“The light has been on for 6 months and 3 shops.”
Chronic misdiagnosis loop
Same code on a generic OBD reader can come from 5 different parts. Without live data + actuation tests, the shops are guessing. We trace it correctly the first time.
Check Engine Light & Electrical
Every fault code, traced to its source.
Free factory-tool diagnostic scan on every visit — Mercedes XENTRY, BMW ISTA, Audi ODIS, Porsche PIWIS, Land Rover SDD, Jaguar IDS. Module diagnostics, CAN-bus tracing, ADAS calibration, parasitic-drain hunting, infotainment work. We trace every fault to its root cause before quoting any repair. 48-month / 48,000-mile warranty on parts and labor.
Free diagnostic scan
Factory tools, every marque
48-mo / 48k warranty
32yrFamily-run since 1993
45+Yrs ASE European experience
48mo/48kParts + labor warranty
BoschCertified shop
PACNationwide warranty network
If any of this sounds familiar
The chain shop’s diagnostic strategy: guess and replace.
Most shops have a $40 OBD code reader and a guess. They replace one sensor, the light comes back, they replace another. By the time they figure it out, you’ve paid for three repairs to fix one problem. Here’s where it usually goes sideways.
“The car keeps draining the battery overnight.”
Parasitic drain hunting
Stuck module, faulty BCM relay, aftermarket alarm, infotainment that won’t sleep. We use a current clamp + module-by-module isolation to find it — not "replace the battery and hope."
“The lane-keep’s been off since the windshield was replaced.”
ADAS recalibration
Camera-based lane-keep + adaptive cruise need calibration after windshield replacement, alignment, suspension work, or any front-end collision. We have the targets and the procedures.
“The infotainment screen reboots randomly.”
Module / firmware faults
Bad ground, low voltage, software bug, hardware failure. We diagnose electrically + check stored MOST/CAN-bus errors before recommending replacement vs. firmware update.
Our approach
Code reading isn’t diagnosis. Diagnosis is diagnosis.
The dirty secret about most diagnostic shops is that they read codes and look up the most-likely part. That’s not diagnosis — that’s a 30% guess. A P0171 lean code can come from a vacuum leak, MAF contamination, a leaking injector, a stretched timing chain, low fuel pressure, or an exhaust leak before the upstream O2. Replacing the MAF first works 30% of the time. The other 70%, you’re back next month.
We use the factory scan tool for your marque (Mercedes XENTRY, BMW ISTA, Audi ODIS, Porsche PIWIS, Land Rover SDD, Jaguar IDS) plus live data analysis (fuel trims, mass airflow, boost pressure, secondary O2 readings, misfire counters) plus targeted actuation tests (commanding the EVAP valve open, cycling the fuel pump, running a smoke test). The fault gets traced to its source. Then we quote the actual repair.
- Factory diagnostic scan on every visit — not a generic $40 OBD reader
- Live data + actuation tests — isolates root cause when codes alone can’t
- Module / CAN-bus diagnosis with marque-specific tools (XENTRY, ISTA, ODIS, PIWIS, SDD, IDS)
- ADAS recalibration capability — static + dynamic targets for windshield / suspension / collision
- Every repair covered by our 48-month / 48,000-mile parts and labor warranty
Scope of work
Every category of European electrical & diagnostic work, under one roof.
Eight common electrical / diagnostic / module categories — from check-engine-light root-cause through full ADAS recalibration after collision.
Check engine light diagnosis & repair
Free factory-tool scan + live data + actuation tests. Root-cause traced before any quote. Then itemized repair quote.
Module & CAN-bus diagnosis
Body control module, comfort access, infotainment, instrument cluster, lighting modules. CAN-bus tracing with factory tool + scope.
ADAS calibration
Static + dynamic camera calibration after windshield replacement, alignment, suspension, or collision. Lane-keep, adaptive cruise, blind spot, front + rear cameras.
Parasitic drain & battery diagnostics
Module-by-module isolation with current clamp. Battery condition test (CCA / SOC / SOH). AGM-aware charging system diagnosis.
Infotainment & multimedia
Display reboot, MOST-bus diagnosis, head-unit firmware updates via factory tool, microphone / camera / speaker hardware repair.
Power-window / sunroof / convertible-top
Regulator + motor service, sunroof drain repair, convertible-top hydraulic and electrical diagnosis on Z4, SLK, Boxster, F-Type.
Wiring repair & harness work
Rodent damage, corrosion, broken connectors, melted insulation. Repair to OEM specification, not "splice it and tape it."
Aftermarket integration
Audio + amp installation, dashcam wiring (hard-wired, fuse-tap, parking-mode capable), security system integration, phone-mirroring upgrades.
How a diagnosis goes
Five steps. No surprises.
From the moment you call to the moment you drive out, here’s what to expect — and what you walk away with at every step.
01
Book + drop off
Call (561) 395-5566 or request a quote. Most diagnostic visits are same-day with an appointment.
02
Free factory scan
Mercedes XENTRY / BMW ISTA / Audi ODIS / Porsche PIWIS / Land Rover SDD / Jaguar IDS. Every module read, every code captured.
03
Live data + actuation
Fuel trims, mass airflow, boost pressure, misfire counters, EVAP test, smoke test — whatever the code points at. Root cause confirmed.
04
Itemized quote + repair
Real diagnosis = real quote. OEM parts, factory torque, post-repair re-scan to confirm fault is cleared and not just reset.
05
48-mo / 48k warranty
Parts and labor covered, starting on invoice date. Honored at PAC Community shops nationwide. Service logged digitally.
Marques we service for diagnostics & electrical
All marques →How we’re different
What you actually get, line by line, vs. the chain shop.
Diagnostic depth is where chain shops fail European cars. Here’s the row-by-row comparison.
| What you’re paying for | Typical chain | Boca Autohaus |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic charge | ×$129–$200 just to plug in | ✓Free — full factory-tool scan |
| Scan tool | ×Generic OBD reader (codes only) | ✓Marque factory tool (XENTRY, ISTA, ODIS, PIWIS, SDD, IDS) |
| Live data analysis | ×Not available on generic reader | ✓Fuel trims, MAF, boost, secondary O2, misfire counters |
| Actuation tests | ×Not available | ✓EVAP, fuel pump, throttle body, ABS pump cycling |
| Module / CAN-bus diagnosis | ×"We don’t do that on European cars" | ✓BCM, infotainment, ADAS, comfort access — all marques |
| ADAS calibration | ×Not available | ✓Static + dynamic camera calibration with factory targets |
| Repair approach | ×Replace cheapest part, hope it works | ✓Trace to root cause, then replace what’s actually broken |
| Warranty | ×30 days or none | ✓48 mo / 48k parts & labor, nationwide PAC network |
What it costs
Diagnostic scans are always free. Repair quoted itemized.
Most chain shops charge $129–$200 just to plug in a generic OBD reader and tell you which code is set. That’s a fee for guessing.
Our diagnostic scan is free, every visit. We use the factory scan tool for your marque (XENTRY, ISTA, ODIS, PIWIS, SDD, IDS) plus live data plus actuation tests. The fault is traced to its source — not the cheapest part to swap.
Then we quote the actual repair, itemized, before touching anything. Quote good for 30 days, no work without your line-by-line approval.
Diagnostic scan
Free full factory-tool scan, every visit
European labor for diagnosis-driven repair billed at $269/hr — significantly less than dealer rates for the same factory tooling and root-cause depth. Domestic/Asian $229/hr; exotic $299/hr.
See published labor rates and starting prices for oil, alignment, PPI, and brake service.
Frequently asked
Diagnostic questions, answered straight.
The seven questions we’re most often asked about diagnostic and electrical work — with the real answers.
My check engine light is on — should I drive?
If the light is steady (not flashing) and the car is driving normally, you have time — bring it in within a week for a free scan. The most common steady-CEL causes (loose gas cap, EVAP leak, mild misfire, lean fuel trim) won’t hurt the engine in the short term.
If the light is flashing, that’s an active misfire damaging the catalytic converter. Pull over, call us at (561) 395-5566, and we’ll arrange flatbed pickup. Continuing to drive a flashing-CEL car will turn a $400 coil-pack repair into a $2,500 cat-replacement repair.
Why has my check engine light been on for months?
Almost always because the previous shop misdiagnosed it — replaced the wrong part, the light came back, they replaced another wrong part, the light came back. The cycle continues until someone uses the right scan tool plus live data to trace the actual cause.
Bring it in. Free scan. We’ll tell you what the code actually means, what the live data is showing, and quote the real repair. Most "chronic" CELs we see have a single root cause that previous shops missed.
What’s the difference between an OBD scanner and a factory scan tool?
A generic OBD scanner reads emissions-related fault codes and a limited subset of live data — mostly via the standardized OBD-II protocol that all cars share. It can tell you "P0171 lean condition" but not which sensor is reading what or whether the fuel-trim correction is at the limit.
A factory scan tool (Mercedes XENTRY, BMW ISTA, Audi ODIS, Porsche PIWIS, Land Rover SDD, Jaguar IDS) reads ALL modules — not just engine. It accesses manufacturer-specific live data, runs actuation tests (cycling solenoids, opening valves, commanding the throttle), performs adaptations, and has bidirectional control. That’s the difference between code reading and diagnosis.
Do you do ADAS calibration?
Yes — static (with calibration targets) and dynamic (drive-cycle) for the cameras and radar that handle lane-keep, adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and front + rear cameras. ADAS recalibration is required after windshield replacement, suspension or alignment work, or any front-end collision repair.
Most chain shops don’t do this — they hand the car back with the systems disabled and a "see your dealer" note. We do it as standard whenever the work requires it.
My battery keeps dying — what’s wrong?
Either the battery itself is failing (CCA dropped below spec, open cell, sulfation), the charging system isn’t restoring it (worn alternator, voltage regulator), or there’s a parasitic drain (a module or accessory pulling current after the car is off).
We test all three: battery condition (CCA, internal resistance, SOC, SOH), charging system (load test on the alternator, cable resistance), and parasitic drain (current clamp + module-by-module isolation). The fix is whichever fails the test — not "we’ll replace the battery and see."
Can you fix infotainment / radio / display issues?
Yes — firmware updates via factory tool, MOST-bus diagnosis (the optical bus that carries audio + video on most modern European cars), head-unit replacement when needed, microphone and camera hardware repair, speaker amplifier troubleshooting, Bluetooth + CarPlay + Android Auto setup.
Some issues are firmware bugs that an update fixes for free. Some are hardware failures requiring replacement. We diagnose first — then quote the real fix.
How much does electrical diagnosis cost?
The diagnostic scan is free. If the symptom requires deeper work — live data analysis, actuation tests, parasitic-drain hunting, harness inspection — that diagnostic time is billed at our standard $269/hr European rate, but we’ll always quote the diagnostic time before starting.
Most diagnostic jobs are 1–2 hours. Complex parasitic drain or intermittent faults can take longer; we’ll tell you up front. The repair is quoted separately, itemized, after diagnosis is complete.
Bring us your check engine light for a free diagnosis.
Tell us the year, make, model, and what the dash is showing. We’ll scan it free, trace the fault to its source, and come back with a real itemized quote — usually within one business day.