AA Vixa – looks interesting.

https://vixa.co.uk/#features

Ad for this permanently plugged in ODB reader that performs diagnostics on a smartphone app popped up on my Instagram, bit of predictive maintenance for the van could be useful. Is this a likely a customer facing app that’s been available to fleets for ages?

For six quid a month, (not an AA member) with no tie-in contract I might take a punt. Anyone tried it or similar and have a view on how good it is?

OBD = on board diagnostics.  What I’m talking about.

ODB = Old Dirty Bastard. American rapper, unrelated to this thread. ?

I think it’s a scandal that cars don’t just display error codes. My car, my data, why should I need a 3rd party devise or a subscription to see a 4 digit code?

my old Isuzu engined Astra could be made to flash error codes using a bit of obscure button and pedal pressing.  But that method itself wasn’t in the manual. Why was it a secret?

protect ya ‘lec(trics) ?

Just buy an ODB2 reader for about a tenner that links to a free app on your phone. No subscription and pretty much all (possibly more) functionality.

I’ve had a couple of those Bluetooth ODB2 readers and tried all the free apps. Connection is unstable, takes forever to run a check, no guarantee of being able to find or fix anything anyway. Some of the apps play full screen video adverts every time you change screens.

If you have a modern car you need something that checks SRS (supplementary restraint systems) anyway. ODB2 is strictly under the bonnet.

***I am not a mechanic.

I’ve got a basic ODB reader. The blurb on the website suggests some intelligence over and above a string of numbers, and as it’s always on might pick up a recurring non-stored codes that I would miss.

OBD2 is an (old!) freely available, and universal protocol that all cars made post 1990s-ish are compliant with.

No subscription is needed, just some cheap hardware to plug in. Literally anyone who has even the remotest interest in looking after their own cars should own one of these.

The OBD2 protocol as a minimum covers engines and emissions related items. Indeed ‐ this data is what is used to pass ‘smog’ in the some of the USA. Instead of sticking a probe up the exhaust like we do,you get a pass on the basis of

“If the car was complaint when it was built, and the car is not displaying an error now, it’s complaint at time of testing”

Part of the protocol prescribes where the access port needs to be,hence why they are always somewhere down by your knee accessible from the driving position.

People, and this forum definitely included,are terrible at mixing up what OBD2 means and other ,Vehicle specific diagnostics.

Mercedes Star/Xentry

VAGcom

BMW INPA

Peugeot Lexia

Etc etc….

…are all manufacturers own systems that carry data over and above the OBD2 standard. They just sometimes use the same port under your dashboard to access it. Sometimes these require expensive hardware and software licences, sometimes they do not. These are what you need to access much, much more of the vehicle’s data outside of what is legally required to be broadcast over OBD2.

Airbag, seat belt and other ‘SRS’ (supplementary restraint system) information is a really common thing that people think is part of OBD2 but isn’t,it’s nothing to do with emissions and engines.

Good point about the manufacturing specific stuff, will try and find out about that before taking the plunge. It does say that modern Fords have a built in system they can draw the data from which makes me think it goes beyond OBD but worth checking.

What Snotrag said.

If AA Vixa is just ODB2 it only gives you what ODB2 has available.

If AA Vixa can get the manufacturer specific data for all cars then it is a smart bit of kit. It might just have the codes for the main manufacturers, as my ‘clever’ odb2 reader does. My clever ODB2 reader was about £50, or just under 9 month subscription, and allows you to reset certain codes as well as just read them.

protect ya ‘lec(trics) ?

I Inspectah Deck-ed my car and it had 36 errors.

(sorry, weak, but your pun deserves acknowledgement)

looks like it’ll just be a way to flog you tyres and a new battery and remind you when your service is due, I very much doubt they’ve specialized it to more than that

edit: yep the screenshots pretty much confirm it – a duplicate of the lights on your engine, an ability to send in photos of your tyres to see if you need replacement and an MOT reminder. what a waste of money

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theaa.android.aax&hl=en_GB

an ability to send in photos of your tyres to see if you need replacement and an MOT reminder. what a waste of money

Of course, nobody would ever think of actually looking at their tyres, using a gauge, or just looking at the markers thoughtfully placed in the tread by the manufacturers.
Not that that will show up every flaw or evidence of damage – two of my tyres had an advisory after my last MoT; a nail in one front tyre, repairable, and one in a rear tyre, non-repairable. Also the inner sidewalls were showing signs of cracking. Still, the rears were OEM’s and had done over 30k miles.

Spot on 5lab. I emailed their customer service, who replied quickly about 9pm last night, fair play for that.

The Vixa device will only pick up emission-based fault codes usually fault codes beginning with a P.

The plug-in device allows your car to talk to the app and tell us how it’s doing. We then give you personalised health updates and real-time alerts about your battery, engine and more, so you can go about your day with peace of mind.

Too limited to be of much use.

@snotrag

Yep, I’m guilty of ODB2 ignorance but now I am aware I am interested.

So where can I purchase

No subscription is needed, just some cheap hardware to plug in. Literally anyone who has even the remotest interest in looking after their own cars should own one of these.

Though it would be for a T6.1 so

VAGcom

system needed?

Here is a review of some options : https://www.fastcar.co.uk/tuning-tech-guides/best-obd2-scanners/

I have an Autel which seems to work fine with Mercedes, Nissan, Vauxhall & Porsche for the basic stuff including turning off the Oil Service lights

Just bought a £165 Foxwell 530 for my Cayenne as the service light was annoying me. Will code modules and other Porsche specific stuff.

@nickingsley

The very cheapest of scanners on ebay or amazon, or something such as https://www.toolstation.com/streetwize-car-diagnostic/p12772?store=JR&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed

Will be able to give you basic ‘P’ codes related to engines and emissions and reset the check engine light.

VAGCOM etc is typically computer based, full dealer level interrogation of the car for advance diagnostics, programming etc and probably past what you need.

As ever, its worth sticking to the middle ground for the ‘DEORE/SLX’ level of kit 😀 companies such as Autel, Foxwell etc mentioned above are a great starter.

Autel have  tonne of stuff on their website, from pro-level kit which comes with lifetime updates or subscriptions to new models etc, to more DIY kit which will include everything that is ‘regular’ OBD2 data, plus a bunch of useful extra stuff such, common features such as:

ABS/SRS system diagnostics and resets

New battery coding for stop/start batteries

DPF forced regens or diagnostics etc.

Electric caliper wind-back for changing rear pads on cars with electric or auto handbrakes

And other such common items that you might want to be able to DIY.

I’d start about here:

https://www.autelstore.co.uk/wholesale/autel-maxicheck-pro.html

https://www.autelstore.co.uk/wholesale/code-readers-code-scanners/

I bought one of those Foxwell ones when I had our car up for sale and I accidentally triggered an airbag light. Bloody expensive mistake but it was fixed in seconds and now I’ve got the tool which will work on the new car.

This is the cheapest one I could find with the SRS features.

I tried every free app there is and none of them worked.

I think it sounds like a way for AA to (anonymously) monitor what you do, where you go and how you drive so they can flog some data to someone. Maybe they’ll tell you you need new tyres and recommend some affiliated tyre places. Sounds like a way of them making money from you with little to no benefit over a £10 reader off amazon.

But then I am a fairly sceptical person so ??‍♂️

Cheers guys,  I’ll have a good look at the options you have listed.

Nic