If there’s one thing technology has vastly improved, it’s how we keep track of everyday tasks. Food delivery or restaurant apps can send you the location and arrival time of your orders; or your phone or PC can automatically look up error codes that pop up on your screen, telling you how to fix them without going to a specialty shop. You can even check which of your house’s doors are locked or windows are open through your smart-home security system.

But what about when a check engine or warning light pops up on your car’s dashboard? From there, you put your car’s (and wallet’s) fate in the hands of a mechanic or dealership. Canadian automotive start-up Vehicle Mind is looking to bring more information to car owners’ fingertips.

“Today we are so connected but vehicle maintenance seems so opaque,” said Roberto Cialdella, spokesperson for Vehicle Mind. “We created Vehicle Mind out of the frustrating lack of control and clarity over our vehicle data.”

Code-Reading and -Translating in One Place

Many automotive enthusiasts and do-it-yourself types may be familiar with an OBD-II code reader that displays the related information for a given warning light. However, some of the information provided by such readers are frustratingly simplified or cryptic. Vehicle Mind is an OBD-II tool, but it’s also much more advanced and connected.

“A code reader may just say ‘catalytic converter,’ which isn’t descriptive enough,” Ciadella said. Sometimes a code will be triggered by something as simple as a loose gas cap or faulty sensor, sending completely irrelevant codes to the diagnostic port.

Vehicle Mind takes the diagnostic information from the car and cross-references it across a database of various makes and models. “We started with a large database, but with more users and information, we are constantly working and tweaking it.”

As a result, Vehicle Mind displays information about the code in plain English, and the app also rates the severity of the warning light on a scale of one to five. Beyond that, the start-up is incorporating a Mechanic Hotline feature, which will provide live and personalized advice about any issues your car may be exhibiting.

Not Just For Diagnosing Problems

That sounds pretty useful, but Vehicle Mind provides a few other convenient features. For example, the app can help you find your car in a crowded parking lot, and can also provide geofencing and geolocation for teen and young drivers. Additionally, it shows how much fuel your vehicle has, so you can plan for a trip to the gas station before you set off.

It can even log trips and fuel-ups, making it easier to track and file taxes. Some of those features are offered as part of a new vehicle’s telematics subscription, like the location information and geofencing system, but Vehicle Mind can provide those capabilities to an older car.

Driving