What is your car trying to tell you?

New device will provide some answers

By SANDY LONG

NORTHEAST REGION — It’s nearly midnight, you’re on the road and the “Check Engine” light in your car suddenly comes on. These days, that little beacon of warning can mean anything from a loose gas cap to impending automotive doom. Without a trip to the repair shop, drivers have had no way of knowing why the light has lit. But that’s about to change.

In spring 2007, a new device will begin appearing at retail outlets like gas stations, lube and repair shops and emissions testing locations in the form of self-service kiosks. Smart Automotive Management or “SAM” will allow drivers to plug their vehicles into the kiosk to access its diagnostic capabilities.

By plugging a 1996 or newer vehicle into the device, SAM will access the car’s on-board computer, checking more than 2,000 fault codes related to the engine, transmission, safety systems, body, chassis and other systems.

In 10 minutes, for a cost of $15, the device will print out a diagnostic report containing information on engine and transmission sensors, fault codes, status of safety systems including air bags and automatic braking systems, recall notices and technical service bulletins issued by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Similar information is currently available to drivers via their favorite repair shop, where a device reads your vehicle’s code, providing the technician with a place to start. Each code, however, can be attributed to a variety of possible causes.

Wade Conklin, owner of Sonny’s Service Center in Narrowsburg, NY, said that the codes help to pinpoint a problem, but additional analysis is often required. Leafing through the pages of a thick manual that details multiple causes for various codes, Conklin explained, “The code gives you a clue, but it’s more of a guideline.” Conklin draws upon years of training and experience to pinpoint the true source of the trouble.

Currently, drivers can take their car to an Auto Zone store and have their vehicle’s code, mostly limited to emissions, read for free, then purchase the part that was targeted as defective by the code. Sometimes the process solves the problem, but other times, the driver discovers that the problem still exists and they’ve paid for an unnecessary part.

For example, a code might indicate a defective oxygen sensor. A car’s owner replaces the sensor only to discover that the problem was caused by a vacuum leak in the system. By the time the car is brought to a repair shop, its owner is often frustrated by the lack of a remedy and impatient to get the car repaired.

The whole process can be likened to that of diagnosing the source of health problems in humans. A person’s high blood pressure may have various underlying causes, ranging from compromised kidney function to salt sensitivity. It’s important to know what’s behind the symptoms—or the codes—in order to know how to best proceed.

In addition to code information, another service provided by the SAM device is its ability to deliver information about a used car’s potential problems, recall information and remaining warranty coverage before purchasing it. Conklin, who always advises his customers to obtain reports like CARFAX on any used vehicle they are considering purchasing, applauded the inclusion of such information in the report generated by the SAM device.

SAM kiosks will debut on February 1, 2007, according to company spokesperson Melinda Mullin. “Initially, SAM will appear in five U.S. markets: Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston and several counties in northern California. Afterward, SAM will be rolled out across the country.” A demonstration of the device is being planned in New York City for early spring.

For more information visit iamsam.com or call 800/446-4708.