What to Expect During Engine Diagnosis
Engine diagnosis identifies the source of a symptom before a repair is recommended. The right recommendation depends on the vehicle’s condition and the diagnostic findings.
Schedule Your Appointment
Contact us to arrange vehicle service. Share any symptoms or changes you’ve noticed, such as unusual operation, warning lights, or overheating, without trying to determine the cause yourself.
Receive a Professional Diagnosis
Our ASE-certified technicians use advanced tools to evaluate the vehicle and identify the concern. This process helps distinguish an engine issue from a related cooling, electrical, lubrication, or transmission concern.
Review the Findings
Your free Digital Vehicle Inspection includes photos captured during service. We explain the recommendations and available options so you have useful information before deciding how to proceed.
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
Warranty Protection & On-Site Accountability
Our work at the Merritt Island location is covered by the Nice Difference® Warranty. This warranty protects your vehicle for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs last.
Michael and Kayla Longchamp own and operate this location. As owner/operators, they’re on-site and directly involved in the customer experience, providing a clear point of accountability when you bring us an engine concern.
Services Related to Engine Performance
An engine-related symptom doesn’t always reveal its source. Cooling, lubrication, electrical, and transmission concerns can all affect how a vehicle runs, so its overall condition matters during evaluation.
Our related services in Merritt Island include:
- Check Engine Light Diagnostics
- A/C & Cooling System Service
- Oil Changes & Scheduled Maintenance
- Transmission Diagnostics & Maintenance
- Battery Testing & Replacement
Understanding Head Gasket Warning Signs
A head gasket seals the connection between the engine block and cylinder head. It keeps coolant and oil separated while helping the engine maintain combustion chamber compression, the pressure produced as the air-fuel mixture burns inside the cylinders.
Common signs associated with head gasket failure include:
- Engine overheating
- Noticeable loss of power
- Oil contamination
- Smoke coming from the exhaust
These signs can have several possible causes, so professional diagnosis should come before any repair decision. Drivers researching head gasket replacement in Merritt Island should stop operating an overheating vehicle when it’s safe to do so because continued driving can cause further engine damage.
Preventative Maintenance & Vehicle Inspections
Preventative maintenance addresses service needs according to a vehicle’s mileage and condition. Our Care+ Program provides scheduled maintenance reminders based on your specific vehicle and its mileage. It also includes coverage for key preventive services and uses fixed monthly pricing to help manage maintenance expenses.
We also provide a free Courtesy Inspection that offers an overview of major vehicle systems, giving you a clearer starting point for deciding which concerns need attention.
The Courtesy Inspection covers major systems including:
- Lights
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Tires
- Battery
Schedule Engine Service with Less Disruption
Appointments are available by phone or through our contact form. Our free courtesy shuttle can help you continue your day while your vehicle is with us, and after-hours key drop-off is available when you can’t arrive during regular hours.
If you plan to remain at the location, we provide free WiFi and a waiting lounge. These options can make your visit easier while our technicians evaluate your vehicle.
Call (321) 252-7511 to schedule your engine service appointment with Christian Brothers Automotive Merritt Island.
How Head Gasket Replacement Is Generally Performed
Head gasket replacement begins by confirming that the gasket is the source of the engine concern. Because overheating, power loss, contaminated oil, and exhaust smoke can have different causes, diagnosis is necessary before this extensive procedure is considered.
The general procedure involves draining the engine fluids and removing the components needed to access the cylinder head. The cylinder head and engine block surfaces are then checked for warping before a new gasket is installed. During reassembly, new head bolts are tightened according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
After the removed components are reinstalled, the fluids are refilled. The engine is then tested for leaks and evaluated.
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
FAQs
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Q. "Why is my engine misfiring?"An issue with your ignition system, fuel system, or another mechanical error can cause your engine to misfire. If your engine is misfiring, it is best to have your vehicle looked at immediately. Click here to learn more about engine misfires and their causes.
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Q. "Why is my engine overheating?"The 3 most common reasons your engine is overheating are you have a cooling system leak, a malfunctioning radiator, or a loose/broken belt.
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Q. "What to do if your check engine light turns on?"We recommend heading to your local auto shop as soon as you are able. This is typically a sign that there is an abnormality within your engine.
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Q. "Do you offer a shuttle service?"Yes! we understand you have a full schedule. Whether you need to get to work, school, or need to attend to other responsibilities, we can take you where you need to go. Click here to learn more.
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "Can you provide service under my extended warranty?"Yes. At Christian Brothers Automotive, we work with all major extended warranty providers to make needed repairs for our customers. If you have an extended warranty, you can discuss your carrier with our team when scheduling an appointment and confirm that the work will be covered. You can find a partial list of the extended warranty companies we work with here.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"I liked the customer service and going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable while waiting in the store for my vehicle work to be done, specifically being offered a nice hot coffee with creamer."
- J.L.