Cost-effective fleet maintenance starts with knowing the operating condition of your vehicles at all times especially the engine. That’s where a GPS Tracking system fleet management solution with engine diagnostic capabilities gives you a notable advantage. Through engine diagnostic alerts fleets and businesses can use GPS tracking to boost proactive maintenance to help make sure your vehicle is always in top shape.
Not only does this type of system continually track the health of your engines, it also automatically notifies you of potential engine problems by sending diagnostic trouble code (DTC) alerts via e-mail. These alerts, which range from cylinder misfires to incorrect air/fuel mixtures and more, provide a precise description of the problem, allowing you to take appropriate action to get the vehicle functioning properly and back on the road as quickly as possible.
Armed with this kind of engine diagnostic information, you can determine whether a vehicle needs to be taken off the road for immediate service. This helps prevent roadside breakdowns that can lead to costlier repairs. And technicians don’t have to spend time diagnosing the problem, which minimizes vehicle downtime while saving on labor costs.
How does remote engine diagnostics work?
In addition to working as a GPS tracking device, the GPS tracking system hardware connects directly to the vehicle’s diagnostic port. When the engine is turned on this hardware continually monitors engine diagnostics, providing reporting on everything ranging from battery voltage and coolant temperature to emissions, odometer readings, fuel efficiency, and more. It then wirelessly transmits the engine diagnostics readings (using the same network as the GPS hardware) to the system provider’s data center, where you can review and analyze the data.
Most of today’s engine diagnostic hardware products are compatible with light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, and can be used with any type or size of fleet. Many also offer multi-port options, such as Garmin integration, to extend the range of diagnostic data that can be captured. Installation is quick and easy, and, depending on the system, the hardware can often be installed without an outside technician.
The primary benefit of engine diagnostics alerts is they enable you to take a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to maintaining your fleet. Instead of depending on scheduled maintenance to uncover undiagnosed engine problems, or waiting for vehicles to break down, you can identify potential engine problems as they occur. By fixing small problems before they become big ones, you can reduce repair costs and extend the life of your vehicles.
You can also use GPS tracking to boost proactive maintenance through engine diagnostic alerts to also help to improve driver safety by identifying potential vehicle problems that could lead to accidents or jeopardize driver health. And well-maintained vehicles reduce fuel costs and lower greenhouse emissions. Proactive fleet maintenance is good for the environment, good for your business, and easily achieved with a GPS Tracking fleet management solution.
