How To Diagnose Car Problems With Your Smartphone

How To Diagnose Car Problems With Your Smartphone


FIXD Monitor

FIXD is a must-have for cars 1996 or newer (LEARN MORE)

Have you ever gone to get a simple oil change only to have the mechanic hit you with a long list of repairs that cost $100s — even $1,000s?

Of course. It happens to everyone, because shops don’t make money on oil changes and tire rotations. Their business model is built around “upsells” and they have to hit you with other services to make a profit.

Sadly, most of us are easy prey. Mechanics call the check engine light the “idiot light” for a reason. They know that the average person doesn’t know enough to question what services and repairs are needed.

And so we all just end up blindly paying to have things done whether we need it or not.

It’s not right, but it’s reality.

The solution

Every so often an innovative technology comes along that completely disrupts an industry. Uber did it for taxis. Netflix and Redbox did it for entertainment, and Airbnb did it for hotels.

I recently learned about FIXD (found at FIXDApp.com). Basically, it’s like a FitBit for your car. (Or like a shop diagnostic tool on steroids.)

Using the OBD (on-board diagnostics) port in your car and an app on your smartphone, you can instantly do a “health” check on your vehicle. Brilliant!

FIXD was invented by four students from Georgia Tech, fueled by the frustration of getting pushed around and exploited at auto shops.

The FIXD Team

The inventors of FIXD


“Like people, cars get ‘sick,’ too – and the only way they can tell us what is wrong is through the check engine light. Our team knew that there must be a better way to diagnose your car’s health – and now FIXD is here to help! I have a passion for creative innovation, especially when it means creating a solution to a wide-reaching problem. FIXD is the perfect solution for people (like me!) who don’t speak ‘car.'”


How it works

The FIXD sensor works by plugging into the OBD (on-board diagnostics) port of your car. (It’s the same port that mechanics hook their code reader to.) NOTE: Every vehicle made in 1996 or later is required to have an OBD port. It’s typically located below the steering wheel, under the dash.

The sensor connects via Bluetooth to the FIXD App on your smartphone, where you can easily see a quick scan of all your car’s systems and any problems found.

How FIXD Works

See for yourself what those warning lights mean

Engine Warning Lights

If your check engine lights comes on, it could mean anything from a loose gas cap to a life-threatening malfunction — you wouldn’t know the difference without getting your car into the shop (…and is it even safe enough to drive to the mechanic?)

FIXD alerts you of 7,000+ potential issues with your car in real-time.

The FIXD app shows you what’s wrong and how severe the problem is… in simple, easy-to-understand terms so you know what’s going on.

If it’s something simple like a loose gas cap, FIXD can turn off your check engine light right from the app. This function is also helpful if you want to turn off the warning light to see if the error pops back up (sometimes a computer glitch will trip false errors).

If it’s a real problem that needs attention, this device arms you with the knowledge you need when talking to your mechanic. I guarantee you’ll be treated differently when you come in knowing what you’re talking about. That kind of confidence saves you money.

Where to get one

The best deal I’ve found is HERE for $59 + $5 S&H. At that price, FIXD basically pays for itself with one saved diagnostic fee at the mechanic. I ordered three — one for each of my cars. The verdict? Awesome! Check out my FIXD review.

UPDATE

FIXD is running a Flash Sale today:

What people are saying about FIXD