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By Monty Buckingham
Around Centennial’s Phoenix auto leasing and sales headquarters there has been a lot of talk recently about the fact that apparently, despite the slew of automotive recalls over the past year, a new survey conducted by Atlanta-based Speedemissions shows that 79% of the more than 1,300 people surveyed feel as safe or safer in their vehicles than they did a year ago.
However, some members of our Phoenix vehicle sales and leasing team find it particularly interesting to note that a new iPhone application that diagnoses an automobile’s computers systems emphasizes that consumers may not be as knowledgeable about their automobiles as they think.
That ‘app.,’ named CARbonga, seems to be the first iPhone app (also runs on the iPod touch and iPad) to address both broader vehicle safety systems, such as its anti-lock brakes, air bags, safety-restraint systems and tire pressure monitoring systems as well as On Board Diagnostic (OBD) codes for vehicle emissions and other engine problems. (Other iPhone apps only read OBD codes, not safety codes.) Drivers with a 1996 or newer vehicle can see beyond the vague “Check Engine” light to pinpoint existing and pending problems with their vehicle’s engine, transmission, safety systems, body, chassis, and more–perhaps even when warning lights do not indicate a problem.
In a recent report, it was stated that “Our survey shows that 80% of consumers know something could be amiss with their vehicles even though the warning lights do not indicate a problem. Still, 81% said they trust their automobile manufacturer and/or their auto’s electronic system to warn them of problems. That’s a potentially dangerous gamble,” said Rich Parlontieri, President and CEO of Speedemissions, Inc. and Founder of CARbonga.
From April 2008 to April 2009, over 6,300 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) were issued to dealers by automobile manufacturers. A key point, given that 38% of car owners surveyed did not know dealers and automobile repair shops routinely received these TSBs. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), 16.4 million vehicles were recalled in 2009, an increase of 56% over the previous year.
CARbonga (which is powered by GoPoint Technology, Inc.) makes it easy for drivers to gauge the condition of their vehicles by themselves. Using the same technology previously accessible only by car mechanics and dealerships, CARbonga allows drivers to connect to their On Board Diagnostic port with an iPhone and a goLINK cable and check over 2,000 vehicle fault codes. The system then translates those codes and issues an immediate reading of any current or pending mechanical issues that may be occurring in the vehicle, without the time and expense of visiting a mechanic.
At our Phoenix automobile sales center the buzz is that CARbonga is also great for checking a used car’s on-board history before buying, alerting buyers of stored previous alerts, potentially advising if the airbag had deployed or if the transmission was problematic.
“CARbonga arms drivers almost anywhere in the world with the most important link in modern car repair: the On Board Diagnostics,” said Parlontieri. “Because of the economy, more people are taking car maintenance into their own hands. After so many years in the vehicle inspection business and with our company performing over 150,000 safety inspections every year, we knew it was the right time to bring CARbonga to market.”
One of our Our Online auto sales and leasing team members says that specifications from the company report CARbonga’s Version I app includes Safety Check, Driving Green, Browse Music and is available for purchase through the iTunes App Store on any iPhone for just $4.99. The goLINK cable, which also charges the iPhone battery. Apparently, Version II of CARbonga will allow car owners to receive notices from the vehicle manufacturer about possible warranty work and notice of issued Technical Service Bulletins through their iPhone.
They add that, as you can use the CARbonga for an unlimited number of readings, the savings is immeasurable. With more than 42,000 Americans being killed in automobile accidents each year, car safety is a priority for everyone.
Established in 1989, The Team is a collection of skilled professionals, dedicated to delivering ‘Your BEST automotive buying experience’. The Team earned the distinction of being the 2006 Business Ethics Award winner of the Better Business Bureau, and proudly delivers CARFAX and PROCertified new and pre-owned cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs of every make any model.
About the Author: Captain Centennial, whose actual name is Monty Buckingham, is the longtime Public Information Officer for Team Centennial at Centennial Leasing and Sales in Phoenix, AZ. teamcentennial.com
Source: isnare.com
Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=563616&ca=Automotive