Vehicle repair shop pre-inspection and post-inspection verification system

1. A method of determining a repair status of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a database, diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a first time, the diagnostic data including vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle;

identifying, at the database, stored component identification information associated with the vehicle identification information;

identifying an initial vehicle malfunction based on the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the first time;

receiving, at the database, one of:

diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a second time indicating a subsequent vehicle malfunction; and

a signal indicating an absence of diagnostic data at the second time;

generating a first incomplete alert signal in response to receipt of diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the second time indicating the subsequent vehicle malfunction;

receiving, at the database, installed component identification information associated with at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle;

comparing, at the database, the stored component identification information with the installed component identification information to determine if the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle is compatible with the vehicle;

verifying, at the database, the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times; and

generating, at the database, a verification signal based on the comparison of the different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times.

2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving diagnostic data includes receiving diagnostic trouble codes generated by an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving diagnostic data includes receiving an electronic vehicle identification number from an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving component identification information includes receiving an electronic part number.

5. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating an incompatibility alert signal when the installed component identification information does not match the stored component identification information.

6. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a first photo of the vehicle;

receiving a second photo of the vehicle taken subsequent to the first photo; and

comparing the first and second photos to determine whether repairs are complete.

7. The method recited in claim 6 , further comprising the step of generating a second incomplete alert signal when it is determined that repairs are not complete.

8. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of testing an electrical component of the vehicle by sending an electronic input signal to the electrical component.

9. The method recited in claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving a response signal from the electrical component and comparing the received response signal to a predetermined standard.

10. A method of verifying electrical components on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle;

receiving, from the vehicle, installed component identification information associated with at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle;

accessing a database having stored compatible component identification information associated with the vehicle; and

comparing the compatible component identification information with the installed component identification information to determine if the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle is compatible with the vehicle;

generating, at the database, a component verification signal based on the comparison of the compatible component identification information with the installed component identification information; and

verifying the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times.

11. The method recited in claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

accessing in a database stored performance data associated with the stored component identification information;

receiving performance data from the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle; and

comparing the received performance data to the stored performance data to determine if the received performance data is consistent with the stored performance data to evaluate a quality characteristic of the component installed on the vehicle.

12. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the step of receiving vehicle identification information includes receiving a vehicle identification number.

13. The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the step of receiving installed component identification information includes receiving an electronic part number.

14. A method of verifying repair of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a first time;

receiving a first component identification signal at a computer remote from the vehicle identifying electrical components on the vehicle at the first time;

generating, at the database remote from the vehicle, a repair list based on the received diagnostic data, the repair list including at least one electrical component requiring repair or replacement;

receiving diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a second time;

receiving a second component identification signal identifying electrical components on the vehicle at the second time;

comparing, at the database remote from the vehicle, the first component identification signal with the second component identification signal to determine whether the at least one electrical component requiring repair or replacement has been repaired or replaced by a component compatible with the vehicle;

comparing, at the database remote from the vehicle, the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the first time with the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the second time to determine a repair completion status; and

verifying the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times.

15. The method recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of comparing the first component identification signal with the second component identification signal to determine whether the second component identification signal identifies at least one electrical component not included in the first component identification signal or the repair list.

16. The method recited in claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a first photo of the vehicle;

receiving a second photo of the vehicle taken subsequent to the first photo; and

comparing the first and second photos to determine whether repairs are complete.

17. The method recited in claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle; and

determining compatibility of the electrical components associated with the received second component identification signal with the vehicle based on comparison of signal with vehicle compatible component information derived from the received vehicle identification information.