⏳ Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick? The best light bulb security camera for most people is FIXD.
Introduction to our Guide to the Best Car Health Monitors
Okay, so you've bought a car – congratulations. While this means you now have a way of getting around, it also means you have a new set of responsibilities concerning your vehicle's maintenance.
Even if there's a service center or a mechanic's shop nearby, you should be aware of the issues occasionally affecting your car. We aren't just talking about little things like needing to change your oil or checking the mechanism of the wipers, but significant issues like problems with the brakes and the engine itself.
For this reason, we encourage you to stick around for today's review of the best car health monitors, which can go a long way in helping you ensure that your vehicle is always in the best condition.
Our List of the Best Car Health Monitors
- FIXD – best overall car health monitor (Our Editors’ Pick! 🏆)
- Bluedriver – best for North American cars
A Quick Comparison Table of the Best Car Health Monitors
Note: Prices are subject to change over time. Please click the links to check for current pricing.
Feature | 🏆 FIXD (editor's choice!) | Bluedriver |
---|---|---|
Product Type | OBD automotive diagnostic device | OBD automotive diagnostic device |
Price | Check Current Pricing | Check Current Pricing |
Compatible Vehicles | Gas-powered vehicles manufactured from 1996 onwards and diesel vehicles built from 2008 on. | Vehicles made in the United States and Canada from 1996 onwards |
System Compatibility | Bluetooth; iOS and Android | Bluetooth; iOS and Android |
Customer Support | Phone, email, standard post | Phone and email |
Customer User Reviews | Highly recommended; people appreciate how it lowers the cost of getting a vehicular diagnostic | Highly recommended; people appreciate how it lowers the cost of getting a vehicular diagnostic |
Unique Feature | Website serves as an all-in knowledge base to help car owners learn more about common conditions | Specifically developed for American-built cars |
1. FIXD (Editor's Choice!)
Best Overall Car Health Monitor
Key Features
- Real-time display which shows PID data in your choice of graph or chart;
- This car device diagnostic has detailed code definition reports to help both car owners and mechanics;
- In-app logbooks for service sessions, consumable items, and service interval tracking; and
- Issue-clearing feature for vehicles manufactured from 1996 (gas) and 2008 (diesel)
Developed by a company operating out of the US state of Georgia, FIXD – or, to give its proper name, the FIXD OBD2 – is an automotive on-board diagnostic (OBD) system that enables car owners to gain relevant information as to the operative health of a vehicle. In doing so, they are better informed about critical issues and are able to give their mechanics a concise description in order to facilitate appropriate repairs.
Among FIXD's sterling virtues are its ability to pinpoint almost 7,000 issues transmitted to you through its car health ap. This could, at one time or another, activate your dashboard's Check Engine light, as well as its comprehensive library of issue codes that help mechanics determine the best course of action for repairs.
Pricing
Know the current discounted pricing of this best smart vehicle health monitor.
Money-back guarantee
Having second thoughts regarding your purchase? The store allows returns within 30 days after purchase.
Where to Buy It?
While this best car health monitor can be bought at other stores, we urge you to buy FIXD only from their official website. Aside from having peace of mind regarding authentic products, you can also get FIXD discount codes to save more!
Other Stores
Best to avoid reseller sites like that of Amazon, Facebook Marketplace and eBay for possible fake products and refund policy issues.
2. Bluedriver
Best for North American Cars
Key Features
- Starts scanning and reading codes almost as soon as you plug it in;
- Programmed to generate reports after all diagnostic scans;
- Generates Mode 6 results for OBD monitors;
- Screenshot/system shot feature to give users a tangible record of any issues encountered;
- Preparatory features for emissions and compliance testing; and
- Real-time data support
Much like FIXD, Bluedriver is also a plug-and-play car health check device that you can sync with the car health app on your phone or tablet as soon as you lock the scanner into your car's OBD2 port.
But that's where the similarity ends. As easy as FIXD is to use, it takes time to learn how Bluedriver works and to use it properly. Also, Bluedriver tends to drop the connection when you try to sync it with your device via Bluetooth – and that's an issue we encountered on both Android and iOS devices.
We would also like to point out that there are a number of critical codes missing from the Bluedriver service library, which puts this device at a disadvantage. (And, for its price, it doesn't seem worth it.)
Pricing
Know the current car monitor price of this device.
Money-back guarantee
Having second thoughts regarding your purchased smart vehicle health monitor? The store allows returns within 180 days after purchase.
Where to Buy It?
While this best car health monitor can be bought at other stores, we urge you to buy Bluedriver only from their official website. Aside from having peace of mind regarding authentic products, you can also get Bluedriver discount codes to save more!
Other Stores
Best to avoid reseller sites like that of Amazon, Facebook Marketplace and eBay for possible fake products and refund policy issues.
What Exactly is a Car Health Monitor?
Car health monitors, also known as vehicle health tracking systems, are tools specifically developed to check your vehicle for any issues that could affect its safety and performance. For the most part, these can check a car's engine data, any diagnostic codes, its current battery levels, as well as mileage and wear.
Contemporary car health devices give users and their mechanics solid reports regarding the state of a vehicle's health, as well as a comprehensive look at value-added features like automatic braking and airbag deployment, and whether consumables need to be replaced.
Currently, these come in two forms: those that use telematics which call for integration with different internal and external communications systems, and those like FIXD and Bluedriver that utilize second generation OBD (OBD2) technologies. In fact, all vehicles manufactured after 1996 (gas engine) and 2008 (diesel engine) are required by governments the world over to be OBD2 compliant.
How We Chose the Best Car Health Monitor
When we did our search for the best car health monitors, we took the following criteria into consideration:
- Overall performance in terms of diagnostics, specifically the number of issues or codes the system can accurately and instantaneously identify;
- Data storage to give car owners a point of reference for future repairs or tune-ups;
- Ease of use, particularly when it comes to basic system instructions and interfacing with compatible mobile applications;
- Upgrade-readiness to ensure compatibility with later car models;
- Ready customer service and the overall competence of technical support; and
- Overall value for the customer's money.
Conclusion to our Guide on the Best Car Health Monitor
OBD2 scanners like FIXD and Bluedriver go a long way when it comes to help you keep your vehicle in the best working order. For this guide, we consider FIXD as our best car health monitor.
All the same, these are only meant to be diagnostic aids to help you pinpoint specific conditions affecting your car. Unless you have ample experience in vehicular repair, it helps to get the information delivered by your OBD2 scanner to your mechanic who would be in a better position to fix your car.
Please note that, in the interest of getting authentic car health monitor, we recommend that you shop for the best car health monitor through their official websites. You may also get great discounts for multiple purchases. Beware of purchasing from marketplace sites claiming to be resellers so to avoid issues with refunds and returns in the future!
FAQ
What vehicles are compatible with tools like FIXD and Bluedriver?
OBD2 scanners like the two car health monitors featured today work for gas vehicles manufactured from 1996 and diesel vehicles produced from 2008.
Are there any car health monitors that work with specific mobile devices?
Yes. If you're an Apple user, the iOBD2 was specifically developed for mobile devices running iOS. Otherwise, if you're more of an Android person, the Carista OBD2 is what we would recommend.
If you've read all the way through this best car health monitor reviews, we are grateful. We have reviewed several other products in detail, feel free to check them out;
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