01 · you
Vehicle
Parked, charging, ignition on.
How it works Remote diagnosis, step by step
How does remote diagnosis reach a car on the other side of the world?
A dealer-grade diagnostic bay, over the internet.
The engineer sits in China with the OEM's own diagnostic software. Your imported Chinese EV sits in your driveway. Between them is a cable, a Windows PC and an encrypted link. This page explains each piece and what you need to have ready.
01 The connection chain
How does the connection work?
Vehicle to OEM cloud in six links.
Three links are yours, three are ours. Nothing is installed in the car and nothing is modified except what the engineer changes on purpose.
02 · you
ENET cable
OBD-II to Ethernet. Any DoIP lead for most brands.
03 · you
Windows PC
Runs EV Fix Connector. No install skills needed.
04 · us
Encrypted link
A private tunnel over the internet. Diagnostic traffic only.
05 · us
OEM engineer's laptop
Factory diagnostic software, the same tool the dealer uses.
06 · us
OEM cloud
Security login, VIN-matched software, coding data.
What you provide
What we provide
Your side
The vehicle. Every modern Chinese EV exposes its controllers over diagnostic Ethernet (DoIP) through the OBD-II port under the dash. That is the port the factory and the dealer use for programming, on Chinese-market and export cars alike.
The ENET cable. A passive adapter, OBD-II plug on one end, RJ45 on the other. It simply routes the car's Ethernet pins to a normal network socket. No electronics, nothing to configure.
The Windows PC. Runs EV Fix Connector, our small connector app. It finds the car on the cable, opens an encrypted tunnel to us and shows you a live status. You never touch the OEM software yourself.
Our side
The encrypted link. A point-to-point tunnel that carries only the car's diagnostic packets. It does not share your screen, files or other devices on your network.
The engineer's laptop. Runs the manufacturer's own diagnostic and programming software with a licensed account. To that software, your car looks like it is plugged in on the bench.
The OEM cloud. Security authorisation, VIN-matched software packages and coding data come from the manufacturer's servers, the same source a dealer in China uses.
02 What you need
What do I need for a remote session?
Two things, really. The rest is common sense.
An ENET cable and a Windows PC are the only purchases. Everything else on the list you almost certainly already have. If you are missing the cable, tick "I need one" on the booking form and we will add it to the quote.
- Windows 10 or 11 PC · laptop or desktop, with an Ethernet port or a USB Ethernet adapter
- ENET cable · OBD-II to RJ45, DoIP (ISO 13400). Generic works for most brands; we confirm on booking
- Internet · 10 Mbps or faster, wired or good Wi-Fi. A phone hotspot works for diagnosis but not for flashing
- Car on charge · traction battery above 50 % and on a charger, or a 12 V support unit for long flashes
- A phone · for the WhatsApp voice call with us during the session
- Time · a quiet 30 to 90 minutes where the car stays parked and no one opens the doors
03 A session, start to finish
How does a session run, from booking to report?
Six steps, one working day to a quote.
Engineers work Beijing time 09:00 to 21:00. Most customers in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific find a slot the same or next day.
You can watch the whole session and pull the cable at any moment. Nothing is written to the car without telling you first.
You book
Fill in the form with the car, the symptom and any codes you already have. Photos of the dash help.
you · 5 minutesWe review and quote
We match your case with an engineer for the brand, check the software path for your VIN and send a fixed price with two or three time slots.
us · within 1 working dayYou confirm and prepare
Pay the quote, install EV Fix Connector on the Windows PC and make sure the ENET cable reaches from the OBD port to the laptop. We send a one-page checklist.
you · before the slotYou connect
Car on a charger, ignition on, cable in, app open. Click connect and read us the session code. We confirm the engineer can see the car.
you + us · 5 minutesThe engineer works
Diagnosis, coding or flashing happens live. You stay on the call and can see progress in the app. For calibrations and actuator tests you may be asked to press a pedal or place a target.
engineer · 30 to 90 minutesYou get a report
A short written summary: what was found, what was changed, which software versions are now on the car, and anything to watch. Keep it for the next owner or insurer.
us · same day
04 The alternatives
How does a remote session compare with the alternatives?
Rent the engineers, not the tools.
An owner or workshop with a Chinese-version car abroad has five options. Only two of them can touch Chinese-market software, and one of those costs more than the car is worth to set up.
| Option | Typical cost | Time to a fix | Chinese-market software? | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote session with an OEM engineer | Fixed quote on inquiry | Same or next day | Yes: the engineer uses the manufacturer’s own tool and cloud login | You need an ENET cable and a Windows PC |
| Ship the module to China for coding | Freight both ways plus the coding fee | Two to six weeks | Yes, for the module alone | Only works for parts you can remove; the car is immobile meanwhile |
| Buy the OEM tool and licence yourself | About $6,000 per brand per year, plus hardware and training | Months to set up | Yes, once you have the account | Licences are per brand and rarely sold to workshops outside the dealer network |
| Local independent workshop with a generic scan tool | Local labour rates | Same day | No: generic tools read codes but cannot flash, code or program keys on Chinese EVs | Diagnosis stops at the code; the fix still needs OEM access |
| Dealer for the same brand abroad | Dealer rates | Days to weeks, if accepted | No: the export-market tool does not serve Chinese-market VINs and most dealers refuse them | Chinese-version cars are usually turned away at the door |
05 Frequently asked questions
What do owners ask before their first session?
Before you plug anything in.
What exactly is an ENET cable?
An OBD-II to RJ45 Ethernet adapter that exposes the car’s diagnostic Ethernet (DoIP, ISO 13400) to a laptop. Most Chinese EVs use it for programming. Any generic DoIP ENET cable works for most brands; a few brands need a brand-specific lead, which we will tell you when we review your booking. We can also ship you one.
Does the Windows PC need anything special?
Windows 10 or 11, a wired Ethernet port or a USB Ethernet adapter, and a stable internet connection of at least 10 Mbps. No admin knowledge required: our connector app walks you through it and we stay on a call with you.
Who actually works on my car?
Engineers who work for or with Chinese EV manufacturers and use the OEM diagnostic software every day. They sign in to the same OEM cloud the dealer uses. We coordinate the session and translate where needed.
Can you OTA update a Chinese-version car that no longer receives updates abroad?
On some brands and models, yes. The OEM cloud only pushes OTA packages to VINs registered in China, so an imported car stops updating. Where the manufacturer offers an update path for your VIN, an OEM engineer can flash it over the ENET cable. It is not available for every car, so send us the VIN and we confirm before quoting.
Can you switch my Chinese-version car to English?
It depends on the model and firmware. Some Chinese-market builds already contain English and only need enabling; some models can take an export build; some cannot be switched at all. Tell us the model and VIN in the booking form and we will say what is possible before you pay anything.
Can you install Google Maps, Waze or Spotify on the head unit?
On some head units, by enabling ADB on the Android head unit so you can sideload APKs. Whether yours supports it depends on the model and software version and is confirmed on inquiry. The engineer opens the engineering menu remotely and walks you through the first install. Apps that require Google Play Services may not run on every unit; we check yours during the session.
Can you check whether a “new” car shipped from China has been repaired?
Yes. Before you sign the acceptance, an OEM engineer checks whether every controller carries its factory security key provisioning, plus airbag crash records and battery history. Replaced modules show up even when the body is flawless; in one case the BMS and the rear drive unit had never been key-provisioned, so neither was original. You get a written report the same day.
How long does a session take and what does it cost?
Most sessions run 30 to 90 minutes. We quote a fixed price after reviewing your case, before anything is scheduled. Remote diagnostics and key programming start from $100 and accident unlock from $355; every other job is quoted on inquiry. If the engineer cannot do the job, you do not pay for the session.
Is it safe to let someone connect to my car remotely?
The link is an encrypted tunnel between your PC and the engineer’s workstation that only carries diagnostic traffic. The engineer sees the car’s diagnostic interface, not your PC screen or files. You can watch everything and unplug the cable at any time.
Can the update or coding brick my car?
The engineer uses the OEM procedure with the correct package for your VIN, which is the same process the factory uses. We ask you to keep the car on a charger and the 12 V battery supported during flashing, and we do not start a flash unless the connection is stable.
What about time zones?
Engineers are in China (UTC+8) and work 09:00 to 21:00 Beijing time, which covers Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia during their working day, and the Americas in the early morning or late evening.
My brand is not in the list. Can you still help?
Probably. The list shows brands we handle routinely. Send the booking form anyway with your model and we will tell you within a day whether we have an engineer for it.