Owning a car can be expensive. Even if you are careful to keep up with routine maintenance and take good care of your car, unexpected mechanical and electronic problems can arise at any time. And, if you need to take your car to a mechanic, it can be extremely stressful to wait for a quote.
People who don’t know a lot about cars sometimes end up overpaying for repairs because they don’t know what to expect. You could take a class in auto mechanics or read a bunch of books to make sure you understand. But now there’s an easier way to accomplish the same thing. FIXD is a device that can diagnose your car troubles and provide you with a cost estimate before you ever get to the mechanic.
The real question, of course, is whether it works.
In this review, we’ll explain what FIXD is, how it works, and who can use it. We’ll also look at what some customers have to say about it, explain the pros and cons, and at the end, we’ll make a final recommendation about whether FIXD is worth buying.
What is FIXD?
Let’s start by explaining what FIXD is, and what it does. Simply stated, it’s a small electronic device that plugs into your car. You install the FIXD app onto your smartphone and then sync the device with your phone.
Once the device has been synced, it can work its magic. It monitors your car for potential problems and sends you a notification when you need to take it in for maintenance or repairs. It will also provide you with an estimate of how much the repairs or maintenance will cost, so you’ll never be tricked by an unscrupulous mechanic again.
One of the nice things about FIXD is that you can buy multiple devices if your family has more than one car, and monitor them all from the same phone. In other words, if you have several family cars, you’ll be able to stay on top of any potential problems on all of them with one easy step.
How Does FIXD Work?
FIXD works by constantly monitoring your vehicle for potential problems. It tracks an array of issues and will send you notifications whenever your attention is required. Here’s a breakdown of what FIXD tracks in your vehicle:
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- Check Engine Light. FIXD will notify you the moment that the Check Engine light comes on in any of your vehicles. That’s something that can be especially helpful if you have a teen in your family who might forget to notify you about the light. FIXD will also tell you how many problems it detected with the car.
- Maintenance Timeline. FIXD will keep track of the car manufacturer’s recommended maintenance timeline and notify you when it’s time to take your car in for routine upkeep and maintenance.
- Mileage Detection. FIXD’s algorithm keeps track of your vehicle’s mileage and sends you a notification when it’s time for regular maintenance, such as oil changes and other related upkeep.
- Continuous, Real-Time Monitoring. FIXD monitors your vehicle on an ongoing basis in real-time, and will send you a notification whenever it detects a potential issue. That’s something that will allow you to nip potential problems in the bud.
- Vehicle History. FIXD keeps track of your vehicle’s history and allows you to easily see a log of your history, so you can make informed decisions about maintenance.
What else?
FIXD also, as we mentioned before, allows you to track and control the maintenance and repairs of multiple vehicles. Simply sync each device you buy to the same smartphone, and you’ll get notifications of every potential problem as soon as it occurs.
FIXD works on both iOS and Android devices using Bluetooth technology. It won’t interfere with other Bluetooth devices in your car and once it has been synced, you can track a car as long as it is within Bluetooth range.
We really like that FIXD’s notifications focus on the severity of an issue and make repair suggestions. There are other devices that will track problems, but FIXD is the only one with this common-sense feature.
Who Can Use FIXD?
You’re probably wondering if there are any vehicles that can’t use FIXD. The short answer is yes. Any car that has an OBD-II port will work with FIXD. If your car has an OBD-II port, it will most likely be on the driver’s side, under the dashboard and above the pedals. Another potential location is under the glove box.
Most cars manufactured after 1996 have an OBD-II port. That includes:
- Gas and hybrid cars manufactured after 1996
- Diesel cars manufactured after 2008
- All gas trucks purchased in the United States with a gross vehicle weight of less than 14,500 pounds
If you have car that was manufactured prior to 1996, it might not work with FIXD. It’s a good idea to check your car for an OBD-II port before you order FIXD to be sure it will work.
You will also need a smartphone to sync FIXD to your phone. Most people in the United States these days have smartphones. If you’re one of the few who doesn’t, then FIXD won’t work for you because the device won’t have anywhere to send the notifications.
What Do You Get When You Order FIXD?
FIXD is sold only online. It’s common for online products to offer bonuses to entice customers to buy them. It happens more frequently with informational products (books and videos) than it does with physical products like FIXD.
There are no bonuses with FIXD. This is a simple product. It’s a small, white device with the FIXD logo on it. It has a plug that’s designed to fit into the OBD-II port in your car. It’s discreet and very simple to install. If you have a hard time finding the OBD-II port in your car, there’s a FIXD email (fixd-contactus@fixdapp.com) that you can use to get help directly from the manufacturer.
In addition to the device itself, you’ll get detailed instructions on how to plug FIXD into your car and sync it with your smartphone. Remember that you’ll need to get the app – from either the Apple Store or Google Play, depending on the phone you have – before you can sync.
What Are the Pros and Cons of FIXD?
Every product has pros and cons – and reviewing them before you spend any of your money is a good idea. Here are the pros and cons of FIXD as we see them, starting with the pros:
PROS
- FIXD works in most cars and trucks, including gas, diesel, and hybrid vehicles and trucks up to 14,500 pounds.
- It is very easy to install and sync with your smartphone – you don’t need any special tools or mechanical know-how to use it.
- It provides real-time notification of potential problems and maintenance milestones, so you can avoid breakdowns and keep your car in working order at all times.
- You can monitor more than one car from the same smartphone using the FIXD app.
- It is less expensive than other similar monitors on the market and has features that they don’t.
- Unlike a lot of products sold online, FIXD is also available from major retailers.
There are a few potential downsides to consider as well. Here they are:
CONS
- FIXD will not work on older vehicles (gas vehicles manufactured prior to 1996 and diesel vehicles manufactured prior to 2008) or trucks that weigh more than 14,500 pounds. Also, it’s worth noting that the company is still beta-testing the device on diesel vehicles, so keep that in mind if you drive one.
- You’ll need a smartphone to be able to use FIXD.
We’re inclined to believe that the pros of FIXD far outweigh the cons. This is an affordable product that provides huge value in return for the money. Using it ensures that you’ll always know what’s going on with your car and can make smart, timely, and informed decisions about repairs and maintenance.
How Much Does FIXD Cost?
By now, you’re probably wondering how much it will cost you to buy one or more FIXD devices for your family vehicles. As we said before, some manufacturers sell inferior devices for more money – more than $100. Fortunately, FIXD costs less than $100 and there are discounts available if you decide to buy more than one FIXD for your vehicles.
Here’s how the pricing breaks down.
- One FIXD costs $59 plus shipping and handling
- Two FIXD devices cost $88.50 (that’s buy one, get the second one for 50% off) and come with free shipping in the United States
- Three FIXD devices cost $118 (that’s buy two, get one free) and come with free shipping in the United States
If your family has three vehicles, it means you’ll pay only $39.33 per device. That’s a huge bargain when you compare it to other similar devices on the market – and it represents a 33% discount off the regular price of $59.
It is worth noting that every FIXD device comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. You can try FIXD and if you’re not satisfied, you can simply return it for a full refund. That means there’s no risk involved in trying FIXD and seeing if it can save you time and money on your vehicle.
Our Final Recommendation
Our final recommendation is that FIXD is absolutely a product that’s worth trying. Despite its simple appearance and easy installation, this is a product that has the potential to save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress, as well. The one caveat we would put here is that you should check to make sure that your vehicle has an OBD-II port before you order FIXD – and downloading the app ahead of time will ensure that you’re ready to sync the device as soon as it arrives.
To order one or more FIXD devices for your vehicles now, please click here.
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