Automotive

Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key tells you what’s wrong with your car, and who can fix it

Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key tells you what’s wrong with your car, and who can fix it
Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key is deisgned to make auto maintenance and repairs less stressful
Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key is deisgned to make auto maintenance and repairs less stressful
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The device plugs into the standard On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, linking to iOS and Android smartphones to provide real-time vehicle data and decipher more than 20,000 error codes
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The device plugs into the standard On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, linking to iOS and Android smartphones to provide real-time vehicle data and decipher more than 20,000 error codes
According to the company, the device will work with almost any vehicle manufactured form 1996 onwards.
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According to the company, the device will work with almost any vehicle manufactured form 1996 onwards.
The Connection Key is also built with safety in mind, with all data being encrypted when transferred between the device and the user’s smartphone
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The Connection Key is also built with safety in mind, with all data being encrypted when transferred between the device and the user’s smartphone
Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key is deisgned to make auto maintenance and repairs less stressful
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Mechanic Advisor's Connection Key is deisgned to make auto maintenance and repairs less stressful
View gallery - 4 images

Mechanic Advisors’ new product is designed to make the appearance of the dreaded check engine light that little bit less disheartening, by giving car owners a portal into the health of their vehicle. The device provides drivers with the same information available to their local auto repair shop, but what makes it truly unique is its ability to put them in touch with a suitable, trustworthy mechanic.

The device plugs into the vehicle's standard On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, linking to iOS and Android smartphones to provide real-time vehicle data and decipher more than 20,000 error codes – the exact same diagnostic tools available to mechanics. It’ll also provide alerts when it’s time to change oil or replace tires, and according to the company, will work with almost any vehicle manufactured form 1996 onwards.

If and when a problem arises, the companion app will link you directly to one of more than half a million trusted mechanics, making it easier to get your vehicle into a reliable repair shop. In future, the company plans to improve the service by using anonymous data to provide useful information such as known issues for specific models of car, breaking down stats based on location and driving habits.

The device plugs into the standard On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, linking to iOS and Android smartphones to provide real-time vehicle data and decipher more than 20,000 error codes
The device plugs into the standard On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, linking to iOS and Android smartphones to provide real-time vehicle data and decipher more than 20,000 error codes

The company believes that giving drivers real-time stats will not only help educate them about their vehicles, but should also eliminate the distrust surrounding auto repairs. When your check engine light flicks on, you simply fire up the app to see what’s wrong and contact a mechanic suitable for fixing the specific issue, as selected by the company’s online referral engine. It’s a two-way street – the driver can easily see what’s wrong with their vehicle, and the mechanics can make their recommendations backed up to said data.

The Connection Key is also built with safety in mind, with all data being encrypted when transferred between the device and the user’s smartphone. The same goes for the web servers used to track down a suitable mechanic.

If you’re interested in picking up a Connection Key, then you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s available for pre-order right now for US$50 including shipping. The price is set to rise to $75 when it becomes widely available in Q1 2015. Potential buyers might also want to check out the Automatic Link, an existing device that offers some of the same features.

Source: Mechanic Advisor

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4 comments
4 comments
Jay Finke
Wow great product, is it available in the ODB1 version also ? as this system is a hard one to diagnose and would be nice to catch symptoms early as possible ? If so I'm there ! if not might I suggest a sensor that could be attached to each cylinder, or plug wire to give the real time data a ODBII gives ? all I need is a exhaust temp for each cylinder to accurately diagnose a problem in a mater of minutes, I think planes engines have this option ? A temperature sensor for each cylinder, could be attached and give real time data of one of the most important data of a internal combustion engine, and something I have yet to see done, crazy ?
Deadpan
What is the difference between this and any OBAD2 scanner you can pick up? Does it have access to manufacturer specific code information?
Most OBAD2 codes are vague and non-specific without the proprietary manufacturers info to properly flesh out the unique identifiers given.
I know that a Volvo mechanic can shell out upwards of $20,000 for that info in a given year, for a single model year.
Bruce H. Anderson
There are other devices that read OBD2 and give you codes. Where this one looks like it has a big advantage is that maintenance data/notices can be included. I use a spreadsheet for maintenance notifications on my cars (2 are pre-OBD2), at least for the major stuff, but I am probably missing something.
Sergio Freddson
This sounds like a great idea. I don't like bringing my car in to have it serviced when I have no idea what's going on. It's not that I don't trust my mechanic, I just feel that I should be more involved in the process. If I know what the issues are before I go into the mechanic, I can get informed and know exactly what to ask for.