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.

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

FlexiHub helps to transmit data from OBD2 diagnostic tool connected to the local computer to your service station. It does not matter how exactly the tool is connected: via Bluetooth, RS232 or USB port.

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.
   
   Alternatively, your client can register his/her own free FlexiHub account and send you an invite for connection."
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.