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Living Health Record

Vehicle health inspection format for Glovebox beta

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Core Inspection Items

29 items that matter most to vehicle owners, with high shop capture rates.

Item Measurement Green Yellow Red
Brakes
Front Brake Pads mm thickness >5mm 3-5mm <3mm
Rear Brake Pads mm thickness >5mm 3-5mm <3mm
Front Rotors status Smooth, within spec Scored, light grooves Warped, deeply grooved, below min
Rear Rotors status Smooth, within spec Scored, light grooves Warped, deeply grooved, below min
Tires
Tire Tread (LF, RF, LR, RR) 32nds inch >6/32" 4-6/32" <4/32"
Tire Pressure (LF, RF, LR, RR) PSI at spec ±5 PSI >10 off
Tire Age (LF, RF, LR, RR) years (from DOT) <6 yrs 6-8 yrs >8 yrs
Fluids
Engine Oil status OK Monitor Service Required
Brake Fluid status OK Monitor Service Required
Coolant status OK Monitor Service Required
Transmission Fluid status OK Monitor Service Required
Power Steering Fluid status OK Monitor Service Required
Filters
Engine Air Filter status OK Monitor Service Required
Cabin Air Filter status OK Monitor Service Required
Battery
Battery Voltage volts >12.4V 12.0-12.4V <12.0V
Battery CCA % of rated >80% 50-80% <50%
Battery Age months <48 mo 48-60 mo >60 mo
Under Hood
Belts status OK Monitor Service Required
Hoses status OK Monitor Service Required
Leaks status OK Monitor Service Required
Radiator/Cooling System status OK Monitor Service Required
Other (Under Hood) status + notes OK Monitor Service Required
Undercarriage
Suspension status OK Monitor Service Required
Steering status OK Monitor Service Required
Driveshaft status OK Monitor Service Required
Axles status OK Monitor Service Required
Exhaust status OK Monitor Service Required
Brake Hoses status OK Monitor Service Required
Other (Undercarriage) status + notes OK Monitor Service Required
Visibility
Wiper Blades status OK Monitor Service Required
Lights status OK Monitor Service Required

Interactive Display (Prototype)

Click categories to expand, click items to see technician notes. This demonstrates the progressive disclosure pattern.

Data Mode:

2019 Honda Accord

Last inspected: Jan 15, 2026 at 47,823 mi

Fair
▶ Brakes 2 items to monitor
Front Pads 7mm
Technician Notes

Measured at 7mm. Plenty of life remaining, no uneven wear observed.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Rear Pads 4mm
Technician Notes

Measured at 4mm. Approaching minimum thickness. Recommend replacing at next service or within 5,000 miles. Slight glazing noted on inboard pad.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Front Rotors OK
Technician Notes

Rotors smooth, no scoring or grooves. Measured at 28mm (min spec 25mm). No pulsation or warping detected.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Rear Rotors Monitor
Technician Notes

Light scoring visible on both rear rotors. Still within spec at 10mm (min 9mm). Can be resurfaced when pads are replaced, or replace if scoring worsens.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Fluids 1 item to monitor
Engine Oil OK
Technician Notes

Level full, color amber/golden. Recently changed per customer - 1,200 miles on current oil.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Brake Fluid OK
Technician Notes

Level at MAX line. Fluid clear with slight amber tint. Tested moisture content at 1.2% - within acceptable range.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Coolant Monitor
Technician Notes

Level slightly below MIN line in reservoir. Topped off during service. No visible leaks found. Recommend monitoring level - if it drops again, further diagnosis needed for potential leak.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Transmission OK
Technician Notes

Checked via dipstick at operating temp. Level correct, fluid bright red with no burnt smell.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Power Steering OK
Technician Notes

Level at full mark. Fluid clean, no contamination.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Filters 1 needs service
Engine Air Monitor
Technician Notes

Filter showing moderate dirt accumulation. Still functional but approaching replacement. Recommend replacing within next 10,000 miles or at next oil change.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Cabin Air Service Required
Technician Notes

Filter heavily contaminated with debris, dust, and some leaf matter. Restricting airflow - customer mentioned reduced AC performance. Strongly recommend immediate replacement.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Battery All OK
Voltage 12.6V
Technician Notes

Resting voltage measured at 12.6V - indicates full charge. Terminals clean, no corrosion.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
CCA 92%
Technician Notes

Load test: 552 CCA measured vs 600 CCA rated = 92% capacity. Strong cranking power, passes test.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Age 36 months
Technician Notes

Date code indicates January 2023 manufacture. 3 years old - typically 4-5 year lifespan. Good condition for age.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Tires 2 items to monitor
Tread Depth 5-7/32"
Technician Notes

LF: 7/32" | RF: 6/32" | LR: 5/32" | RR: 5/32"

Rear tires showing more wear than fronts - normal for this FWD vehicle. Rears approaching 4/32" threshold. Recommend tire rotation and monitoring. Consider replacement in 10-15k miles.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Pressure 32-33 PSI
Technician Notes

All tires within spec. Set to placard recommendation of 32 PSI during service. TPMS functioning correctly.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Age 6 years
Technician Notes

DOT code: 2419 (Week 24, 2019) - all four tires match. At 6 years, tires are entering the age monitoring window. No visible dry rot or sidewall cracking at this time. Industry guidelines suggest annual inspection after 5 years.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Under Hood 1 item to monitor
Belts OK
Technician Notes

Serpentine belt in good condition. No cracking, fraying, or glazing. Proper tension.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Hoses OK
Technician Notes

All coolant hoses firm with no soft spots. Clamps secure, no visible seepage at connections.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Leaks OK
Technician Notes

No active leaks observed. Engine bay dry. Minor valve cover seepage (common for age) but not dripping - monitor only.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Radiator/Cooling OK
Technician Notes

Radiator fins in good condition, no damage or blockage. Cap holds pressure. No leaks at tanks or seams. Fan operates correctly.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Other Monitor
Technician Notes

Found one missing bolt on air box cover. Still secure but should be replaced. Also noted aftermarket air intake installed.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Undercarriage 1 item to monitor
Suspension OK
Technician Notes

Shocks not leaking, bushings intact. No excessive play in ball joints or tie rod ends. Control arm bushings showing normal wear for mileage.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Steering OK
Technician Notes

Tie rod ends tight with no play. Rack boots intact. No leaks from steering rack. Steering responsive with no wandering.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Driveshaft OK
Technician Notes

U-joints checked - no play or binding. Center support bearing quiet. No vibration reported by customer.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Axles Monitor
Technician Notes

Driver side outer CV boot showing small crack starting to form. Not yet leaking grease. Recommend monitoring - if grease appears or crack worsens, will need boot replacement or axle replacement.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Exhaust OK
Technician Notes

Exhaust system intact, all hangers secure. Surface rust on muffler but not concerning. No leaks detected.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Brake Hoses OK
Technician Notes

All flexible brake lines inspected. No cracking, swelling, or leaks at wheel cylinders. Fittings secure.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Other OK
Technician Notes

Undercarriage inspection complete. Splash shields intact. No impact damage or loose fasteners noted.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
▶ Visibility All OK
Wiper Blades OK
Technician Notes

Both front wipers clearing windshield cleanly. No streaking or chattering. Rubber in good condition.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto
Lights OK
Technician Notes

All exterior lights functional: headlights (low/high), taillights, brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights, license plate light. No bulbs out.

Inspected by: Mike T. at Main Street Auto

Tire Age Display

DOT date codes converted to human-readable format with educational context.

Tire Age - Left Front
6 years old
Manufactured: June 2019
DOT: 2419
New 6 yrs 10 yrs
Learn more about tire age

Understanding Tire Age

The DOT code on your tire sidewall includes a 4-digit date code. "2419" means week 24 of 2019.

Industry Reference:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and most tire manufacturers, tires degrade over time due to environmental factors even when not in use. Industry guidelines generally note:

  • Tires should be inspected annually after 5 years of service
  • 6-10 years is the typical service life range cited by manufacturers
  • Actual tire condition depends on wear, storage, and climate factors

Your shop can assess your tire's actual condition and provide guidance specific to your situation.

Design Principles

No Direct Recommendations

We state facts and cite industry sources. Actual service recommendations come from the vehicle owner's shop.

"Your shop can assess your tire's actual condition and advise based on wear, storage, and climate."

Green / Yellow / Red Status

Industry-standard color coding that consumers already understand from digital vehicle inspections (DVI).

Color thresholds based on manufacturer specs and industry guidelines (NHTSA, tire/brake manufacturers).

High-Value Items Only

14 items that cover safety concerns (brakes, tires, lights) and common maintenance (fluids, filters, battery). These are what shops check on every visit and what owners care about most.

Data Schema

{
  "vin": "1HGCV1F34KA012345",
  "lastInspectionDate": "2026-01-15",
  "odometerAtInspection": 47823,
  "inspectingShop": "Main Street Auto",

  "brakes": {
    "frontPads": { "mm": 7, "status": "ok" },
    "rearPads": { "mm": 4, "status": "monitor" },
    "frontRotors": { "mm": 28, "minSpec": 25, "status": "ok" },
    "rearRotors": { "mm": 10, "minSpec": 9, "status": "monitor", "notes": "light scoring" }
  },

  "tires": {
    "lf": { "tread32nds": 7, "pressurePsi": 32, "dotCode": "2419", "ageYears": 6 },
    "rf": { "tread32nds": 6, "pressurePsi": 33, "dotCode": "2419", "ageYears": 6 },
    "lr": { "tread32nds": 5, "pressurePsi": 32, "dotCode": "2419", "ageYears": 6 },
    "rr": { "tread32nds": 5, "pressurePsi": 32, "dotCode": "2419", "ageYears": 6 },
    "recommendedPsi": 32
  },

  "fluids": {
    "oil": { "status": "ok" },
    "brake": { "status": "ok" },
    "coolant": { "status": "monitor" },
    "transmission": { "status": "ok" },
    "powerSteering": { "status": "ok" }
  },

  "filters": {
    "engineAir": { "status": "monitor" },
    "cabinAir": { "status": "service_required" }
  },

  "battery": {
    "voltage": 12.6,
    "ccaPercent": 92,
    "ageMonths": 36
  },

  "underHood": {
    "belts": { "status": "ok" },
    "hoses": { "status": "ok" },
    "leaks": { "status": "ok" },
    "radiator": { "status": "ok" },
    "other": { "status": "monitor", "notes": ["missing bolt on air box"] }
  },

  "undercarriage": {
    "suspension": { "status": "ok" },
    "steering": { "status": "ok" },
    "driveshaft": { "status": "ok" },
    "axles": { "status": "monitor" },
    "exhaust": { "status": "ok" },
    "brakeHoses": { "status": "ok" },
    "other": { "status": "ok", "notes": [] }
  },

  "visibility": {
    "wiperBlades": { "status": "ok" },
    "lights": { "status": "ok" }
  },

  "overallHealth": "fair",
  "attentionItems": [
    { "item": "Cabin Air Filter", "status": "service_required" },
    { "item": "Coolant", "status": "monitor" },
    { "item": "Engine Air Filter", "status": "monitor" },
    { "item": "Rear Brake Pads", "status": "monitor" },
    { "item": "Rear Rotors", "status": "monitor", "notes": "light scoring" },
    { "item": "Axles", "status": "monitor" },
    { "item": "Under Hood Other", "status": "monitor", "notes": ["missing bolt on air box"] }
  ]
}

Product Specification for Implementation

Feature requirements and UX principles for the engineering team.

1. Progressive Disclosure Pattern

The Core Idea: Users should feel confident about their vehicle's health at a glance, without being overwhelmed by technical details. Details are available on-demand for those who want them.

Level 1: Category Summary (Default View)

When the user opens their vehicle health record, they see a list of categories (Brakes, Fluids, Tires, etc.) with a high-level status indicator:

This lets users instantly see "do I need to worry about anything?" without processing 26 individual items.

Level 2: Item List (Category Expanded)

Tapping a category expands it to show all items within that category. Each item shows:

Users can now see which specific item needs attention, if any.

Level 3: Technician Notes (Item Expanded)

Tapping an item reveals the raw technician notes from the inspection. This includes:

This is the "show me exactly what they found" layer for users who want full transparency.

2. Why This Matters (User Psychology)

Confidence Without Overload

Most users don't want to read 26 inspection items. They want to know: "Is my car okay?" The category summary answers that question in 2 seconds. Power users can dig deeper.

Actionable, Not Alarming

Yellow items should feel like "something to keep an eye on" - not scary. Red items are "you should handle this soon." The language should be specific enough to act on, without being alarmist.

Trust Through Transparency

Showing the actual technician notes builds trust. Users can see the exact language the shop used, verify measurements, and understand the context behind each status. This differentiates us from black-box "your car needs X" apps.

3. Implementation Requirements

Data Model Extensions

Each item in the schema needs to support an optional techNotes field:

Category Aggregation Logic

The category status badge should use this priority:

Animation & Affordance
Empty State Handling

If an item has no technician notes (status only, no details), show a placeholder:

4. Future Considerations

History View

Eventually, users should be able to see how an item changed over time. "Rear brakes went from 7mm → 5mm → 4mm over 3 inspections." This requires storing historical snapshots.

Comparison to Industry Standards

Show where the user's measurement falls on a spectrum. The tire age bar in this doc is an example - showing 6 years on a 0-10 year scale with color zones.

Push Notifications

When a new inspection comes in, notify users if status changed (especially if something went from green → yellow, or yellow → red).

Quick Actions

On items that need attention, offer a "Schedule Service" CTA that pre-fills the issue into a service request to the shop that performed the inspection.

5. Accessibility Notes

Design Decision: Handling Missing Data

When we only have inspection data for some items (e.g., brakes and tires but not fluids), how should we display the health record? Use the toggle above to see both approaches in action.

Decision Needed: Show Empty Categories?

Option A: Only Show What We Have

If we only have brake and tire data, only show Brakes and Tires categories. Hide everything else.

+ Clean, focused display

+ No confusing "Unknown" or "Not inspected" states

+ Builds confidence in what IS shown

- User doesn't know what COULD be shown

- "Did they check my battery?" - no way to know

- Loses the "complete picture" mental model

Option B: Show Everything with "Not Inspected"

Always show all 8 categories. Categories without data show "Not inspected" (grayed out, collapsed).

+ Transparent about what wasn't checked

+ User knows the full scope of possible inspections

+ Encourages shops to capture more data over time

- Screen full of "Not inspected" looks incomplete

- May undermine confidence ("why is so much missing?")

- More visual noise for partial inspections

Option C: Hybrid - Collapsed Empty Categories

Show all categories, but auto-expand only those WITH data. Empty categories are collapsed and de-emphasized. User can tap to see "what could be here."

+ Focus on what we have (expanded) while showing scope (collapsed)

+ User can explore empty categories if curious

+ Graceful progression as more data comes in

- Slightly more complex to implement

- May still feel "incomplete" to some users

Recommendation: Option C (Hybrid)

This balances transparency with focus. Categories with data expand automatically and draw the eye. Empty categories are visible but de-emphasized, communicating "we can show more as shops capture it" without overwhelming the user with unknowns.

Ryan: Toggle "Partial Data" mode above to see Option C in action. Let us know which approach you prefer for beta.

Living Health Record Spec v1.0 - Piston Labs / Glovebox Beta
Created: February 2026