Glossary / General

diagnostic time

10 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Diagnostic time is the time a mechanic spends figuring out what's wrong with a car. You pay for this time to help find the problem before any repairs are made.

Technical Definition

Diagnostic time refers to the hours charged by a mechanic to identify issues with a vehicle. This can include inspecting, testing, and troubleshooting to determine what repairs are needed.

Hear It Discussed

"[1886.4s] do they see the repair that was made or the repair attempt that was made to the car out in Ohio, And for the for the record, kiddo, I can't imagine being in a situation where I've got to..."
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - April 25, 2026 - Hour 2 - The Cost Of Not Knowing What's Broken Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 31:43

"when it comes to getting the proper diagnostic time. We just did a 2000 Corvette... Brian was working on a charging system issue and he spent a good Amount of time."
ADAS and Electric Vehicles Are Changing Auto Repair | Marco Palumbo The Jaded Mechanic Podcast 13:30

"When it comes to diagnostic work, you don't want to be build eight and a half hours of diagnostic time for service light at the end of the day. ... you're only going to authorize one hour of..."
Service Engine Light On? Don't Panic Until You Do These 5 Things First Car Connection Workshop 29:23