect condition of a spark plug
• Run cylinder power balance test using Electronic Engine Analyzer
• Using digital stethoscope, check for abnormal noises in upper end (valve train), fuel injectors, cylinder block (piston slap), timing cover area (chain or belt tensioner and guide(s)) and lower end (crankshaft bearings)
• Timing belt condition
• Road test: check for adequate power under different conditions
• See Emissions and Computer Controls section for engine management components' tests

• Check for presence of current and history trouble codes using an external computer control system Scanner
• Document any codes stored in the computer memory
• If no codes present, verify if the codes had been recently cleared
• Monitor live sensor readings such as
  • Open/Closed loop mode
  • Upstream and downstream Oxygen sensors
  • Long and short term trim (or Integrator Learn) values
  • Exhaust Gas Recirculation sensor
  • Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor
  • MAF sensor
  • Crank and/or Camshaft Position Sensor
  • Coolant Temperature Sensor
  • Spark advance values in various regimes
  • Throttle Position Sensor
  • Gear Selector/Safety switch
  • AC refrigerant sensor
  • Etc.

• Check for external leaks from seals, gaskets, cooler, and lines
• Inspect for any physical damage to housing and external components
• Check fluid level and condition
• Road test:
  • Check clutch pedal travel/engagement (manual transmission)
  • Check shift pattern
  • Verify engagement of all gears
  • Check for abnormal noises

• Check for external leaks from seals and gaskets
• Inspect for any physical damage to housing and external components
• Road test: Check for abnormal noises in various conditions - under load, without load, on turns

• Check for external leaks from seals and gaskets
• Inspect for any physical damage to housing and external components
• Road test: Check for abnormal noises in various conditions - under load, without load, on turns, in 2WD, 4WD HI, 4WD LO

• Inspect drive shaft(s) and dive axles for physical damage
• Inspect U-joints for corrosion, excessive play and binding and
• Inspect CV-joints for excessive play and damage/deterioration to protective boots
• Road test: Check for abnormal noises and/or vibration

• Check fan(s) operation
• Check temperature control operation
• Check flow direction controls operation
• Air Conditioning
  • Inspect AC compressor drive belt for cracks and signs of deterioration
  • Measure outlet temperature with a non-contact digital laser thermometer
  • Verify auxiliary cooling fan operation
  • Check for leaks at condenser, evaporator, seals, gaskets, fittings, valves with a digital refrigerant leak detector
  • Measure static and high/low dynamic system pressures
  • Check AC compressor for leaks and abnormal noises
  • Inspect AC compressor clutch for excessive wear and heat damage
  • Verify AC compressor clutch engagement

• Check operation of low and high beam headlights, turn signals, brake lights, emergency signal
• Check operation of map and other interior lights
• Check operation of front and rear washers and wipers
• Check operation of seats - power and manual
• Check operation of power locks and windows
• Check operation of cruise control
• Check operation of CD/tape player

• Inspect body panels, painted surfaces, windshield and door glass for cracks, scratches, and dings
• Inspect interior for excessive wear and damage
• Check operation of all accessories, climate control system, door locks, window regulators, windshield wiper(s) and washer(s), etc.
• Check operation of all interior and exterior lights
• Inspect Engine compartment for signs of leaks or other visual damage
• Inspect undercarriage for signs of physical damage
• Inspect transmission, differential(s), and transfer case for leaks and/or physical damage
• Inspect drive shaft(s), u-joints, drive axles, CV joints and boots for excessive play
• Road test the vehicle to verify proper operation of drive train components, engine, suspension, and brake systems
• Document all findings in the report, and take professional quality digital photographs to support the inspection findings
• Output photographs on a CD-ROM disk as an evidence in case of an arbitration.

• An inspection can be cancelled at any time up to one hour before the appointment time. If an Inspector arrives to the site, and the inspection does not take place at no fault of ours, there will be a travel charge of $50.00 imposed.
• We are not affiliated with any dealer and/or repair shop, and, therefore, have no interest in you buying (or not buying) a particular vehicle. This makes our integrity and impartiality intact unlike that of a repair shop that expects to make money on repairs after the vehicle is purchased.
• Despite all of our efforts, strict procedures, and special equipment our inspectors utilize, certain defects such as intermittent conditions may not be detectable. There also is a remote possibility of a human error, and if this happens we will issue a refund up to the cost of inspection which is the maximum amount Precision Auto Diagnostics, Inc. is liable for. In fact, nobody can give a 100% accuracy guarantee, and those who claim that they can are either deliberately misleading their customers or don't know what they are talking about. Buying a used vehicle is ALWAYS A GAMBLE, and our job is to increase your chances dramatically by changing odds in your favor.
• Some tests may not be available or applicable to all vehicles. For instance, certain components may not be accessible without extensive teardown, or manufacturer-specific implementations may limit test availability.
• Some components listed in the Detailed Description above are not applicable to all vehicles. For instance, 2WD vehicles are not equipped with transfer case.
• The repair prices are provided for reference purpose only since a repair facility will charge what they see appropriate. Also, prices for parts differ widely from manufacturer to manufacture, and the most appropriate repair procedure as determined by our Inspector may not be the same as determined by a repair shop that - unlike us - is not in business of saving you money. We do not have control over another business' operation, charges and policies.
• A free ride to the inspection site is provided if no extensive extra travel is required. "Out-of-the-way" pick-up is available at additional fee that will be determined based on distance at the time of inspection setup.
• Subsequent inspection discount of %10 is provided within two weeks after the previous inspection, and is limited to two inspections.