How Does Vixa Work? Smart Car Diagnostics Explained
Vixa connects to your car to help you understand key information about your vehicle’s health — without the guesswork. Using your car’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) port, Vixa checks your engine and battery and shares insights through the app.
Cars are complex machines, and each model shares different data with Vixa. That’s why it’s important to understand what Vixa can and can’t tell you. While a mechanic can always provide a more detailed inspection, Vixa helps you spot issues early using the information your car already detects.
How Vixa Uses Your Car’s OBD Port
Vixa plugs into your car’s OBD port, which is a standard diagnostics interface found in modern vehicles. Your car sends fault information to this port when something isn’t working as expected, and Vixa reads that data in real time.
Engine Diagnostics
If your car detects an engine issue, it sends a fault code to the OBD port.
Vixa checks for these codes every second, notifies you if it finds any, and offers guidance on what to do next.
Vixa can only read fault codes related specifically to engine emissions, which usually involve the exhaust system. It cannot monitor engine oil levels, coolant levels, or issues your car itself does not detect.
Battery Monitoring (Petrol and Diesel Cars)
For petrol and diesel cars, Vixa provides insights into your car battery’s charge and condition. This does not apply to EVs (Electronic Vehicles).
Battery charge
Vixa checks your battery’s charge every six hours, as well as at the end of each trip and at certain voltage levels. Charge is shown as a percentage, based on an average of recent readings.
Battery condition
Vixa checks your battery’s condition every 24 hours, but only if the car has been driven that day. Battery condition is rated as great, fair, poor, or critical, helping you understand how well your battery holds charge over time.
Vixa cannot detect issues with the charging system, battery drains, or sudden voltage drops in petrol and diesel vehicles.
Battery Terms Explained
Battery charge describes how much energy is currently stored in the battery.
Battery condition describes how well the battery can hold charge over time.
Battery Monitoring for Hybrid Cars
At the moment, Vixa cannot provide information about hybrid vehicle batteries, but this is an area we’re actively working on.
Service Reminders in the Vixa App
Vixa offers service reminders based on the data currently available from your vehicle. However, there are variables that affect accuracy. For example, one driver may cover 20,000 miles a year while another drives only 5,000 miles, which significantly impacts servicing needs.
Vixa is continuing to refine this feature, with plans to introduce more personalised service reminders in the future.
What Vixa Can and Can’t Do
Vixa is designed to help drivers better understand their car using real-time diagnostics data. It doesn’t replace a mechanic, but it does help you spot potential issues early and make more informed decisions about your vehicle.