The artificial intelligence-powered UJS Rocco OBD-II diagnostic tool helps drivers understand fault codes, assess issue severity, and make informed repair decisions
UJS Rocco is an AI-powered OBD-II diagnostic tool designed to help drivers clearly understand fault codes, assess issue severity, and make informed repair decisions. (Photography courtesy of UJS Global of as credited)
There are few motoring buzz-kills like that dang “Check Engine” telltale in the gauge array. No matter the owner’s skill level, the yellow illuminated light gives pause. My reaction to these unwelcome alerts: “Grrr, what now?” And what will this fix cost, and how serious is it?
Unless you have a neighbor with a sophisticated (and expensive) diagnostic device, your next call will be to a repair facility. Of course, scheduling that appointment will take time, and how will you really know if the shop’s diagnosis is valid?
Fortunately for motorists with limited mechanical skills, there is a helping hand—and it is not expensive: the UJS Rocco.
This compact artificial intelligence tool (AI) tool simplifies code diagnosis, assesses issue severity, and supports data-driven repair decisions—without requiring technical expertise.
This decoding capability becomes particularly important in situations like purchasing a used car, maintaining high-mileage vehicles, or preparing for emissions inspections, according to the company.
AI Power
Rocco consists of a scanner for the OBD-II port (as in my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid) and a user-friendly app for Apple or Android. Using artificial intelligence, the app enables immediate access to vehicle data.
Upon plug-in, the Rocco wizard can read and clear codes, and provide live data in several categories, including:
- Inspection and Maintenance Readiness status;
Rocco is a two-part smart device. The small scanner plugs into a vehicle’s OBD-II port. And then, using the free smartphone app, the user can scroll through the interface.
- Acceleration test;
- O2 sensor test; trip analysis;
- Braking tests;
- Voltage testing.
Knowledge is Power
UJS Global targets motorists with limited car knowledge. Rocco reports give motorists clear guidance before repair shop visits, helping them assess problem severity and avoid overcharging.
For do-it-yourself enthusiasts with more automotive knowledge, Rocco functions as a digital diagnostic assistant, effectively monitoring vehicle health and helping identify emissions-related issues.
Rocco’s quick diagnostic insights are especially valuable for high-mileage and aging vehicles, allowing owners to assess repair urgency efficiently.
Families and new drivers receive simple, clear safety information that builds understanding and confidence in their OBD-II vehicles.
When buying a used car, Rocco instantly uncovers hidden problems. For required smog tests, it allows owners to verify emissions readiness from home before seeking repairs.
User Experience
My neighbor is a retired automotive engineer. He repairs fault-code Porsches that owners sell cheaply, and maintains a small fleet of
family cars. He works on my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid with 146,000 miles, for which he has solved several hybrid battery issues.
The scan tool has the voltage function on the start page for immediate reading. There is no need to open other screens or functions. (Peter Badore photo)
He used the UJS Rocco to scan his 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi, a plug-in hybrid. He liked Rocco a lot for its ease, especially how the low-voltage battery readout is accessed.
“The scan tool has the voltage function on the start page for immediate reading; there is no need to open other screens or functions,” he said.
“For a Ford C-MAX, this is nice because the OEM 12-volt battery is a weak point in the car. It is seriously under-specified,” he said. “There are so many failures that Ford Motor authorizes many free 12-volt battery replacements for cars out of warranty. So far, I have encountered this problem five or six times on our three family C-MAX cars. And other owners tell me the same thing.”
Bluetooth Dependent
In my neighbor’s experience, the UJS Rocco has one aspect that can be troublesome or just a typical characteristic of using a scan tool via Bluetooth.
“If Bluetooth connectivity is lost or becomes intermittent, as mine did a few minutes ago, then you are blind with respect to OBD-2 functions,” he said. “Next, the UJS app is easy to download, although it may take several minutes to complete the download, as mine did from the Apple store.”
A smart engineering addition to the UJS Rocco is two monitoring lights: one to indicate when it is connected to the 16-pin diagnostic link (a continuous red light) and one to indicate when it is connected to the UJS Rocco app (a flashing green light).
Another UJS diagnostic product, the SafeScan, does not need a Bluetooth connection. It can do most, if not all, of the OBD-2 scan functions and is still a reasonable cost at $25.97.
“Overall, on my first use, these UJS scan tools are a very good value,” said my neighbor.
What is OBD-II?
The OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) system is integrated into vehicles from 1996 and newer. When a fault occurs in the emissions-related subsystem, it generates diagnostic trouble codes to notify drivers that something is amiss. OBD-II, or OBD-2, refers to the second generation.
The UJS Rocco costs $39.97, or about $43 with tax, not including shipping. (I found it on Amazon.
Who is UJS Global?
With its U.S. headquarters in Wyoming, UJS manufactures automotive diagnostic products. “With UJS, you don’t need to be a mechanic to understand your vehicle. Our mission is to deliver better solutions that help drivers identify and fix vehicles.”
For more, visit UJSglobal.
GM claims to have produced more U.S. military vehicles than any manufacturer in history.
