Mobile mechanic · Chicagoland
Mobile car diagnostics and check-engine light checks
Check-engine light on? Won't start, making a noise or leaking something? Steve diagnoses it where you parked and gives you a plain-English answer before you spend money on parts.
- Upfront price before work
- No tow bill
- Same-week appointments
When to get a diagnostic
- The check-engine light is on or flashing.
- The car won't start or won't crank.
- A clunk, hum, rattle or vibration you can't place.
- Fluid spots under the car, or the temperature gauge runs high.
- The battery keeps going dead overnight.
- Something electrical, like a window, a fuse or a light, quit working.
What Steve does in your driveway
Steve scans the car, tests what the codes point to, and tells you in plain English what's wrong and what it takes to fix it. A trouble code tells you where the problem is, not always which part failed, so he tests before replacing anything.
The diagnosis happens at your car, so there's no tow and no waiting in a shop lobby. For leaks he uses a pressure test or dye. For electrical problems he traces the circuit. For noises he road tests the car and finds the source by hand.
Diagnostic prices
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Check-engine diagnosticScan, test, and a plain-English answer | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| No-start diagnosticWhy it won't crank or fire, found in your driveway | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Electrical diagnosticBattery drain, shorts, gremlins traced down | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Noise / vibration diagnosisRoad test and hands-on find of the clunk or hum | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Charging system diagnosisIs it the battery, alternator or wiring? | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Coolant leak diagnosisPressure test to find where it's going | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Oil leak diagnosisDye and inspection to find the source | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Fuse / relay diagnosisFinds the dead circuit and fixes the fuse or relay | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| Exhaust leak diagnosisFind the leak or rattle, with a repair quote | $95 nearby, $120 farther |
| EVAP leak / smoke testSmoke test to find the vapor leak | $95–160 |
Call or text Steve at 331-314-8484 for a price.
Typical prices for a mid-size car, parts and labor, before tax. You get the exact price before any work starts. No trip fee around Aurora, Naperville, Oswego and the Fox Valley. A flat $35 trip fee everywhere else in Chicagoland.
Diagnosis is priced by distance. The first hour is $95 within about a 45-minute drive of Aurora and $120 farther out. Each extra hour is $120. The diagnosis is credited toward the repair.
What changes the price
- Distance. The first hour of a diagnosis is priced by how far you are from Aurora.
- How long it takes. Some problems show up in minutes. Others, like electrical gremlins, can take a second hour, and each extra hour is billed at the hourly rate above.
- What it turns out to be. The diagnosis gives you the answer. The repair is priced separately, and the diagnosis is credited toward it.
How it works
1
Tell Steve what's wrong
Call, text, or send the short form.
2
Get your price
You approve the estimate before he starts.
3
Steve fixes it where you parked
Home, work, or a parking lot. Pay when it runs right.
Questions
How much is a check-engine light diagnostic?
The first hour is priced by distance from Aurora, and each extra hour is billed at an hourly rate. The exact amounts are in the price table on this page. The diagnosis is credited toward the repair.
Is it safe to drive with the check-engine light on?
A steady light often means the computer stored a fault that should be checked soon. A flashing light usually means a misfire, which can damage the exhaust system. If it's flashing or the car runs rough, call Steve instead of driving it.
Can you diagnose a car that won't start at my house?
Yes. The no-start diagnostic is done where the car is parked. Steve finds out whether it's the battery, the starter, the charging system or something else.
How long does a diagnostic take?
A check-engine diagnostic takes about 45–60 min and a no-start about 1 hr. Electrical problems can take 1–2 hr.
What do I get at the end?
A plain-English answer: what's wrong, what it takes to fix it and what that costs. You decide whether Steve does the repair.