Repair assist system for vehicle servicing

1. A vehicle repair assist system for repairing a vehicle fault in a vehicle comprising:

a symptom input module for entering vehicle symptom information relating to the fault;

a diagnostic code module for retrieving diagnostic trouble codes from the vehicle, the diagnostic trouble codes being generated in response to a fault occurrence;

a knowledge-based fault module for identifying potential causes of the vehicle fault based on at least one of the symptom information and diagnostic trouble codes; and

a repair assistant module for identifying recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the cause of the vehicle fault, the repair assistant module communicating with the knowledge-based fault module for obtaining a prioritized listing of the recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the vehicle fault.

2. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the repair assistant module autonomously determines whether authorization should be provided for using a restricted component, wherein the restricted component relates to a repair that requires authorization prior to performing the vehicle repair utilizing the restricted component.

3. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 2 wherein the repair assistant module provides the authorization in real time.

4. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the symptom information relating to the vehicle fault includes a customer description of the vehicle fault.

5. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the symptom information relating to the fault includes service technician test data relating to the vehicle fault.

6. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the repair assistant module is in communication with a user of the vehicle, wherein the user obtains self-repair information from the repair assistant module for identifying and repairing the potential causes of the vehicle fault.

7. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the user communicates with the repair assistant module through a web-based portal.

8. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the user communicates with the repair assistant module through an in-vehicle communication system.

9. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 wherein the repair assistant module communicates a repair procedure to the user, communicates to the user an approximate cost associated with the procedure, and communicates to the user an estimated time to repair the vehicle fault.

10. The vehicle repair assist system of claim 1 further comprising a technical assistant advisor, wherein input from the technical assistant advisor is used in cooperation with the repair assistant module for diagnosing the vehicle fault.

11. A method of providing assistance for repairing a vehicle fault in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a repair assistant module receiving vehicle symptom information relating to the vehicle fault;

the repair assistant module receiving diagnostic trouble codes from the vehicle, the diagnostic trouble codes being generated in response to a vehicle fault occurrence;

identifying potential causes of the vehicle fault by a knowledge-based fault module wherein the potential causes are identified based on at least one of the vehicle symptom information and diagnostic trouble codes;

wherein the knowledge-based fault module communicates the potential causes to the repair assistant module, wherein recommended repair parts and repair procedures are identified by the repair assistant module for repairing the vehicle fault based on the identified potential causes, and wherein the repair assistant module outputs a prioritized listing of the recommended repair parts and repair procedures for repairing the vehicle fault.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the repair assistant module autonomously determines whether authorization should be provided for using a restricted component, wherein the restricted component relates to a repair that requires authorization prior to performing the vehicle repair utilizing the restricted component.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the repair assistant module provides authorization of the vehicle repair in real time.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein a customer description of the vehicle fault is communicated to the repair assistant module as part of the symptom information.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein service technician test data relating to the vehicle fault is communicated to the repair assistant module as part of the symptom information.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of communicating from the repair assistant module to the user self-repair information for repairing the vehicle fault.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the self-repair information includes a repair procedure, an approximate cost associated with the procedure, and an estimated time to repair the vehicle fault.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the user communicates with the repair assistant module through a web-based portal.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the user communicates with the repair assistant module through an in-vehicle communication system.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising a technical assistant advisor, wherein input from the technical assistant advisor is used in cooperation with the repair assistant module for diagnosing the vehicle fault.