Car's little device could have big payoff

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - With uncertainty in pricing at the pump, many people might be looking to save money on fuel. A new device developed right here in Indiana might help you do just that.

"The class was called business meets technology. We had to come up with a new technology that would help consumers in a new way," said CarCheckup Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Funkhouser.

What started out as a college project at Indiana University, has recently turned into a growing company for Funkhouser. The company's little device monitors your car's performance in many ways.

"If they're driving too hard or too fast, how often they're driving, how far away they're driving and the times that they're driving," said Funkhouser.

As you're driving, CarCheckup records virtually all your driving habits. It can monitor how hard you accelerate, a common gas-guzzler.

"Up to 33 percent of your fuel economy can just be wasted by hard braking or accelerating too quickly," said Funkhouser.

CarCheckup can also diagnose codes when determining what is wrong with your car. For example, when your check engine light is on. It also detects a common problem for many drivers.

"P0440. What that actually means to us is that it probably means you didn't turn your gas cap tight enough. It's a common code that triggers the check engine light," said Funkhouser.

CarCheckup plugs into any personal computer's USB port. After a quick download, detailed reports are available showing miles traveled, your top speed, hard accelerations and other things.

"You can get rid of the pen-and-paper logs. You're able to easily store all your data. At the end of the year, you can just go in and print out a simple report and hand it to your accountant and you're done," said Funkhouser.

CarCheckup retails for $149.00. The device currently doesn't work on hybrids or Subaru models, but Funkhouser said the company is working on that. It's also currently only compatible with PC users' Internet Explorer.

More information can be found by visiting the company's website.