System and method for guided vehicle diagnostics

A vehicle diagnostic method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving vehicle data from a vehicle, the vehicle data at least including diagnostic data;
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determine if the vehicle data includes an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN);
• when the vehicle data does not include the electronic VIN, assessing the retrieved vehicle data to determine an identity of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle can execute a special function test based on a combined assessment of the diagnostic data and the electronic VIN or the assessment of the diagnostic data;
• when a special function test can be executed:
• communicating information to enable implementation of the special function test;
• monitoring live data generated during the special function test;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on a comparison of the monitored live data to expected live data;
• and
• when a special function test cannot be executed:
• generating a command to implement a desired functionality on a desired component associated with the determined most likely fix;
• monitoring live data from the desired component;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on the monitored live data;
• wherein the steps of:
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determining a pass or fail status based on the comparison of the monitored live data to expected live data proceed autonomously in response to retrieving vehicle data when the special function test can be executed;
• and
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determining a pass or fail status based on the monitored live data proceed autonomously in response to retrieving vehicle data when the special function test cannot be executed.

A vehicle diagnostic method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving vehicle data from a vehicle, the vehicle data at least including diagnostic data;
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determine if the vehicle data includes an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN);
• when the vehicle data does not include the electronic VIN, assessing the retrieved vehicle data to determine an identity of the vehicle;
• determining a most likely fix based on a combined assessment of the diagnostic data and the electronic VIN or the assessment of the diagnostic data;
• determining whether the vehicle can execute a special function test based on the determined most likely fix and the determined identity of the vehicle;
• when a special function test can be executed:
• generating a signal to run the special function test;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on the special function test;
• and
• when a special function test cannot be executed:
• generating a command to implement a desired functionality on a desired component associated with the determined most likely fix;
• monitoring live data from the desired component;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on the monitored live data;
• wherein the steps of:
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determining a pass or fail status based on the special function test proceed autonomously in response to retrieving vehicle data when the special function test can be executed;
• and
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determining a pass or fail status based on the monitored live data proceed autonomously in response to retrieving vehicle data when the special function test cannot be executed.

A vehicle diagnostic method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving vehicle data from a vehicle, the vehicle data at least including diagnostic data;
• analyzing the retrieved vehicle data to determine if the vehicle data includes an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN);
• when the vehicle data does not include the electronic VIN, assessing the retrieved vehicle data to determine an identity of the vehicle;
• determining a most likely fix based on a combined assessment of the diagnostic data and the electronic VIN or the assessment of the diagnostic data;
• determining whether the vehicle can execute a special function test based on the determined most likely fix and the determined identity of the vehicle;
• when a special function test can be executed:
• generating a signal to run the special function test;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on the special function test;
• and
• when a special function test cannot be executed:
• generating a command to implement a desired functionality on a desired component associated with the determined most likely fix;
• monitoring live data from the desired component;
• and
• determining a pass or fail status based on the monitored live data;
• deriving a reliability index associated with the most likely fix;
• and
• in response to the reliability index being below a threshold, generating the signal to run the special function test, the special function test being configured to generate additional diagnostic data that supports or refutes the determined diagnostic condition.