In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. A controller makes WGV diagnosis for diagnosing whether or not a waste gate valve is normally controllable by issuing an instruction to a WGV actuator while the controller stops combustion in the engine and controls the MG1 and the MG2 in coordination to perform motoring of the engine during traveling of the hybrid vehicle.

A method and system for remote vehicle diagnostics are provided. The method is applicable to a remote vehicle diagnostic system including a vehicle diagnostic terminal and a vehicle connector. A remote communication connection between the vehicle diagnostic terminal and the vehicle connector is established via a preset programming interface. The vehicle diagnostic terminal receives diagnostic instruction data of a diagnostic application. The vehicle diagnostic terminal transmits the diagnostic instruction data to the vehicle connector via the preset programming interface by way of the remote communication. The vehicle connector converts the diagnostic instruction data into first data in a first data format, and performs a diagnostic operation corresponding to the first data, where the first data format is readable by a vehicle.

A performance system can enable an untrained end user to analyze the performance of a vehicle based on performance data that the vehicle's ECU generates. The performance system can include a performance tool that is configured to request performance data from one or more ECUs of a vehicle. The performance system can also include a performance engine that interfaces with the performance tool to create a log of the performance data. The performance engine can be configured to process the performance data log to generate a number of performance values which correspond to performance parameters. The performance engine can then use the performance values to generate performance representations which can then be presented to the end user.

A vehicle interface device for diagnosing, scanning and programming an electrical system of a vehicle having a housing and being connectable to an electrical system of a vehicle, a local diagnostic computer, and a remote diagnostic computer. The vehicle interface device is selectively switchable for operation in either a local mode or a remote mode. In the local mode, the vehicle interface device is connected with the local diagnostic computer and operates as a pass-thru device. In the remote mode, the vehicle interface device is connected with the remote diagnostic computer.

An electronic control unit for a motor vehicle diagnostic system includes a diagnostic module for identifying and storing faults; a decision module, by way of which specific fault reactions are assigned to each identifiable fault and specific customer complaint states are assigned to the fault reactions; and a generation module for generating a defined fault status. For each fault which is set in the fault memory and can be transmitted to a diagnostic tester external to the vehicle by way of a fault log, the fault status can be generated such that all customer complaint states assigned to the fault can be identified from the fault log in the diagnostic tester. The decision module is also provided to a suitable diagnostic tester having a transmission interface to the at least one electronic control unit.

Systems and methods that allow a smartphone to be used as an imaging device for undercarriage inspection of a moving vehicle are provided. The method may include locating the smartphone on the ground via one or more sensors of the vehicle. The vehicle may generate a path for the vehicle to drive over the smartphone based on the location of the smartphone, and optionally display the path to facilitate manual driving of the vehicle by the driver over the smartphone. Alternatively, the vehicle may self-drive to follow the path. The smartphone may capture image data indicative of the undercarriage of the vehicle, inspect and analyze the image data to identify one or more issues of the undercarriage of the vehicle, and transmit the analyzed image data to the vehicle for display. The driver may confirm the one or more issues and transmit the data to an inspection professional for additional assistance if needed.

Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing vehicles. A particular vehicle can be repaired during a repair session using a computing device. The repair session can include the computing device: receiving a functional task setup with first and second identifiers, the first identifier identifying the particular vehicle, and the second identifier identifying a particular functional task for the computing device to perform on the particular vehicle; determining whether the computing device is available to perform the particular functional task; after determining the computing device is available to perform the particular functional task, receiving an input to initiate performance of the particular functional task on the particular vehicle; after receiving the input, sending a message to the particular vehicle to initiate performance of the particular functional task on the particular vehicle; and after sending the message, displaying a notification indicative of performing the particular functional task.

A method and computing system for determining whether a DTC set in a vehicle involved in a collision is collision-related or non-collision-related. The method can include determining a vehicle model associated with the vehicle, determining a DTC set within an ECU in the vehicle, determining a damaged portion in the vehicle, determining the DTC is collision-related, and outputting a collision report that indicates the DTC is collision-related. The determined damaged portion indicates where the vehicle was damaged by the collision. Determining the DTC is collision-related can include determining the damaged portion in the vehicle matches a reference vehicle portion associated with both a component attributable to setting the DTC and the vehicle model associated with the damaged vehicle. The collision report can indicate that a different DTC set by the same or a different ECU in the vehicle is non-collision-related.

Embodiments of the invention include a vehicle telematics system that receives different types of identification information from different vehicle modules on the vehicle bus of a vehicle, identifies a vehicle platform based on the identification information by matching the identification information with information stored in a database that has been reverse engineered for a vehicle with a same and/or similar platform and identifies a set of communication data associated with the vehicle platform for communicating with the at least one vehicle module.

A first authentication process unit and a second authentication process unit of an ECU constituting a system respectively perform a first authentication process and a second authentication process for comparing authentication information acquired from a maintenance operator terminal and a user terminal, and first authentication information of a first authentication information registration unit and second authentication information of a second authentication information registration unit. An authority setting unit performs an operation permission for a vehicle for the purpose of maintaining the vehicle when the authentications match.