Car diagnostic -
remote car monitoring

Any car with an onboard computer would have a standard OBD port to connect to diagnostic equipment. OBD stands for ‘on-board diagnostics’, it provides self-diagnostic and reporting data to the owner of a car and technicians. Ever since it was introduced in the 1980s, its implementation has been improving. If your car was manufactured after 1996 it is likely to have an OBD-II port to monitor emission level, mileage, speed and other critical data. If it detects a problem, Check Engine Light is illuminated – it either stays on, flashes or goes away after blinking. Further information on malfunction can be obtained by reading diagnostic trouble codes.

Vehicle diagnostics can be performed automatically with the help of a computing device such as a laptop, netbook, tablet or a smartphone.

Contents:

1. Remote car diagnostics
2. FlexiHub for remote vehicle diagnostics
3. Remote car diagnostics with custom solution HelpWire

Remote car diagnostics

Service stations nowadays strive not only to bring as many clients as possible but to make them regular customers. Remote vehicle diagnostics is an increasingly popular service, as not all vehicle owners have access to the database, and they are unlikely to buy an expensive software application to identify a detected problem. Also, at times it is difficult to find time to go to a station or, say, your car might start malfunctioning while you are on the road. So, the best way to get it done is to contact a trustworthy service station and ask them to solve the problem. This is when you need a remote car diagnostic.

Not only it is preferable to a client, but to a technician too, they can access remote OBD to figure out what the problem is, and decide whether the car needs to be repaired. You can also remotely reset system errors of the onboard computer, after a while they might happen even if there is no malfunction.

The minimum requirements for a computer diagnostics apart from a computing device, are as follows:

• You need to know where the diagnostic port is. In most cases, the port is located in the steering wheel vicinity, somewhere near the dashboard. In some vehicles though the diagnostics port is located under the motor hood.
• A vehicle diagnostic tool that works with electronic systems of a vehicle – an OBDII scan tool or a diagnostics adapter. For a basic diagnostics of most of the vehicles, an adapter KKL USB and PC will do.
• Software that enables remote access to the OBD2 scanner directly connected to the vehicle.

Why you need FlexiHub for remote vehicle diagnostics

Here is how you do it:

1. Sign up a FlexiHub account here.
2. To be able to access remote devices, subscribe to a free trial.
3. Download and install FlexiHub onto your computer.
4. Log into the application using your newly created credentials.
5. "Now your client downloads FlexiHub on his local computer and logs in using your login ID and password.
6. Make sure the car is turned off and the scanner is inserted into the OBD2 port.
   Remote OBD access with FlexiHub
7. Turn on the ignition key for the scanner to detect problems and malfunctions of the vehicle.
8. The local computer should detect the device. Depending on the type of connection (USB, RS232 or Bluetooth) the procedure might slightly differ. When a Bluetooth scanner is connected, it is detected as a standard COM port connection and FlexiHub will recognize it as an RS232 device.
9. On the remote side you will see the device as if it was physically plugged into your computer.
10. The further diagnostic procedure is no different from the standard one when a car actually drives to the station.

FlexiHub advantages

FlexiHub allows to conduct a remote car monitoring with minimum requirements; your client will only need a basic OBD scanner and a computer. Remote diagnostics adds a value to the list of services offered at your service center and increases your clients’ loyalty. It means you’ll have a lot more regular customers.

Remote car diagnostics with custom solution HelpWire

For those service centers which strive to provide remote vehicle diagnostics on a regular basis, there is a custom software solution - HelpWire.

HelpWire is a dedicated platform designed to suit the certain requirements of your business. You can request HelpWire developers to add any specific feature to ensure that your remote car diagnostics needs are met.

HelpWire is compatible with all major platforms, including Mac, Windows, and Linux and is extremely easy to deploy.

Here’s how it works:

1. Your customer attaches the scanner to the OBDII port in their car in order for the device to identify the problem. Then, they connect the scanner to a local computer running HelpWire client-side app, log into their account and share the device for remote access.
2. Once shared, the device appears in a remote system (on the computer located in your service center). Next, one of your operators starts a session with this client over the HelpWire platform on this PC and connects to the client’s device remotely across the Internet. The device will be recognized by the specialist’s computer like it was connected to the PC directly.
3. The technician conducts standard diagnostics procedure and ends the session with the client, once it is completed. As a result, the device automatically disconnects from the specialist’s machine.

As you see, HelpWire can enable the techs of your service center to connect and undertake diagnostics to the customer devices easily thereby increase the profitability of your company and give you a competitive edge over other service stations. This platform is a simple way to build a unique and efficient car remote diagnostic system.