An Honest Take

Because nobody should drive around wondering what that light means. You shouldn't have to Google "orange triangle with exclamation mark" while sitting in a parking lot. You shouldn't have to dig through your glove box for the owner's manual just to find out if it's safe to drive home. This tool gives you a fast answer. Point your camera at the dashboard, and in seconds you know what's lit up and what it means.

For identifying what a light IS? Yes. AI is very good at recognizing dashboard symbols — check engine, ABS, oil pressure, tire pressure, battery, coolant, and dozens more. For knowing exactly what's wrong? No — that requires an OBD-II scanner and a mechanic. Think of this as a triage tool. It tells you whether to panic, schedule service this week, or just relax because your high beams are on.

Adding your VIN makes a huge difference. Dashboard lights aren't universal — the same icon means different things on different cars. A yellow wrench on a Honda means scheduled maintenance. On a Ford, it means powertrain fault. When we know your exact vehicle (year, make, model), the AI gives you vehicle-specific meanings, known issues, and even TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) for your particular car. It's the difference between "probably fine" and "2019 Camrys have a known EVAP issue, here's what it costs."

AI identifies the symbol and gives you the most likely explanation. But a check engine light alone has hundreds of possible causes — from a loose gas cap ($0) to a catalytic converter ($2,500). We give you the range and the most common culprits, but only an OBD-II scan can tell you the exact fault code. Also: intermittent lights that aren't currently illuminated won't show up in a photo. And some cars have dashboard lights so dim or oddly positioned that the camera might miss them.

Absolutely not. This is replacing the panicked Google search you do in the parking lot. It replaces thumbing through a 400-page owner's manual looking for "what does the orange squiggly line mean?" Mechanics diagnose and fix cars. We identify the light and tell you how urgently you need a mechanic. Big difference.