Business owners with vehicle fleets always have a lot on their plates. They have their core business to run, customers to keep happy, and employees to manage. On top of that, they have a fleet of vehicles to maintain. Fleet owners do their best to maintain these vehicles, but when a Check Engine Light goes on, their worries quickly increase. Plenty of questions run through their heads on what the severity of the issue is, what to do about it, what the cost of the repair will be, where to go, etc.
According to the CarMD® 2017 Vehicle Health Index, U.S. car repair costs in 2016 rose 2.7% as a result of increases in labor costs and average parts costs. On top of that, most fleet owners must consider the cost of business downtime in the event a vehicle does break down. It’s no wonder that the health of a fleet is near the top of a business owner’s concerns when they are asked about their vehicle assets. In fact, according to a Gatepoint Research study completed in 2014, when surveying fleet operators nationwide, managing fleet costs ranked second, just behind minimizing safety risks. It is a big deal, and fleet owners like you are looking for ways to keep their costs down and keep their vehicles running.
So how can Zubie help you when that dreaded Check Engine Light does make an appearance in one of your vehicles?
As part of our Zubie Business product, we are proud to unveil an expanded vehicle health service dedicated to giving vehicle and fleet owners like you more peace of mind when an issue is detected via Zubie. Through our partnership with vehicle diagnostic leader RepairPal®, Zubie now offers access to even more information in the event a Check Engine Light is triggered by a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). You, as a fleet owner, will be alerted that a code exists, will get an idea of the severity of the code, and will get a simple explanation and description as to the potential issue at hand. You will also be presented with common symptoms of the issue and common causes, as well as repair estimates that can be associated with the issue. In addition, you’ll also get access to a listing of repair shops in your area that are RepairPal Certified® and able to make the repairs you need. RepairPal also provides review ratings and complete contact information for the repair shops for your convenience so you can quickly take care of the issues. Before contacting a mechanic, you will have a good set of information and will be equipped to have the right conversations and make the best decision for what to do next.
Consider the CarMD diagram below.
When a Check Engine Light appears, it can mean several different things. And the repair estimates for each can vary widely. So not only is a vehicle owner in the dark about the severity of the issue, but they are also not sure of the cost. For the top five items listed in the diagram, the total average repair cost in 2016 (parts and labor) were as follows:
| Check Engine Repairs | Average Cost |
| Replace Oxygen Sensor | $258.63 |
| Replace Catalytic Converter | $1190.18 |
| Replace Ignition Coil and Spark Plugs | $401.22 |
| Inspect for Loose Fuel Cap and Tighten or Replace | $16.88 |
| Replace Mass Air Flow Sensor | $378.15 |
Just with these five items alone, the range in cost is pretty substantial. Having this type of information up front can go a long way in reducing your stress and saving your business money when it comes to managing your fleet. With Zubie Business, you will have a product and a partner to help do this. In addition, you’ll also get access to a listing of repair shops in your area that are RepairPal Certified® and able to make the repairs you need. RepairPal also provides ratings and complete contact information for the repair shops for your convenience.
Zubie is dedicated to be the fleet tracking partner of choice for business fleet owners and managers. We understand vehicle ownership and what a safe and healthy fleet means to a business and its customers. Let Zubie be there for you. For more information about Zubie and Zubie Business, contact us at 844.469.8243.