Davao Oriental State College of Science and

Technology
Banaybanay Campus

“ANDROID-BASED VEHICLE TROUBLESHOOTING AND

REPAIR GUIDE”

BY
CHARLLY J. DIOLA
RUBY JANE A. DAUGDAUG

SUBMITTED TO:
RUBEN L. QUINDOYOS JR.
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, Android-Based Vehicle Troubleshooting and Repair Guide is very

useful. Vehicles play an important role and become very necessary for different
walks of humans' life. The vehicles are the most popular transportation methods
in many parts of the world. It became an important part of our daily travel. Most of
the vehicle owner are not yet be able to troubleshoot and repair their car because
lack of knowledge. There are many difficulties and challenges involved in
vehicles failure and malfunction diagnosis.

There are many vehicles owners and drivers have inadequate knowledge on
detecting and diagnosing faults in their vehicles. The diagnosis process involves
heuristic and complex series of activities and requires specific skills and
expertise. Applying troubleshooting and repair guide are imperatives to help
vehicle drivers to at least identify the source of vehicle failure or malfunction,
especially, when the location of the event does not permit immediate help. It
enables the car driver to take the initiative in knowing the car condition and try to
troubleshoot and repair the vehicle.

The advent of modern technology poses a challenge to inexperience auto

drivers and mechanics. Therefore, success rates of a vehicle failure
troubleshooting greatly lie on the expertise of the individual (Gbadamosi, Ajanak
and Ayegbusi, 2017).This reliance can be reduced if vehicle troubleshooting
application is captured. This application will assist vehicle owner in
troubleshooting and repairing vehicle faults at anywhere and any period of time in
a rapid manner.

Philippines No. of Motor Vehicles: Registered 1981 - 2017 | Yearly | Unit |

Land Transportation Office Share to LinkedInShare to TwitterShare to
MoreShare to EmailShare to Copy Link Philippines’s No of Motor Vehicles:
Registered data was reported at 10,410,814.000 Unit in Dec 2017. This records
an increase from the previous number of 9,251,565.000 Unit for Dec 2016.
Philippines’s No of Motor Vehicles: Registered data is updated yearly, averaging
3,533,732.000 Unit from Dec 1981 to 2017, with 37 observations. The data
reached an all-time high of 10,410,814.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of
1,006,030.000 Unit in 1981. Philippines’s No of Motor Vehicles: Registered data
remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Land Transportation Office. The
data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.TA001: No
of Registered Motor Vehicles.

In this paper, an application was designed for fault detection analysis in

vehicle based on the efficient utilization of the past experiences of the owners.
This expert system is ought to give a temporary assistance to those users who
are in urgent need of an instant help. This work will assist the vehicle owner and
drivers in speedy diagnosis of vehicular faults in addition to other benefits such
as capturing the knowledge of skilled mechanical technician.
1.1 Rationale of the Study

The trend in the automotive industry is that vehicles are rapidly becoming more
and more complex. Increased requirements on safety and environmental performance
have led to many recent advances, especially in the engine, braking system and
exhaust system. These new systems are increasing in complexity. For example, in
addition to conventional brakes, a car may have an exhaust brake and a hydraulic
braking system. With this trend towards more complex vehicles, it is becoming more
difficult, even for an experienced workshop mechanic, to have an intuitive
understanding of a vehicle’s behavior. Faults may depend on a combination of
electrical, logical, mechanical, thermodynamic, and chemical processes.

In recommending the repair application guide that will respond to drivers who
need vehicle repair assistance are the guidance that commonly exist as it is basically
encountered by the most vehicle owner or driver. The importance of vehicle and the
drivers is the reason why we develop the system. Having an adequate knowledge for
maintaining and repairing your vehicle is more important as it is very helpful for
ourselves.

The system provides vehicle repair guidance and best Auto Repair Manual. The
system also provides the nearby location for the drivers who seek vehicle technician.
This work aims to provide an alternative to the human expert method in vehicle
troubleshooting and repair guide for more effectiveness and convenience.

1.2 Purpose and Project Description

The main purpose of this project is to provide an alternative application guidance

for those vehicle drivers/owner for in case of emergency while they have in a long
travel. It will help especially for those drivers are not yet expert in diagnosing failure for
their vehicle. The research study proposes an application that anyone can install to their
android phone for their guide in matter of vehicle failures. It will give some knowledge of
diagnosing vehicle problems.

However, the automotive technician or the vehicle mechanics will receive a SMS
alerts via mobile phone for the following vehicle failures from the driver/owner. So that
the technician will provide quickly a tools to troubleshoot the said vehicle failures.
1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 General Objectives

The main objective of the research is to develop Vehicle Troubleshooting Guide

Application. The aim of the proposed VTGA is to provide quick and basic guidance to
vehicle fault diagnosis. Additionally, for training purposes, it helps in reducing the
knowledge gap between different individuals in vehicle fault diagnosis.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

In line with the general objective, this research has a number of specific objectives
which are the following:

 To create a dynamic application software.

This application allows the user to choose what additional manual they want
to store in their mobile phone from the server database of from other website that
provide manuals (pdf format only).

 To create a system that provide the users for the nearest repair shop using
Google Map API.

The key is finding a good auto repair shop that won’t rip you off. This system
will help you to find a good quality and an authorized technician or repair shop.
By using the Application Programming Interface (API), the system has the
feature for vehicle location guide that provides information about the nearest
vehicle service locations in the region and contact details.

 To create a system that allow the user to contact another user to ask
assistance.

Upon registration this application requires you to input mobile number, that
will automatically display in the database that allow all user to view if there is any
user of this application in their current location.

 To create a system that allow to monitor for their vehicle maintenance.

The user can input when is the last they change oil, and target date of the
next date for change oil. In this way users can prevent major damage of the
vehicle.
1.4 Significance of the Study

This study intends to benefit not only the end users but also the establishment
that will use the application. It will give us more effective knowledge and guidance on
how they perform of repairing some faults of car.

The proposed system will help the following:

Vehicle Owner/Driver- As a vehicle owner or driver, it will help them in order to

troubleshoot and repair their vehicle instead of bringing the vehicle to the shop which is
more expensive.

Students- For those students, especially automotive students, it will help them to
have an idea in advance about vehicle troubleshooting and repair and they can apply
soon on their field study.

Researcher- This will be a useful guide for the future researcher to enhance or
produce a better system that will be useful. It will also help future researchers how to
make a system step by step.

Auto Shop- This will be helpful to all auto shop owner in order to have a more
knowledge and guide and it is an additional references to troubleshoot and repair the
customer’s vehicle.

1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study

1.5.1 Scope

This work aimed to design and implement a troubleshooting and repair guide for
vehicle fault diagnosis. The work is motivated by the need to guide vehicle owner and
driver in order to troubleshoot and repair for a various faults of their car. The result of
the work displays interactive guidance thereby making it easier for the user to interact
with the application.

1.5. 2 Limitation

o The system does not have the capability to accept payments online from
the users.
o The system accuracy of the map is outside of the scope of the system as
it is imbedded from google map.
 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND SYSTEM

2.1 Review of Related Literature

Our literature review reveals that troubleshooting and repair guide application is
yet to be applied in vehicle failure diagnosis. In order to obtain some guidance that
needed for more knowledge about troubleshooting and repair the vehicles, the review of
related literature evaluate particular relevant to the study presented.

2.1.1 Implementing an Expert Diagnostic Assistance System for Car Failure and
Malfunction

In this paper, a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) for car failure and malfunction
diagnosis is presented. The proposed CFMDAS is utilized to assist inexperienced
mechanics or drivers who face sudden failure in the car and provide decision support
system. In addition, CFMDAS is considered as an interactive training tool that can
provide expert guidance in car fault detection. Using this system, loss of customers and
income due to lack or inadequacy of knowledge can be mitigated.

System implementation results indicate that the system has significance in

places where work productivity is improved by decreasing fault diagnosis time and
increasing users understanding. More so, it can be considered as a successful
alternative to the highly skilled mechanics. Further improvement to the system domain
knowledge specifications is required to enhance domain knowledge representation.
Furthermore, adopting another AI technique to work in system rules revision to add
more effectiveness to the diagnosis process will be considered. [JCSI International
Journal of Computer Science Issues, Vol. 9, No 2, March 2012 ISSN (Online): 1694-
0814 www.IJCSI.org ]

2.1.2 Integrated Automotive Service System and Method

An integrated automotive repair shop network is designed to greatly enhance the

efficiency and quality of diagnostic and repair work performed in an automotive repair
shop. The network employs a data entry terminal for the entry of routine customer
information into a shop management System, including the identification of the vehicle
to undergo diagnosis or repair. The shop management System is configured to
generate an appropriate repair order. Computerized diagnostic and repair devices
linked through the network to the shop management System are configured to access
the customer information contained in the repair orders, as well as to extract relevant
technical Specifications, Service bulletins, parts listings, and prior Services records from
interconnected information databases. Each computerized diagnostic and repair device
provides updated information to the repair shop management System upon the
completion of a diagnostic routine, enabling other computerized diagnostic and repair
devices to access the most current vehicle parameters. Completed repair orders are
stored in a Customer information database for rapid retrieval and display of the prior
work history for each vehicle Serviced.

2.1.3 An Expert System for Automobile Repairs and Maintenance

The expert system was designed in order to detect various automobile problems
instead of using human expert system (auto mechanic). There is a need for
maintenance and repair as well as time is deemed necessary. Expert system is an
interactive computer-based decision tool that uses both fact and heuristics to solve
difficult problem base on knowledge acquired from an expert. Expert system is used
where there is no available auto mechanic in a particular period of time. By giving the
car owners necessary solution, this expert system helps them to troubleshoot the faults
detected through the manifested symptoms. Also, this gives a temporary assistance to
the car owners who are in need of an instant help – especially those who are in haste
and have no enough time to wait for human expert to come to repair the damage.
Further, this system enables people to get closer to the world of computerization and
technology. Moreover, having this system may allow auto-mechanic to do more work
efficiently, which could generate more revenue. Finally, the system has the
characteristics of a good expert system because of its high performance,
responsiveness and user-friendliness.

2.1.4 A Rule Based Expert System for Vehicle Fault Diagnosis

The great impact of vehicle fault identification and diagnosis system is getting
bigger in our day to day lives and cannot be denied. Its performance has shown some
of its usefulness and made lives easier for its users. This also can serve as an aid to
human expert in a situation where human involved has to cover many things. This rule
based expert diagnosis assistant system was developed as an application that is
applicable in the commercial world of auto-mechanics. It is believed to be a good idea
as another application of expert systems with diverse functions which can be utilized to
solve vehicle faults. However, there are other domains which can be introduced to the
implementation of the system and get maximum achievement with it. Although there are
also some criticism and issues regarding the development of this development which
relates to the issues of reliability and human social life, efforts have been discussed to
overcome those challenges. Having this Rule Based Expert System will allow users to
do more work in less time, thus bringing in more revenue. And auto-mechanics will also
gain through improved productivity.
2.1.5 Design and Implementation of a Vehicle Fault Detection System (FDS) with
online and SMS fault reporting: Case Study of Ford Motors

This system works with the assistance of computer software which captures and
display faults for the user and also the user can send the report to the mechanics via
email and SMS for immediate response. The proposed system helps to reduce human
labor and rigorous activity of trying to detect fault. It also helps to reduce cost of
troubleshooting and vehicle maintenance by cutting down on time wasted on trial and
error troubleshooting. This system was designed using the Microsoft Visual Studio.net
as the frontend and the Structured Query Language (SQL) of Microsoft-Access
database as the backend to store information of the series of faults which may have
originated from the system. The system was tested and worked successfully according
to the design specification and model. [American Journal of Engineering Research
(AJER) e-ISSN: 2320-0847 p-ISSN: 2320-0936, Volume-7, Issue-1, pp-53-64
www.ajer.org ]

2.2 Review of related System

We decided to develop troubleshooting guide application for vehicles in order for

the driver/owner to have a basic knowledge of diagnosing vehicle failures. We come up
with the development of our system through the help of these various sources that are
relevant to the system. The following system below will help us gather useful and
relevant to build our system through the initiative of this system relevant.

2.2.1 Car Problems and Repairs

Figure 2.2.1 Car Problems and Repair

 This app tells you about all the possible problems that could ever occur in a car
providing you with correct and adequate information to handle the problem. With this
app you are able to eliminate guess work and reduce cost incurred by incorrect
diagnosis and focus on the exact problem at the time. Whether you are handling the
problem yourself or getting help you have the right information at your disposal. This
app contains information for all vehicle types. With the various categories and sub
categories you are to find the preferred solution. This is a must have app for all experts
and professional automobile mechanics there giving you an edge in the area of
expertise. For all car owners and users you are no longer in the dark concerning the
maintenance of whatever vehicle you make use with this app.

2.2.2 Uber Mapping and Geo-location Application

Figure 2.2.2 Mapping and Geo-location

This apps connect driver-partners and riders which in the cities where Uber
operates, you can use the rider app to request a ride. When a nearby driver-partner
accepts the request, your app displays an estimated time of arrival for the driver-partner
heading to your pickup location. Your app notifies you when the driver-partner is about
to arrive.

In vehicle troubleshooting and repair guide application, we can allow the user to
have a second option when they are not be able to troubleshoot their car and they need
a professional technician. This application will let the user to allocate the area of the
nearest shop from their area where they stock by using the google map API.
2.2.3 Android app Uber using Google Cloud Messaging (GCM)

Figure 2.2.3 Google Cloud Messaging

Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) is a mobile notification service developed

by Google that enables third-party application developers to send notification data or
information from developer-run servers to applications that target the Google Android
Operating System, as well as applications or extensions developed for the Google
Chrome internet browser.

The uber application send couple of notifications like, when the driver accepts
ride request, when the driver is about to arrive and when the ride has been cancelled for
the specific reason. Messages can be received as SMS or push notifications.

After allocate the area of the nearest shop, our TRGA will allow the user to send
a SMS to the technician and state the following faults of the car so that the technician
can prefer the tools for the installation.
 Chapter III

Methodology
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