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Personal Vehicle Diagnostic Interpreter. Automobile Repair Complaints. # 1 Automobile dealers - new and used # 3 Auto repair shops # 9 Automobile dealers - used only These three total 34,316 complaints for 1998. Better Business Bureau http://216.46.241.4/advertising/alerts/20000201.asp.
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Automobile Repair Complaints • # 1 Automobile dealers - new and used • # 3 Auto repair shops • # 9 Automobile dealers - used only These three total 34,316 complaints for 1998. Better Business Bureau http://216.46.241.4/advertising/alerts/20000201.asp
Auto Repair Fraud • Charging for repairs that were never done • Replacing brand new parts • Replacing more parts than necessary • Some stores implicated : Sears, Midas, Montgomery Ward, K-Mart Auto Center, Goodyear* • Estimated $5 billion annual cost** * www.carinfo.com/repair2.html ** California Department of Consumer Affairs, October 27, 1999
Mike Raines Project Manager Stephanie Crumb Software Engineer, Secretary Han Yi Hardware Analyst El Hammouchi M. Hicham Hardware Analyst Jen Daniels Webmaster, Graphic Designer, Project Coordinator Project Team
Pros • Easy to install and operate • Reduce anxiety, stress, and inconvenience • Increase personal safety • Reduce mistaken &/or fraudulent repairs • Save money on some motor vehicle repairs • Aid auto parts retail salespersons • Make a nice profit for the project team and investors
About the PVDI What’s up with that pesky yellow light? Helpful to auto parts stores Easy to use PVDI is a handheld diagnostic tool made for regular everyday folks demo!
Cons • User may misinterpret the messages • User may replace wrong parts • Another theft opportunity • Doesn’t work on cars made before 1995
Scope • Only post 1995 cars • Supports OBD II protocol only • Not a mechanics substitute • Not a common sense substitute • Not supercede owners manual
Risks • Competition beats us to the market • Hardware cost more than initially thought • Lack of demand • Cost too much, consumers won’t want it • Contractor/supplier delays • New codes for cars added
Budget Contractor development staff: • 2 Programmers - $4K/month each - $48K* • 1 Electrical Engineer - $4K/month - $24K* • 1 mechanic - $2K/month - $4K • Technical writer - $43K** * Belfore, Dr. Lee A. Personal interview. 09 October 2000. ** www.technicalwriter.computerjobs.com
Budget (cont’d) Consulting staff: • 1 senior marketing consultant & advertising - $200K* • Tech Support - $25K per person/year** • 1-800 Number - $1,800 Month (10 cents a min, open 8am-6pm) • Lawyer $18K part-time * Sergio Diehl. EDO corp. Marketing manager. Personal interview. 12 October 2000. Sharon Villines. Medical Marketing Inc. Personal interview. 11 October 2000. ** Raj Mayur. Tech support at Gateway. 14 October 2000. † AT&T customer service representative. Phone interview. 3 October 2000. Sprint Sales Representative. Phone Interview. 3 October 2000.
Hardware Budget • OBD-2 cable/connector - $40* • Special-purpose processor - $10** • LCD device - $45 † • RS232 interface - $65‡ • Additional memory - $8/4 megs † * www2.ari.net/avt-inc ** Belfore, Dr Lee A. Personal interview. 09 October 2000 † www.jameco.com ‡ http://www.bb-europe.com/sercardchart.asp
Development Budget • 5 Personal computers - $6K* • 1 AVT-716 multiple interface RST32 development tool - $1680** * CompUSA service representative. Personal interview. 14 October 2000 ** www2.ari.net/avt-inc
Marketing Info • Large chain auto parts retailers • Later, car manufacturers • Break even @ 55 per state • 130 million passenger vehicles in the states* • Release date 18 months after 1st prototype • www.bts.gov/ntda/nts/NTS99/data/Chapter1/1-9.html
Conclusion • Addresses societal problems • Offers solutions to reduce these problems • Can be built • Can be profitable • Should be built