Raise your hand if your stomach turns into knots anytime you have to take your car to the mechanic. We are fortunate to have a car right now that it still in the midst of its “reliable years” (knock on wood), but I had a Kia Sportage for almost a decade, and in the last few years of her life, she was ridiculously expensive and unreliable. Stuff would break all the time, and each time I would take her in, I would have no idea if she had an $80 problem or an $800 problem. It made me physically ill.
What if I told you that there’s a product out there that can help you anticipate the problem? You know those computers things that mechanics will often hook up your car to so that they can get a read on what is going on? Haven’t you ever wished that you could have one of those? WELL YOU CAN!!
You guys, this product is so amazing! It is called the CarMD Vehicle Health System and I honestly think it is a game changer for anyone out there who doesn’t moonlight as a mechanic (so, 99.9% of us). This product can empower you as a customer bringing your vehicle in for repairs and give you confidence before you hit the road for a longer trip that everything is in good working order.
If something is wrong…let’s say that “check engine” light is on…you can get probable cause, fix and estimate repair costs by plugging the device into your car. I LOVE this….now you can have a general idea before you get to the mechanic so that you know if your repair should be $100 or $1,000! The device also keeps track of recall information, just in case your car (or something in your car) has been subject to a recall.
This device is hand held and it is compatible with Mac and PC software (edit: there’s now a version that syncs up to your smartphone!). I love that it can be plugged into any car. It doesn’t have to be specially programmed for your vehicle. This means that you can share it with family, friends and neighbors when they are in need. You will quickly become their hero when you bring over Car MD to someone who needs some help!
If you are ever in the market for a “new to you” car, this is also really nice to take with you as you shop. You can quickly get a sense for any problems that the vehicle might be having and don’t have to just rely on the word of the person who really wants to unload the vehicle!
If there is a problem with the vehicle you are inspecting, you can go online to get specifics. But what if you aren’t near a computer? No problem! 6 days a week, there’s a CarMD ASE Certified Tech available to speak to you by phone, just call the toll fee number on the back of the tool!
Pretty awesome, right?!
I just can’t say enough great things about this product. If they can make the next version so that it can actually fix the problems, that would be awesome! 😉 Right now we are very much enjoying seeing the green light on our Car MD, which means everything is looking good. But one day, when something does go wrong (and that day will come, my friends…we keep our cars for as long as possible), it will be so great to know what the problem is and roughly how much it is going to cost to fix before we even take it in. It will certainly save me a lot of anxiety and stress!
Buy it!: The CarMD is available for just $69.95. When you think about the amount that car mechanic bills can vary by, you can just imagine how quickly this will pay for itself (our mechanic charges $89 for a diagnosis, so this would pay for itself with just one use!). It could even save you from taking the car in for what will just be a minor fix, should you be handy with a car or know someone who is. And when it comes to shopping for a used vehicle, I’d just say that having this is an absolute must, as it can save you from buying a lemon!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affilate links may be included at no cost to you.Â