For
professional automotive mechanics as well as those who like to tinker for
themselves, the main information tool in use is that plain old shop
manual. There are some software products
that provide convenient access to this style of information, with a format
generally the same as the book. However,
these shop manuals are focused on the how-to of specific repairs; they have
little or no information on how to diagnose problems in the first place. The products that do currently exist for this
purpose are directed towards reading and displaying engine management
information ("trouble codes").
This is a very useful function, especially with the increasing
complexity and abilities of such automotive systems, but unfortunately a blind
eye is turned to problems that are not detected by existing sensors. These "code reader" diagnostic
tools only work for problems the car's computer system is aware of, and are
useless on many of the systems on the car (think brakes, axles, suspension,
fluids, etc.). Code readers also only
work on relatively new vehicles, made in 1996 and up.
This
software package will help both professional and hobbyist mechanics alike in
two key ways. One, it will provide interactive diagnostic procedures for
the mechanic to follow. This will help
the person stay on track, ensure the steps are followed correctly, and make the
process less confusing. Mistakes are
often made while using the standard flavor of diagnostic charts, as enacting
the steps makes the mechanic have to go try something. When they return, they often forget which
step they were on, the ones they have tried, and experimental results. Second, the user will have the option to
report the solution to their problem and contribute it to a centralized
knowledge base. It often appears that
seasoned mechanics are able to diagnose difficult issues more easily because of
their (frequently vague) experience with various problems on various cars. This centralized knowledge base will provide
a way for the less experienced to leverage the same kind of case-based
reasoning to use the results of previous events.
The
diagnostic procedure assistance side of the program will be comprised of graph
search methods on existing diagnostic trees.
The centralized knowledge base will be implemented as a web database
that can be queried directly from the application. This software must be easy-to-use and
intuitive to get professional mechanics to actually like it, and also cannot be
intimidating to a less-skilled hobbyist.
This software
is intended for use on personal computers (Windows/Mac/Linux) and as a mobile
app. The mobile platform is crucial
because of the need to have the software readily available for use where the
vehicle is. The tool will cost money to
purchase (non-recurring), and the use of the centralized knowledge base is
included for free. The knowledge base
should be free as to encourage users to participate as much as possible,
increasing it's usefulness. Existing
automotive software usually charge a recurring fee for service; for example,
the AllDATA service costs $27 per year or 5 years for $45, covering one
specific vehicle. This product will not
provide enough vehicle-specific details (which must be updated as changes occur
on newer models) to justify that type of pricing model.
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