Affordable device dubbed 'USB stick for cars' can help drivers avoid overpriced repairs
As more motorists take vehicle repairs into their own hands, a simple device is able to identify automotive faults and explain how they can be fixed.
The vehicle technology company Carly has suggested that drivers can get a improve their knowledge of their car and save money on repairs through their latest plug-in tool.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect the way that motorists treat their car, some motorists are attempting to conduct their own routine servicing and repairs.
Daniel Meeghan, UK Country Manager for Carly, noted that the device is able to help drivers get a better understanding of exactly what is wrong with their vehicle without extensive knowledge.
He explained: "It's almost like a USB stick for your car. It's not a professional tool, it's purely for consumers to access professional data about their car.
"There's nobody like us doing this for consumers for all brands. Some will only let users code a few things like lights, some will only work with certain brands. The closest rivals are professional ones and they're both expensive and can be very difficult [for consumers] to use."
Whilst the Carly system plugs into a vehicle's on-board diagnostics (OBD2) port like all fault code scanners, it is able to communicate to a much wider range of components, giving drivers a much more comprehensive view of what is wrong with their car.
In addition, for a basic price of £54 per year, motorists can also take advantage of the team of 40 mechanics that the company employs to turn fault codes into simple English.
With a subscription, drivers can get an explanation of the fault, the likely cause of it, and ways in which it could be repaired.
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Daniel also highlighted that drivers are able to use the device to get a better understanding of faults before taking a vehicle to be repaired.
He added: "There aren't many bad dealers out there; most garages are honest. However, the bad ones give the whole industry a bad name.
"The transparency Carly offers is helping mechanics as consumers are more educated and informed. Drivers already have half the knowledge so the conversation is much better informed. The barriers are no longer there."
In addition, Carly noted that the device can also be utilised to help motorists feel more confident when buying a used car.
Whilst prospective buyers are able to see any current or prior fault codes that have yet to be cleared, the system is also capable of finding mileages recorded by a range of components.
Since most devices used by criminals are only capable of changing the reading on the odometer, the scanner can quickly highlight any differences and show the genuine mileage.