Bright outlook for diagnostics

Telematics will augment more sophisticated data gathering, but challenges are many.

The evolution from mechanics to electronics has helped make cars more reliable, but it has also made them much harder to fix when problems do arise. Product developers are responding with new electronic hardware and telematics links that help dealers and owners keep track of maintenance.

Though it is often overshadowed by the focus on new features and functions, diagnostics is a huge part of new vehicle design. New electronic control units (ECUs) must monitor their sensors and the mechanical elements those sensors monitor. ECUs must also check their own performance.