Get an instant AI-powered vehicle diagnosis for £9.99. Likely causes, urgency, fair UK repair costs and questions to ask your garage — reviewed by a 32-year UK mechanic.
How the AI diagnosis tool works
Describe the symptom in your own words — the noise, when it happens, any warning light — and the tool works through the likely causes in order of probability and cost, using the same logic a mechanic follows at the counter: what changed, when it happens, and what would explain all of it at once.
It is built on Bob's own diagnostic reasoning rather than generic internet answers, and it will tell you plainly when a symptom means stop driving.
What it is good at, and what it is not
It is good at narrowing a fault, explaining what a code means in context, telling you whether a quote sounds reasonable and helping you ask a garage the right question. That alone saves people a lot of money.
It cannot put the car on a ramp, watch live data or feel a worn ball joint. No remote tool can confirm a diagnosis, and anything safety-critical needs a physical inspection before parts are bought.
Getting the best answer
Give it the make, model, engine, year and mileage, then be specific about timing: cold start, first braking of the day, over bumps, at motorway speed, only when turning. Mention anything done to the car recently — a fault that appeared straight after work is usually related to that work.
If you want a human answer, the paid Ask a Mechanic service puts the question in front of Bob directly at £14.99, or £29.99 for a full diagnostic write-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AI diagnosis free?
Yes, the tool is free to use. A personal written answer from Bob is the paid Ask a Mechanic service.
How accurate is it?
It is good at narrowing likely causes and explaining codes in context. It cannot replace putting the car on a ramp and reading live data.
What should I tell it?
Make, model, engine, year, mileage, exactly when the symptom happens, any warning lights, and any work done to the car recently.
Will it tell me if the car is unsafe?
Yes. Symptoms like a soft brake pedal, a flashing engine light or engine knocking are flagged as stop-driving situations.