By: Mike Allen, The Saturday Mechanic

Today’s cars are complicated—and they become increasingly more complex with every succeeding model year. While modern cars can be thought of as self-tuning, thanks to their sophisticated on-board computers, inevitably, some things will need to be fixed. Since 1996 all cars funnel access the inner workings of the on-board computers through a common computer interface called on-board diagnostics, second generation (OBD-II or OBD2). The sophisticated scan tools that mechanics use for this can cost thousands of dollars, and require a lot of training (and oftentimes proprietary knowledge available only from the car manufacturer) to use properly. This can leave an ordinary vehicle owner, even one with some knowledge of automotive technology, at the mercy of vehicle dealership and repair shops. The CarMD handheld device and website offer a reasonably-priced alternative for consumers to understand what the issue might be—and what the repairs might cost—before consulting their mechanic. Because the device is web-enabled, it allows CarMD to collect data about needed repairs every time one is plugged into a home computer to assist in a diagnosis.