For homeowners invested in smart security, Vivint has long been a trusted name. Expanding beyond home security, Vivint Car Guard emerges as a sophisticated solution to monitor your vehicle. This innovative device plugs directly into your car’s OBD-II port, transforming it into a smart, connected vehicle, offering features that go beyond basic car security. As an advanced Obd2 Scanner: Vivint Car Guard provides real-time location tracking, monitors driving behavior, diagnoses car issues, and even integrates seamlessly with your Vivint smart home ecosystem, earning it the Editors’ Choice award for car accessories.
What is an OBD2 Scanner and Why Vivint Car Guard Stands Out?
Since 1996, almost every car manufactured has been equipped with an OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics II) port. This port is primarily designed for service technicians to access a vehicle’s computer for diagnostics and maintenance. Typically located under the dashboard on the driver’s side, this port is a gateway to a wealth of vehicle data. Basic OBD2 scanners are readily available and commonly used to read engine codes, helping to decipher the dreaded “check engine light.”
Alt text: Locating the OBD-II port in a vehicle, typically under the dashboard, for installing the Vivint Car Guard OBD2 scanner.
However, the obd2 scanner: vivint car guard from Vivint elevates the capabilities of a standard OBD2 device significantly. It’s not just about reading error codes. Vivint Car Guard leverages the OBD-II port’s access to vehicle data and combines it with advanced technology to offer a comprehensive suite of car monitoring and security features. Unlike basic scanners, Vivint Car Guard incorporates:
- GPS Tracking: Know your car’s location at all times, whether it’s parked or on the move.
- Cellular Connectivity: Utilizing T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network for constant communication and real-time alerts.
- Smart Home Integration: Connects with your Vivint Smart Home system to trigger automated responses based on car status.
- Advanced Monitoring: Detects disturbances, erratic driving, and mechanical issues, offering a holistic approach to car security and maintenance.
Design and Features: A Closer Look
The Vivint Car Guard is built around the Moxee SD6200 ODB-II dongle, a compact device designed for discreet installation. Measuring just 1.0 by 2.0 by 3.0 inches, it plugs directly into your car’s OBD-II port and sits unobtrusively under the dash.
Alt text: The Vivint Car Guard OBD2 scanner device, highlighting its compact design and connector for the OBD-II port, designed for discreet vehicle monitoring.
Comprehensive Monitoring Capabilities
Beyond basic diagnostics, the Vivint Car Guard is packed with features to keep you informed about your vehicle’s status and security:
- Real-time GPS Location Tracking: Monitor your car’s location on a map via the Vivint app. This is invaluable for keeping track of family vehicles or for vehicle recovery in case of theft.
- Disturbance Detection: Equipped with a three-axis accelerometer, the Car Guard detects bumps, break-ins, and even towing attempts, sending immediate alerts to your smartphone.
- Driving Behavior Analysis: The Trip Insights feature provides detailed information on driving habits, including speeding, harsh braking, rapid acceleration, and idling time. This is particularly useful for parents monitoring teen drivers.
- Geofencing: Set up a virtual boundary around your home or other locations and receive notifications when your car enters or exits these zones.
- Maintenance Alerts: Accesses over 10,000 diagnostic trouble codes to identify potential mechanical issues, informing you about problems before they escalate. It also monitors fuel levels and battery voltage.
Diagnostic Power
As an obd2 scanner: vivint car guard excels in vehicle diagnostics. It scans your vehicle’s computer for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), providing insights into potential mechanical problems. Unlike some basic scanners, Vivint Car Guard works with all engine types – gasoline, diesel, electric, and hybrid – offering broad compatibility. It not only identifies the cause of a check engine light but also offers potential solutions, leveraging its extensive database of diagnostic codes.
Trip Insights for Smarter Driving
For families and especially parents of new drivers, the Trip Insights feature is a standout. It delivers detailed trip logs, including:
- Trip Mapping: Visualizes each journey on a map, showing start and end points, and highlighting locations of harsh braking or rapid acceleration.
- Driving Metrics: Provides data on total driving time, maximum speeds, idle time, and trip distance.
- Event Markers: Color-coded markers on the trip map pinpoint instances of harsh braking and rapid acceleration, offering visual feedback on driving behavior.
These insights empower users to understand driving habits, promote safer driving practices, and address potential issues proactively.
Seamless Integration with Vivint Smart Home Ecosystem
A key differentiator for the obd2 scanner: vivint car guard is its ability to integrate with the Vivint Smart Home system. If you already have Vivint security devices, Car Guard becomes a seamless extension of your smart home network. This integration unlocks powerful automation possibilities:
- Automated Security Responses: Set rules to trigger Vivint cameras, outdoor lighting, or sirens when your car is disturbed, enhancing your home security perimeter. For instance, the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro can start recording if Car Guard detects unusual activity around your parked car.
- Smart Home Automation based on Car Arrival/Departure: Automate lights, door locks, and smart outlets to respond to your car’s arrival or departure. Imagine your indoor lights turning on automatically as you arrive home from a trip, as detected by Car Guard.
While the Vivint Car Guard is enhanced by integration with a Vivint Smart Home system, it also functions as a standalone device. Even without a Vivint security system, you can utilize its robust car monitoring and diagnostic features.
Vivint Car Guard App: User-Friendly Control at Your Fingertips
The Vivint Car Guard utilizes the same intuitive mobile app as the Vivint Smart Home security system, providing a unified interface for both home and vehicle monitoring. Navigating to the Car Guard features is simple via a dedicated button on the app’s home screen. The app’s interface is designed for ease of use, presenting information clearly and accessibly.
Alt text: The Vivint Car Guard mobile app interface, showcasing the vehicle location map, status, fuel level, and navigation tabs for trip history and vehicle issues.
Key app features include:
- Vehicle Status Dashboard: Displays your car’s current location on a map, along with its status (parked or driving) and fuel level.
- Trip History Tab: Access detailed maps and Trip Insights for past journeys, allowing you to review driving behavior over time.
- Issues Tab: Provides diagnostic information, including maintenance issue descriptions, severity levels, error codes, and potential solutions.
- Settings and Notifications: Configure alerts for various events like trip starts and ends, disturbances, low fuel, geofence breaches, and device unplugging. Customize rules for integration with other Vivint devices.
Installation and Real-World Performance
Setting up the Vivint Car Guard is remarkably straightforward and can be completed in minutes. The process involves:
- App Setup: If you’re a new user, download the Vivint app and create an account. Existing Vivint users can simply use their current app.
- Device Activation: Within the app, navigate to the Car Guard section and follow the on-screen instructions. This includes inserting the provided SIM card into the device and scanning the IMEI code using your phone’s camera.
- OBD-II Port Connection: Locate your car’s OBD-II port and plug in the Vivint Car Guard device.
- Vehicle Configuration: Name your vehicle within the app, select a color for its icon, set your home location geofence, and customize notification preferences.
During testing, the Vivint Car Guard demonstrated exceptional performance. Initial sensitivity adjustments were required to ensure accurate disturbance alerts, which were quickly resolved via a firmware update. Once configured, the device reliably detected disturbances, accurately tracked GPS location, and flawlessly recorded Trip Insights. Diagnostic features were also validated by simulating a vehicle issue, which the Car Guard correctly identified and reported. Integration with Vivint Smart Home devices worked seamlessly, with automated rules triggering connected cameras and lights as expected.
Pros and Cons: Is Vivint Car Guard Worth It?
Pros:
- Easy Installation: Sets up in minutes with a simple plug-and-play design.
- Vivint Smart Home Integration: Seamlessly connects with existing Vivint systems for enhanced automation.
- Comprehensive Features: Offers GPS tracking, cellular connectivity, in-car diagnostics, disturbance detection, and maintenance alerts.
- Detailed Trip Insights: Provides valuable data on driving behavior for safety and awareness.
Cons:
- Cost: The $199 price tag, coupled with a monthly subscription fee, makes it a pricier option compared to basic OBD2 scanners.
- Subscription Required: Monthly subscription is necessary for cellular connectivity and service.
Is it worth it? If you are looking for a comprehensive vehicle monitoring solution that integrates with a smart home ecosystem, the Vivint Car Guard is undoubtedly worth the investment. While it’s not the cheapest obd2 scanner, the breadth of features, seamless integration, and reliable performance justify the cost, particularly for users already invested in the Vivint ecosystem or those prioritizing advanced car security and monitoring.
Conclusion: Elevating Vehicle Security and Awareness with Vivint Car Guard
The Vivint Car Guard redefines the capabilities of an OBD2 scanner, transforming it into a powerful tool for vehicle security, diagnostics, and smart home integration. While the initial cost and subscription fees are factors to consider, the comprehensive feature set and seamless performance make it a standout product in the car accessory market. For those seeking advanced vehicle monitoring, teen driver safety features, and integration with their Vivint Smart Home, the obd2 scanner: vivint car guard is an Editors’ Choice winner that delivers on its promises.
