For Pricing calculations it's a mix of the fetched tool search prices data and guided prompt. There are lots of published records on what hours jobs _should_ take and average labor hours per region.

Where it is make-specific is the interpretation layer. The code database includes manufacturer-specific DTCs for the 10 major makes, and there's per-model data down to the generation level — known failure patterns, which codes are common on which engines. So a P0171 on an E46 gets read in the context of "this generation eats intake boots and DISA valves," not a generic lean-code writeup. The AI report is conditioned on the exact year/make/model/engine, which is where most of the diagnostic depth comes from.

That being said, I'm continually expanding support, it really just depends on what sort of barriers I run into with these bluetooth scanners. For certain types of diagnostics (large truck / Buses etc) I'll likely need to make a separate desktop app that connects directly wired.

I used to be a mechanic, and spend a lot of my free time working on project vehicles, motorcycles, tractors, trucks etc. I wanted a tool to track the tasks I needed done, then a way to easily access VIN info for parts search, then I DMV records, and finally built an iphone app to scan the OBD2 diagnostic codes and hook them up to a custom ai diagnostic prompt.

It's been a blast to work on, I need to focus on marketing it and get some users that aren't close friends, but it's been serving my purposes this summer so far.

I've seen nothing with anywhere close to this depth of diagnostic reporting.

https://crewchief.cc https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crewchief-auto/id6760673109

Totally with you, I want more options for my Tacoma also!

I’ve been playing with idea of importing a lhd hilux from Mexico

Describe your symptoms in as much detail as detail as you like and get a full diagnostic report with parts links, tutorials, price estimates, guides for diy

Includes car sales tool, generates all the documents you need for the dmv in your county/state

iPhone all connects to Bluetooth obd2 sensors for check engine lights and live driving data

Setup search alerts for “dream cars”

This one has been a blast to build

https://crewchief.cc

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crewchief-auto/id6760673109

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47709269

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Fascinating

He writes about these things on this blog as well(https://berjon.com/ethicswishing/), and has a forthcoming book on related topics last I heard

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47489923

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It started because I got tired of typing my year/make/model into RockAuto and AutoZone every time I needed a part. So I built a browser extension that auto-fills vehicle info from a saved garage. That lasted about a week before I started bolting on more features.

The diagnostic pipeline is where I've spent the most time. The mobile app pulls OBD2 codes from those $15 Bluetooth ELM327 scanners, then sends them to an LLM with vehicle specs, known TSBs, and common failure patterns for that specific make/model/year. ranked probable causes, DIY vs shop cost estimates, severity rating, and linked a ChrisFix video for the repair. I've been tweaking the prompts and context window for months. The whole point is closing the loop: check engine light comes on, pull codes from your phone, get a report telling you what's wrong, how bad it is, and how to fix it.

Other stuff:

- 50 state selling wizard - generates the correct bill of sale, title transfer docs, and disclosure forms for any US state. - 16 vehicle types with type-specific fields (PTO type for tractors, hull material for boats, engine CC for motorcycles, etc.) - Task boards per vehicle - kanban for garage projects with parts-ordered/received/installed tracking.

TypeScript throughout. The extension, web app, and mobile app share a backend.

Free tier is 1 vehicle with full features, no credit card.

Been heads-down for a while and just now coming up for air.

Happy to answer questions about the OBD2 integration, the LLM diagnostic stuff, or the 50-state document generation.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47428269

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Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47324162

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Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47311509

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I have too many project cars and bikes, I wanted one place to store vin numbers for searching parts, and then just kept adding useful features.

Supports 16 vehicle types (cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, tractors, ATVs, RVs, etc.), not just cars. Also includes maintenance tracking, a browser extension that auto-fills your vehicle info on parts sites like RockAuto and AutoZone, a community-vouched trusted shops map, and a vehicle selling wizard with state-specific bill of sale generation.

Free tier gives you 1 vehicle with a full diagnostic.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44451276

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Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43257304

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