Just tell CarMD where it hurts
If you know how to listen to your car, you can save a lot of trouble and possibly a bundle of money. Understanding automotive language once required a detailed knowledge of mechanics. Ironically, while newer cars have grown more complex, communicating with them has become easier.
Many mechanical and electronic systems are interconnected in a car through the central computer, typically called the engine control module.
Anybody with the skill to use an iPod or a laptop can tap into this computer with a scanner tool, a useful gadget that I have written about in the past. It plugs in under the dashboard and allows the user to extract information about the engine, brakes, transmission, cooling system, electrical system and much more.
If the engine control module detects something amiss, it triggers the “check engine” light on the dashboard and stores an error code in the car’s “onboard diagnostic” system. The system, which is part of the emission control system required by federal regulators, can store hundreds of possible codes.
It has always irritated me that manufacturers do not offer an option that would display the error code on the dashboard, rather than light up a “check engine” light.
On the other hand, if you don’t know the difference between a radiator hose and a heater hose or between a master cylinder and a cylinder block, having a scanner tool or knowing an error code isn’t much good. They are really best suited for people with some level of understanding.
But we’re beginning to see new products that can help car owners diagnose problems, even when they don’t have sophisticated mechanical knowledge.
The CarMD is believed to be the first such product, combining a simple hand-held tester with a website that has a wealth of information.
The CarMD plugs into the onboard diagnostics data link connector, usually found under the steering wheel below the instrument panel.
The tester unit reads the car’s computer in a few seconds and gives a green, yellow or red light for a quick indication of whether a car would pass a smog test.
To get more detail, you plug the tester into your home computer, using a USB cable.
The tester prompts your computer to go to the CarMD website, where you log in and register your car’s vehicle identification number.
The website then extracts error codes from the tester and gives you a plain-English explanation of the issues you have. It can even provide cost estimates for repairs.
If you are stumped or need additional information, you can call or e-mail CarMD and discuss your specific problem with a certified mechanic.
CarMD is made by Innova Electronics, a Fountain Valley manufacturer of professional scanners. It is sold mainly on the Internet at www.carmd.com. It costs $90, including the tester, software, USB cable and three automotive reports per month. There is no monthly fee for the service.
At that price, this product is a good value, easy to use and understand. It enables you to visit your mechanic with some idea of what might be ailing your car, a soothing thought for many owners.
One issue, of course, is how mechanics will react when an owner comes in with a report on a car problem, before the mechanic has even looked at the car.
“Technicians with honesty and integrity don’t have a problem with consumers coming in with our report,” said Keith Andreasen, a master technician who developed the product with a team of 20 top mechanics.
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Contact Ralph Vartabedian at ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com.
