OBD scan tools can save you a lot of trouble with vehicles by telling you (at the very least) what your check engine light means. But how do you know which is the right one? Even if you’ve found a FIXD review or two, you probably haven’t gotten much of the help you needed to make an informed decision.
That has to change.
Since the market for car diagnostics tools like FIXD is so saturated with products that are little more than junk, knowing how something works and compares to the competition is important. Having your trusted vehicle fail on you is bad enough. If the tool you bought to prevent that also fails you, it’s much worse.
While FIXD isn’t one of those culprits, it certainly helps to know what it offers and what people who have used it think.
After all, that’s what matters most, isn’t it?
Comparison Table
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Why You Need a Good Car Diagnostics Sensor
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What do you do when the check engine light comes on? It always takes us by surprise, and it always causes stress.
If you ignore it, you’ll soon run into big problems and possibly bad accidents.
And it will cost a lot.
Taking your car to a mechanic is necessary, but they’ll sometimes claim to encounter multiple P codes and charge you for imaginary or unnecessary repairs. It can also turn out to be a false positive, and you’ll still have to pay.
With a vehicle diagnostics tool, you’re ready for this. You can identify what’s wrong with your car before it’s too late. It’s easier to spot lies at the shop as well.
Sometimes, small problems that go unnoticed can cause your vehicle to use more gas than it should. With larger vehicles, like an RV, that can get very expensive. Also, this can cause problems at an emissions test. Car diagnostics sensors can give you this data before it becomes a problem and help you save money.
Scanning your vehicle for errors and stats is easy these days thanks to the OBD-II system. This modern onboard diagnostics system is present in all cars built for the American market since 1996. It’s also compatible with most light trucks and hybrids and many foreign vehicles.
By plugging into the OBD-II port on your dashboard, you can access data from various sensors in the engine. It’s worth mentioning in a FIXD review that this diagnostics tool reads all five OBD-II protocols.
Our FIXD Review
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FIXD is an advanced OBD scan tool made by the company with the same name. Setting it up is as easy as plugging it in, pairing it with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, and downloading the app from Google Play or Apple App Store.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll get the data feed right on your smart device screen. You can read it to find out how your engine’s doing and spot errors before they become a problem. Also, you can show it to a mechanic for more efficient help.
You don’t need to charge the FIXD plug. Your RV’s battery feeds it while it’s active, and it stops using power when your engine isn’t running.
Compared to the myriads of generic OBD-II scanners, FIXD has many more features and a higher general performance. You get more details from more vehicles, and you can expect it to work. That’s unfortunately not the case with much of the competition.
- features
- how it works
- price
Compatibility is always the big question regarding OBD scanners, and it’s important to cover in a FIXD review. FIXD works with most modern cars, including hybrids. It’s a bit more picky with diesel vehicles, but it’s more robust than most generic OBD scan tools. Unfortunately, if you have a diesel vehicle made before 2008, it’s unlikely to work.
The main function of FIXD is to give you information about why your engine light is on. It can detect over 6,800 different errors. Rather than listing mysterious codes, it’ll give you answers in plain English when possible.
Beyond this simple OBD-II scanner functionality, it’ll give you notifications through the app when there’s something worth paying attention to. It can help you schedule checkups and keep track of them, and it also serves as a preemptive warning light of sorts. It’ll notify you before your dashboard lights do.
The app is the most significant feature that sets it apart from most similar devices, and this is most evident when you check the diagnostics. It lists the error codes in neat tabs with descriptions and information about how serious a problem is and what you need to address.
What’s cool about the FIXD app is the ability to track multiple sensors. You can get two and put one in your RV and one in your car and then monitor both data feeds on your phone. If your household has several vehicles, this is a really nifty feature.
FIXD offers a surprising amount of data on the app screen. It’ll list and explain issues such as failing O2 sensors and overheating oil, and it’ll suggest whether you should take your vehicle to a mechanic.
Additionally, you can clear your “check engine” signal if it’s an insignificant issue or a false positive. This is also true for Airbags, ABS, and other dashboard warning lights.
Furthermore, FIXD will automatically suggest a maintenance schedule when you plug it in. It bases this estimation on the manufacturer’s recommendations and alerts you to things you should check or replace at each milestone. This eliminates guesswork since you get notifications based on what’s appropriate for your particular model.
Who likes confusing technological information? Not me at least. One essential thing to point out in a FIXD review is how it gives you information that’s easy to understand. In addition to the error code and a basic description, it can tell you how severe a given problem is. It can even tell you the potential consequences of ignoring the issue and continuing driving.
Not only does this alert you to possible accidents down the road, but it also tells you about negative impacts on gas mileage. In the long run, you can lose fortunes to seemingly small issues. The app gives you a visual timeline of relevant data, and you get push notifications when something significant occurs.
If you run into problems with your FIXD, the technical support is reliable. And you can find basic troubleshooting information here.
FIXD gets 4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Positive FIXD review writers like the clear information and ease of use. However, a few FIXD review comments report connectivity and compatibility issues.
You can get a FIXD sensor on Amazon for between $ and $$. If you get two or three at once, there’s a slight discount. There’s a 30-day money back policy. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about buying something that doesn’t work with your RV.
How the FIXD Diagnostic Tool Compares
A FIXD review isn’t of much help without a proper context for the information. Therefore, we’ll look at three popular competitors to give you a better idea of how good it is. For this, we’ve chosen the Automatic Pro, CarMD, and Bluedriver OBD-II diagnostics tools.
Although they’re similar products, each has a different set of features making them suitable for different users. However, their core functions are the same, and each is an appropriate comparison for a FIXD review.
How we reviewed
For the reviews presented here, we’ve consulted the user base to get a nuanced picture of how each OBD scan tool delivers. That way, we can see how real people feel about it. Trustpilot and Amazon customer reviews are the main sources for the FIXD review information and comparisons.
Automatic Pro
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The Automatic Pro is a good comparison for a FIXD review because it’s one of the few connected OBD scanners that provide the same functions. However, it costs about twice as much and offers more bells and whistles. Let’s look at how the two compare.
- features
- how it works
- price
If you wish your car could connect to the Internet of things and gain smart technology capabilities, the Automatic Pro connector may be what you’re looking for. Using a secure 3G connection and GPS tracking, you have contact with the cloud and many services a typical scan tool can’t provide.
For example, you can compare data on bigger databases. You can also connect the Automatic Pro to devices like Alexa and Nest, and your smart home. This lets you interact with the device with your voice, which makes driving safer and more comfortable. You get five years of unlimited 3G included in the price.
In case of an accident, the Automatic Pro can automatically send a crash alert. You’ll get a phone call to check if you’re alright. And they’ll call emergency services or let your family know if something’s wrong.
Furthermore, you can locate your vehicle without effort. Whether you forgot your exact parking spot after a long day of tourism or someone stole your vehicle, GPS tracking can save the day. Or how about trip tracking?
Other than that, it has the same general features and functions as a FIXD. However, the software differs significantly. You won’t get the same level of detail and clarity in the readings.
The basic setup process is as simple as it is with the FIXD. You plug it in and connect it to your smart device, and that’s it. Next, you can also integrate it with an Echo or a similar device if you want. That process is also very straightforward.
This is where it gets a bit more complex. Automatic has a wide variety of apps in its library. You can select the ones you want, as long as you know what you want.
The downside to the Automatic Pro is its reliance on the internet. If you lose your 3G connection, it can’t do much at all. That’s a big negative. In addition, some users report that automatic features like the crash report don’t always work.
As for the basic vehicle diagnostics purposes, it does its job. There’s nothing special about how it does it in the context of a FIXD review. However, it can’t clear engine lights like the FIXD.
Buyers give it 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon. They praise it for its many functions and the ability to transfer data with ease. The main thing that knocks off a star is that people find it somewhat unreliable.
The Automatic Pro can be yours on Amazon for $ to $$. That’s equal to a bundle of three FIXD sensors, but you get more functions and freebies.
CarMD
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One of the better-known brands in this market is CarMD. Like the previous two, it’s compatible with Android and iOS devices and offers a variety of diagnostics functions.
Although the CarMD 2150 looks like a different kind of device, it’s essentially an OBD dongle with its own display and some basic controls. It’s still a universal vehicle diagnostics tool for use with a smartphone or tablet.
Regarding core features and functionality, it should be a very close match for a FIXD review. So, let’s see how the two differ.
- features
- how it works
- price
What stands out about the CarMD is that it has buttons and a small display on it. You use these for the quick-check function. Essentially, you plug it in and get your P codes right on the device itself.
Next to the display, one of three LEDs will light up to show you how severe the error is. You push the big arrow button to scroll to the next code. This way, you can get the basic information without bothering with software.
The downside is the bigger size of the device. Depending on the location of your OBD-II socket, this can make it inconvenient while driving.
If you need more details, you’ll find them in the included CarMD app. You can see the errors explained with suggestions on what to do about them. You may even get estimates of what it’ll cost you.
Like the FIXD tool, it can handle multiple vehicles. You can get detailed data on up to three separate ones, and you can quick-check an unlimited amount.
The ability to check codes in different ways is convenient. If you don’t want to deal with Bluetooth or smartphone apps, you can use the device on its own and then plug it into your computer to get the details and suggestions.
Standalone functionality makes it more suitable for bringing to the shop to look at used vehicles. A quick check can help you spot flaws that the dealer is trying to hide or ones they invented out of thin air.
With that said, the CarMD does have its bugs and hangups. Furthermore, the 3-vehicle limit does limit its functionality somewhat, although you can extend it for a fee.
Some users report false positives and real problems that snuck by unnoticed, and others complain about the limit on how much you can use the full set of features. However, people are content with it overall. That lands it at 3.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This is how most of the competition looks, which makes the CarMD a good example for a FIXD review.
You can buy a CarMD scanner on Amazon for $ to $$$. Compared to the FIXD, that may be a worse value. However, you get the quick-check feature, which may be very useful depending on your needs.
BlueDriver OBDII Scan Tool
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If you’ve looked around for the best OBD scan tools, you’ve probably seen people mention the BlueDriver. It’s a simple OBD-II scanner with fewer bells and whistles than the FIXD, but it does more than most similar products.
Furthermore, the BlueDriver promises better compatibility with diesel-based vehicles. It can also read many foreign vehicles, such as almost anything made in Europe since 2001.
Perhaps reading the FIXD review has made you think you don’t need all its functions. If all you want is a straightforward, affordable vehicle diagnostics sensor and don’t want to deal with questionable generic scanners, a BlueDriver should be an excellent alternative.
- features
- how it works
- price
The BlueDriver by Lemur is one of the most versatile and complete OBD-II readers out there. It works with almost all vehicles built after 1996, and it can detect lots of different issues. This includes codes for ABS and airbag problems. It can also clear all these lights.
As you may have guessed from the name, it uses Bluetooth to connect to smart devices. It’s compatible with both iOS and Android systems.
A reading will give you all the basic diagnostics, and you’ll get enhanced data on most modern vehicles. You can also access a database with around 30 million fixes to the problems you may encounter.
In the free BlueDriver app, you can see live data feeds with details on your vehicle’s performance. You can also see if there’s a problem that’ll make you fail emissions tests and other state and federal requirements. There are also options for testing various components.
Furthermore, you can see maintenance schedules in the app. The best way to deal with issues is to prevent them as much as you can, and that calls for regular maintenance.
Unlike many competitors, it doesn’t have any hidden fees. You get full access to every feature.
A fast connection with fast information updates is one of the BlueDriver’s strengths. Another one is how you can tailor the way it presents the data to your preferences. Visual timelines and graphs can help you make sense of the readings.
If there are particular factors you want to keep track of, you can set the main page to display them by default. Good examples include fuel pressure, RPM, and vehicle speed.
Easy logging of data is another nifty function. You can keep track of how your readings change over the years. This makes it easier to understand your vehicle, and it will help mechanics make more efficient repairs. That can save you a significant sum of money.
On average, users give the Bluedriver 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. It gets its high rating for the great compatibility, stable performance, and in-depth information. Negative remarks highlight how some vehicles won’t give detailed data and how it struggles with many diesel trucks.
Although it’s a simpler product, the BlueDriver is a high-quality reader and comes at a matching price. Prices on Amazon start around $ and continue up toward $$$. If you get a BlueDriver, you also get a one-year warranty.
Rounding Up the FIXD Review
Let’s do a quick recap of the FIXD review above. FIXD gives you detailed information on what’s lighting up your dashboard warning lights. You get detailed information and suggestions that are easy to understand. It also lets you clear the codes yourself.
Furthermore, you can view changes over time and look at your maintenance schedule. FIXD alerts you when something significant happens, and you can view it in the app. It works with iOS and Android devices, and all you need to connect is a Bluetooth signal.
If you want a simpler option, the BlueDriver and CarMD scan tools may be what you need. And if you need even more functions and features, you’ll want to look closer at the Automatic Pro.
Otherwise, the FIXD is a solid choice to keep tabs on your vehicle’s health.