Vehicle inspection and maintenance system

A system for capturing vehicle data comprising:

• a vehicle onboard computer storing vehicle warranty data;
• a portable handheld computing device having an input device receiving service data corresponding to vehicle service at a location;
• a data link interconnecting said vehicle onboard computer and said portable handheld computing device for transferring said service data to said vehicle onboard computer for storage;
• and
• a transmission device for transmitting said service data and said vehicle warranty data from the system to a remote location.

A method of inspecting a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• a) communicating with vehicle systems using a portable handheld computing device to automatically inspect the vehicle systems;
• b) displaying prompts on the portable handheld computing device to guide a vehicle inspector to inspect additional vehicle systems;
• c) displaying a help option associated with one of the additional vehicle systems on the portable handheld computing device;
• d) selecting the help option;
• e) displaying instructions on the portable handheld computing device related to the one of the additional vehicle systems;
• and
• f) storing a status of the vehicle systems and the additional vehicle systems in the portable handheld computing device.

A vehicle inspection system comprising:

• vehicle systems;
• a portable handheld computing device in communication with said vehicle systems, said portable handheld computing device including a display device and an input device;
• and
• a storage device in said portable handheld computing device having help instructions relating to one of said vehicle systems with said help instructions displayed on said display device in response to a help option being selected with said input device, wherein said portable handheld computing device performing an automatic inspection on another of said vehicle systems.

A vehicle inspection system comprising:

• vehicle systems;
• a portable handheld computing device in communication with said vehicle systems, said portable handheld computing device including a display device and an input device;
• and
• a storage device in said portable handheld computing device having help instructions relating to one of said vehicle systems with said help instructions displayed on said display device in response to a help option being selected with said input device, wherein said one of said vehicle systems is vehicle tires.