Welcome to the CarCheckup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Here you will find answers to any questions you may have about how the system works and how to use it. We are always here to help, so if you have further questions or need additional help, please visit our full Support Page.
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Questions About CarCheckup's System
What is the CarCheckup System?
The CarCheckup device is a data-gathering device that plugs into your car’s OBDII connector. Once installed, the CarCheckup device records telemetry information about the vehicle’s operation, such as:
- Miles Driven
- Time Spent in Various Speed Bands
- Maximum Speed
- Trip Start and Stop Times
- Hard Acceleration and Breaking Incidents
- Present and Pending Trouble Codes
- Approximate Trip Start and End Times
If there are pending or present trouble codes, you will be provided not only with the same trouble code information that you mechanic will see, but also an easy to understand explanation of what could be causing the issue, what your mechanic will likely need to do to fix it, and possibly information regarding what things to be wary of when you take your car to the shop.
Important Safety Information!
The CarCheckup System has been carefully designed and tested to be compatible with most 1996 and newer cars and light trucks sold in the USA. It is possible that some vehicles will not be compatible with the CarCheckup System, or a vehicle subsystem (ECM, ECU, various sensors, etc) may be malfunctioning. There are manufacturers that also do not fully implement all aspects of the OBDII protocols correctly.
You must refer to the Known Compatibility Issues list to see the current list of known compatibility issues.
The CarCheckup System has been tested on numerous vehicles and is reliable and safe.
If, at any time while you are using the CarCheckup System, you notice abnormal vehicle behavior:
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Pull off the road and out of traffic as soon as it's possible to do so safely
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Disconnect the CarCheckup device from your vehicle and see if the problem clears
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Call an ASE certified mechanic or your local repair shop and speak to a professional
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Contact CarCheckup Support and notify them of the issue.
What Cars are Known to Need an Extension Cable?
Though the CarCheckup device was designed to work on the broadest range of vehicles, there are some vehicles that do have interior trim that will prevent the CarCheckup device from connecting without an extension cable.
These OBDII extension cables are available at a very reasonable price, from our online store
Vehicles Known to Need an OBDII Extension Cable can be found on our "Known Compatibility Issues"
Is CarCheckup a "Black Box"
No!
"Black Boxes," also referred to as Event Data Recorders or "EDR", do have some similarities with the CarCheckup System in that they both record telemetry data....that's where the similarity ends.
EDR are normally "snapshot" devices that are triggered by an event like an air bag deployment and record only a few seconds of data pertaining to the instant directly before the triggering event.
EDR are also not usually accessible to the general public, with the tools and software needed to access them being limited to manufacturers and accident investigators.
The CarCheckup System is designed from the ground up to put the same cutting edge automotive technology that mechanics have used for years into an easy to use system to empower consumers in both automotive repair situations AND monitoring driver performance!
Where is My OBDII Connector?
All cars manufactured for sale in the US since 1996 have a OBDII diagnostic port as mandated by federal law. This connector is within 3 feet of the steering wheel and must not require tools to access.
Normally this port is located just under the dashboard above the gas or brake pedal. It can normally be located by simply looking under the dashboard or running your hand along the bottom edge of the dashboard until you "bump" into the connector.
There are other instances where the connector is behind a cover panel to make its appearance more appealing. In these cases it's necessary to open that panel to gain access to the OBDII port.
More information on finding your OBDII connector can be found here:
In the picture below you will notice that, in this case, the OBDII plug is under the dashboard and above the brake pedal:
How Does the CarCheckup Device Connect to my Computer?
The CarCheckup device connects through its built-in USB connector to any available USB port on your Windows XP/Vista-based computer.
To access the built-in USB connector, turn the CarCheckup device over and swing out the USB arm.
In most cases, this built-in USB connector is all you will need! No extra cable to get lost or tangled!
For those who have USB ports on their computer that are hard to reach,
we offer USB extension cables in our online store for your convenience
Visit our Store by clicking here.
How Much Data can the CarCheckup Device Store?
The CarCheckup Device is designed to have enough memory to hold 30 days worth of data for the average driver.
However, different vehicles make varying amounts of information available. Some manufacturers support just the minimum required data, others go far and above and provide many, many data points.
These differences in manufacturer's implementation of OBDII directly impact the amount of data that can be stored on the device.
The device will, however, overwrite the oldest data if it reaches capacity. This will ensure that you have the newest trips data.
How often should I upload data from the device?
That's up to you!
Here are some suggestions based upon the experience of current users:
If you are primarily concerned with monitoring your teen driver -
We recommend downloading data daily or weekly so as to be able to provide feedback to your driver. By reviewing the telemetry data (e.g. speed, rpm, hard accelerations, hard braking) with your teen in a timely manner, you can both gain insight that can be used as an aid to correct bad driving habits.
If you are primarily concerned with what is causing your "Check Engine Light" (also know as MIL or Malfunction Indicator Light) -
Most users download the data from the device on a weekly basis. This will help keep download times small and allow CarCheckup to provide insight into various maintenance tasks. Of course, if your "Check Engine Light" comes on, simply restart your car! The device will automatically record all pending and present trouble codes.
It should be noted that the CarCheckup System is designed to perform a data storage in a rolling manner. That is to say that if the memory gets full, data from the newest trip will overwrite the oldest trip. While this does allow you to have the most recent trip data, the device will discard older trips to make room for new data.
This can lead to incomplete data for old trips if the data is not downloaded before the device is full.
Questions About Recorded Telemetry
What is Considered Hard Acceleration
not updated. please check back soon.
Questions about Trouble Codes, Check Engine Lights, and Diagnostics
How Can CarCheckup Help Me With My State Emissions Test?
CarCheckup can help you prepare for your emissions test by allowing you to see issues and get them fixed BEFORE you have your certification test.
The OBDII technology that CarCheckup uses was actually mandated by the EPA to help control emissions!
By using CarCheckup you can see if there are any drive train problems that would keep you from passing the test. Simply use the CarCheckup system and upload the data from your vehicle to our systems. Our systems instantly process the data and report the health status of your car.
If the CarCheckup system does not report pending or present trouble codes on your vehicle this is a good indication that you can be confident going into your emissions test.
If, however, the system reports present or pending trouble codes it will assist you in determining what the problem is and what needs to be done to correct it.
With this knowledge in hand you can tackle the repairs yourself if you're so inclined, or you can have an idea of what's wrong before you speak to your auto service professional.
You're Welcome!!! CarCheckup JUST saved you the hassle and cost associated with failing your emissions test and retaking it!
Emissions testing is handled differently in different states, so it's highly advisable to contact your local emissions testing agency, the department of motor vehicles, or the license body of your area. They can make sure you have the latest information.
System Requirements
Requirements to Use CarCheckup
The CarCheckup system requirements are actually quite simple...You simply need the following:
Supported Operating Systems
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Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
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Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
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Windows Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate)
Other Requirements:
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An internet connection is required
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a broadband connection is HIGHLY reccomended (cable mode, DSL, etc)
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A USB port is REQUIRED
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Mouse, Monitor, Keyboard required
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Printer is optional for printing reports, etc.
Macintosh Owners Info
Macs are not currently supported. We think Macs are great, so supporting the Mac platform is on our developement roadmap. In fact, some of our best programmers use Mac!
If you are disappointed that it is not currently supported we welcome your feedback as we try to adapt our developement efforts to meet our users needs.
Please let us know by sending an email to support@carcheckup.com. When you do, please include in the subject "Request for Mac Support" and include information about your hardware and the verison of OS you are running.
*Nix Users Info
Linux is great too! If you are disapointed that it is not currently supported we welcome your feedback! We try to adapt our efforts to meet our users' needs, and your "vote" for *nix support can help determine our development priorities!
Please let us know by sending an email to help@carcheckup.com. When you do, please include in the subject "Request for Linux Support" and include information about your linux flavor and version (this goes for the unix flavors too).
Currently Unsupported Systems
Macintosh Systems -
Macs are not currently supported. We think Macs are great, so supporting the Mac platform is on our developement roadmap. If you are disapointed that it is not currently supported we welcome your feedback as we try to adapt our developement efforts to meet our users needs.
Please let us know by sending an email to help@carcheckup.com. When you do, please include in the subject "Request for Mac Support" and include information about your hardware and the version of OS you are running.
Linux based systems -
Linux is great too. If you are disapointed that it is not currently supported we welcome your feedback as we try to adapt our developement efforts to meet our users needs.
Please let us know by sending an email to help@carcheckup.com. When you do, please include in the subject "Request for Linux Support" and include information about your linux flavor and version (this goes for all of the unix flavors too!)
Using the Device on Your PC
Installing the CarCheckup Device on a Windows Vista PC
not updated. Please check back soon.
Getting Familiar with the CarCheckup System
Logging In
If you have not already done so, you need to create your CarCheckup account. You can do this by going here.
Once you have your username and password, you can log into your account by clicking on the "LOGIN" link at the top of any page. Also, you can log in directly from the home page on the left side of the screen.
To log in from here, Click Here.
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 "I felt confident letting my
teenage son out on the
road knowing that
he knew I was making
sure he was being safe!" - B. Anne, Indiana
"This little thing is a
life saver! It saved me
tons of money! It told me
that my gas cap wasn't
tightened all the way!
Saved me a trip to the
mechanic's shop!
Thanks!" - T. Green, California
"I finally have some
confidence walking
into my mechanic's
shop!" - M. Rose, Ohio
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