App diagnoses car engine problems

To find out why your car is giving you ‘check engine’ warning, you’ve had to take it to a mechanic with an expensive diagnostic computer. Until now.

A new app and tiny device called Automatic Link -- due to hit the US market in May for about $70 -- will analyse your car’s problems and feed the information to your smartphone.

Automatic Link doesn’t stop at diagnosing your vehicle’s health. It will analyse your fuel use and driving style – and give you a weekly score based on efficiency and safety, with a few hints about how to improve.

The device continually monitors engine behaviour, fuel and distance travelled and the smartphone app crunches the data into information that could save you money at the bowser – and in expensive repairs if you ignore an engine alert.

Using GPS, it can detect fuel prices at nearby service stations and can remember where you parked your car. And with a built-in accelerometer, the app can sense if you’ve had an accident, alert emergency services – and your next-of-kin -- and lead them to your location.