# MadnessBot Android Phone User Manual Your experience. A little Madness. A clearer next step. **Android Phone edition · Updated October 11, 2026** This complete guide describes the native MadnessBot app on Android Phone, including Chat, Live, photos, video, saved conversations, account controls, and Scanner when your installed app offers it. The diagnostic examples and research chapters apply to the same repair conversation on every platform. Use the same account and the same service to retrieve saved conversations across devices. The staging app has separate test accounts; a production login does not automatically work there. Your native app sign-in is separate from signing in to the website. Features depend on the installed app, the selected service and your account's displayed access. The edition selector lets you read another native platform's complete guide. **Download Markdown** saves this entire twenty-chapter edition. Illustrations are identified as illustrations; browser screenshots are not used to represent native controls. ## 1. Your first five minutes 1. Open MadnessBot and choose **Sign in to get started**. Use the email/password or Google option offered by your app. Choose the intended Google account if more than one is on your device. 2. Open **Chat**. Type the vehicle, symptom, exact codes or measurements, and what you already checked. **Return adds a new line**; use the upward **Send** arrow to submit. 3. Read the complete written answer. Ask for one next check if that is easier to follow, then report the result in this conversation. 4. Add a clear photo or a short video through **Video** or the **+** attachment control. Write the explanation first; in-app camera **Done** sends the capture with that text. Choosing an existing file waits for **Send**. 5. Open **Live → Go Live** when you want to talk. Allow microphone access if asked, wait for connection and the greeting, then describe the concern. Read the written details alongside the spoken summary. Try: > I'm working on a [year, make, model, engine] with [mileage]. The concern is [symptom], under [conditions]. The exact codes/readings are [evidence and units]. I already checked [actual results]. What should I verify first? Switching destinations does not send a question, start a scan, or automatically open the microphone or camera. Keep this job's questions and evidence in the same conversation; start a new chat for a different job. ## 2. Find your way around Use the labeled native **bottom controls**. They hide while the keyboard is open. Use Android **Back** to dismiss the keyboard, then choose a destination. | Native control | What it does | | --- | --- | | **Chat** | Opens the current conversation and message composer. | | **Scanner**, when offered | Opens the dashboard; collection begins only after **Scan**. | | **Video** | Opens photo/video choices. Selecting it alone does not capture anything. | | **Live** | Shows voice controls. **Go Live** explicitly starts a session. | | **Account** | Opens Account & Settings: signed-in account, plan, usage, sign-out and Help. | | **+** | Chooses a supported image/video attachment or opens capture. | | **Send** arrow | Submits your message and selected existing file. Return adds a line. | | **New chat** | Starts another repair conversation after unfinished work is resolved. | | **Saved chats** | Opens your account's recent conversations. | Android **Back** first dismisses the keyboard when it is open; it also follows the active screen or closes an owned overlay. Use each picker or capture panel's **Close**, **Done**, **Save** or **Cancel** control for that action. Changing a destination preserves the draft; reloading the app can interrupt media. ### Scanner: connect, collect, assess On an Android phone, Scanner opens in its own full-screen dashboard. The Scan, Stop, gauge, assessment and clear-confirmation controls below retain the same functions. Choose **Chat** to return to the current conversation; reopening Scanner does not itself begin collection. Scanner is available only in supported builds and environments. The current Scanner is for the supported **OBDLink CX bench-simulator setup**. Follow the supplied hardware/setup instructions; a vehicle catalogue or simulated reading does not establish enhanced real-car or manufacturer-specific coverage. 1. With the supported bench and OBDLink CX powered, open **Scanner**. Opening Scanner does not start Bluetooth discovery or request permission. 2. Choose **Scan** to begin connecting and collecting. Complete any Android Bluetooth or nearby-device permission prompt and operating-system pairing request yourself. A connected adapter alone does not prove fresh readings. 3. Review the actual identity, supported measurements and received readings. Unavailable and stale values are labeled; do not use them as fresh evidence. 4. An explicit scan can send its requested assessment to the existing Chat. Wait for the visible result; a connected adapter or an initiated request is not a completed assessment. 5. **Stop** stops collection. **Read again**, when shown, requests a fresh scan. Returning to Chat, reopening Scanner or repeating a callback does not itself request another assessment. Tap a gauge to enlarge it. **Customize** changes the display format, units, range and appearance. Display changes do not create measurements or repair a fault. Custom display bands are not verified manufacturer thresholds. Use the available save, reset and undo controls and check the result. ### Clear codes requires a separate confirmation **Clear codes…** requires fresh matching vehicle/code evidence and an explicit native confirmation. Read the vehicle and action carefully. **Cancel** leaves it unconfirmed. Discussing a fault code or opening Scanner does not clear it. Follow the verified readback after an authorized clear; an accepted request alone is not proof that codes were cleared. Clearing codes does not repair their cause. Opening Scanner or another destination does not reset a retained Live session's original expiry. Changing accounts, replacing the active conversation, reloading the app, locking the device or actually leaving MadnessBot stops Scanner and can end media. Return to the current Chat, reopen Scanner and deliberately choose **Scan** if you want new readings. ## 3. Sign in and manage access ### Email and password Open **Sign In** and use the email/password panel. Use the account associated with the environment you opened. A staging account and a production account are separate even when the screens look similar. If account creation is enabled, choose the registration option in the sign-in panel and follow the displayed requirements. Complete email verification when requested: open the link in your email, then use the confirmation button on that page. After verifying, return to the app and sign in again if the screen asks you to. ### Google sign-in Choose the Google option when it is available. Select the intended Google account, particularly on a shared device with multiple accounts. The app's Google sign-in depends on the environment being configured for it; a visible test screen does not guarantee that public Google registration is enabled. ### Forgot your password? Use **Forgot password?** in the email sign-in panel and enter your account email. Follow the reset link sent to that address and enter the new password twice on the reset page. Check junk or spam if necessary. After a successful reset, sign in again; older signed-in sessions may no longer be valid. Password-reset and verification emails can be restricted in staging; contact the team if your test account cannot receive them. A Google-only account may need the Google route rather than a password you have never set. Do not assume that creating another account will restore an existing account's saved chats or plan. ### Sign out on shared devices Use the account's **Sign Out** control when you finish on a shared device. End Live and close the camera first. Do not share your login, verification code, reset link, or card information in a chat or support screenshot. ### Native sign-in and account ownership The native app keeps its own sign-in session, separate from your browser. Follow the sign-in options actually offered; Google sign-in may use a separate system sign-in screen. A verification or recovery page may open outside the app. Finish or cancel that flow, then return and follow the app's sign-in status. Opening a link does not prove verification completed. End Live before changing accounts. Sign out through **Account → Sign Out** on a shared device. Another account does not inherit this account's saved chats, tools or allowance. ## 4. Give Madness a useful starting point The best questions give Madness facts it can reason about and make clear what you want next. You can use ordinary shop language; you do not need to know the answer before asking. ### A vehicle brief you can reuse > Vehicle: [year, make, model, engine, transmission, mileage]. > Concern: [what happens, and what normal behavior would be]. > Conditions: [cold/hot, idle/load, speed, weather, intermittent/constant]. > Evidence: [exact codes, warning lights, readings with units, photo or clip]. > History: [recent repairs, modifications, maintenance, when it began]. > Already checked: [test and actual result—not just "checked okay"]. > Available equipment: [scan tool, meter, hand tools, service information]. > Help wanted: [first check, explanation, test plan, tool list, parts research, or repair scope]. Include the relevant engine or trim detail before asking for fitment or specifications. If you do not know it, say so. A VIN can help identify a vehicle, but avoid including unrelated customer information. ### Observations beat conclusions Instead of “the alternator is bad,” try “the battery warning light comes on intermittently; here are the readings and conditions.” Instead of “it needs a sensor,” give the exact fault code, symptoms, and test results. This helps separate a suspected part from a confirmed problem. Keep units with readings. Identify what you measured, where, and under which conditions. If you are copying scan data, include the label and whether the engine was cold, warm, idling, or under load. Do not invent a measurement to fill a blank. ### Ask for the answer format you need - “Give me one next step, then wait for my result.” - “Separate observations, likely causes, and what would confirm each one.” - “Make a short checklist I can read on my phone.” - “Explain why that test comes before replacing the part.” - “Use a table: check, required tool, result to record, next decision.” - “Explain this as if I'm learning the system for the first time.” - “I know the basics. Focus on what would distinguish these two possibilities.” - “Summarize this for the customer without technical jargon.” ## 5. Work through a repair in Chat ### Ask, check, report, refine 1. Describe the concern and vehicle. 2. Read the proposed approach, including its assumptions and missing details. 3. Perform only a check you can do safely with appropriate equipment and reliable instructions. 4. Return with the actual result. 5. Ask how that result changes the next step. Keep one repair in one conversation when practical. If you switch to a different vehicle or an unrelated job, use **New Chat**. If you are intentionally discussing two vehicles together, identify which one each new result belongs to. ### Correct the record Madness can misunderstand or make an incorrect assumption. Correct it directly: > Correction: this is the 2.0-liter engine, not the 2.5. Please reconsider the last answer using that detail. Or: > That reading was taken with the connector unplugged. Does that change your interpretation? For an answer that seems too broad, ask what missing fact would most change the diagnosis. For an answer that sounds too certain, ask what is verified and what remains a hypothesis. ### Read sources and estimates carefully Open the source links when provided, especially for parts, service bulletins, recalls, specifications, and published procedures. Confirm that the source applies to your vehicle, market, engine, and production details. A search result about a similar model is not automatically the right procedure for yours. Ask whether a labor figure is verified published time or a **planning estimate**. State what the job includes: one side or both, complete assembly or subcomponent, diagnosis, alignment, programming, or other related work. A planning estimate helps scope a conversation; it is not a guaranteed book time or final customer invoice. ### While an answer is arriving Skull progress indicators may show that MadnessBot is preparing an attachment, analyzing media, researching, or writing. Leave the page open while the answer finishes. A progress label describes the stage of work; it does not confirm that a diagnosis is correct. Avoid sending the same question repeatedly because an answer takes longer than expected. If the app offers a stop/cancel control, use it deliberately and check the visible result before sending again. A network problem or cancelled request may leave only a partial answer, so do not treat unfinished text as a complete procedure. ## 6. Talk with Madness Live Madness Live is a two-way voice conversation, not a prerecorded tour. It is useful when you want to describe symptoms aloud and discuss follow-up questions while keeping a written record of the substantial answer. ### Start a session 1. Open the existing repair conversation, or start a new one. 2. Tap **Live**, then **Go Live**. 3. Allow microphone access if Android asks. If you previously allowed or denied it, you may not get a fresh prompt. 4. Wait for Madness to greet you first. 5. Describe the concern. Pause to let the response finish, or clarify what you meant when needed. The skull's red eyes and small jaw movement indicate speaking activity. They are part of the interface, not a reading from the vehicle. The mic and voice status indicators help distinguish listening from playback. ### Spoken and written answers work together After a detailed written answer finishes, Madness can speak a brief summary. The complete written response remains in the conversation. Read the written answer for the full sequence, qualifications, links, and measurements to record. The spoken version may be shorter; it is not a promise that every written line will be read aloud. Try: > Keep the spoken answer short, but put the full checklist in the conversation so I can read it. Or: > I just completed the first check. Here's the result. What should I do next? ### Voice controls | Control | Use it when… | | --- | --- | | **Mute mic** | You want to stop transmitting your microphone temporarily. | | **Unmute mic** | You are ready to speak again. | | **Enable sound** | The app needs a deliberate tap before it will play the bot's voice. | | **End Live** | You are finished talking and want to close the voice connection. | | **Voice transcript** | You want to review the saved spoken exchange. Use Refresh or Load more transcript where shown. | **Mute is not End Live.** A muted session remains connected. If you are walking away, put the tools down and choose **End Live** rather than leaving the session running. ### Session length and restarting The app's current default maximum Live session is **five minutes**; the service can configure this limit, so follow the session message if it differs. At the limit, the voice connection ends. You can start another session if your account still has access and available usage. There is no separate five-minute silence cutoff in this version. Restarting does not erase the written conversation. However, a new Live session receives a limited portion of recent written context, not a complete replay of everything previously spoken. Important details mentioned only aloud may need repeating. Before ending a long discussion, ask: > Put a short handoff in the written conversation: vehicle, concern, checks completed, results, and the next unresolved question. When you restart, briefly restate the important facts and correct anything missing. The voice transcript is useful to you for review; its presence does not guarantee perfect memory in the next voice session. ### Better sound in a working shop Use a quiet position when possible. Keep the microphone clear of clothing and avoid speaking over loud equipment. If the phone's speaker keeps being heard by its own microphone, lower the volume, move to a quieter spot, or try headphones. Keep MadnessBot in the foreground during use. Locking the device or switching to another application can stop media. Opening an owned picker, Help or Scanner is different from actually backgrounding the app; it does not reset a retained session's original deadline. Do not hold or operate the app while driving, operating machinery, or performing a task that needs both hands and full attention. ### Moving between native screens Changing to Chat, Scanner or Help can keep the same conversation and same unexpired Live session. Recording may pause Live; **Resume Live** can resume that session after upload and acknowledgment, using its original deadline. **Mute mic** does not end the connection. Use **End Live** to end it explicitly. If it expires or actually ends, start a new session when permitted. ## 7. Take and send a photo A photo is useful for a label, connector, visible condition, component identification, a scan-tool display, a tool, or a readable work-order excerpt. ### Capture inside the application 1. Type any question or context in the message box first. For example: “Which connector is visible here, and what identifying detail do you need?” 2. Tap **Video → Take photo**, or **+ → Take photo**. 3. Allow camera access when prompted. 4. Center the subject. Use **Switch camera** if you need the other camera, or expand the panel for a larger view. 5. Tap **Take photo**. 6. Review the image. Choose **Retake** if it is unclear, or **Done** to send it. **Done sends immediately.** It submits the captured image together with the text already in the composer. If you left the text empty, the app supplies a general request to analyze the photo. The large camera and preview boxes close so you have room for the response. Hiding those boxes does not discard the submitted image. If another answer is still running, Done may be unavailable until the app is ready. Keep the capture in review and let the current request finish rather than repeatedly tapping. ### Select an existing photo instead Choose **+ → Choose photo** and select a file. This path attaches it for review. Add your explanation, then tap **Send** or the displayed **Analyze attachment** control. Unlike the in-app camera's Done button, choosing a file does not itself submit it. The **×** on a selected attachment removes that pending attachment. It does not delete the original photo from your phone. Submit one photo or one video per message; send additional views in follow-up messages in the same conversation. ### Make the image useful - Include a wider view for location, followed by a close-up when needed. - Provide enough light and hold the camera steady. Avoid glare over labels or displays. - Make text readable and include the entire code or part marking. - Explain what you want examined. “Look at the connector lock” is more useful than an unexplained photo. - Remove or cover unrelated customer names, addresses, and other sensitive details. The viewfinder fills its box and may crop outer edges of the preview. **Capture uses the full camera frame**, rather than only that cropped preview. The image may still be resized or compressed for analysis. Keep the important subject centered, and review the capture before sending. A photo can show appearance; it cannot establish an unseen internal condition, an exact dimension without a scale, or an electrical measurement that was never taken. ### If camera access is off The app can offer file selection when native capture is denied. Choose a supported existing image, or enable camera access through Android's app permissions and deliberately retry capture. A permanently denied permission may no longer prompt. Choosing an existing image uses the system picker and does not require camera access. ## 8. Record and analyze Madness Video Use video when motion, a changing display, a sequence, or recorded sound adds something that one photo cannot show. Madness Video analyzes a submitted clip; it is not continuously watching the live camera preview. ### Record a clip inside the app 1. In the existing conversation, type what you want Madness to notice before recording. Include the operating conditions and any relevant safety information. 2. Choose **Video → Record a video**, or **+ → Record video**. 3. Allow camera access if requested, then frame the subject. Keep the important detail near the center. 4. Tap **Start recording**. Allow microphone access if Android asks for it at this point. 5. Tap **Stop recording** when you have captured it. The recorder also has a 30-second limit. 6. Review the clip. Playback starts muted; unmute the review player when you want to check the recorded sound. 7. Choose **Retake** or **Done**. **Done uploads and sends the clip for analysis in one action.** It includes the text already in your message box. If there is no text, the app asks for a general review of what is visible and audible. You do not press the Send arrow a second time. The large preview disappears after Done. Compact upload and analysis progress remains, followed by the written answer. This gives the answer more room on a phone while keeping the recording available to the analysis process. ### Recording during Live Recording can pause an active Live session so the bot's voice stays out of the recording. Follow **Paused for video** and **Resume Live**. After upload and acknowledgment, Resume Live can continue the **same unexpired session**, with its **original deadline**. It may be unavailable while the recording or answer is being processed; follow the visible status. Resume is deliberate. Recording, reviewing, uploading, opening Help, or changing screens does not reset the Live clock. If the session has expired or you chose End Live, use Go Live to start another session when your account allows it. A fresh session has the context limits described in the Live chapter. ### Choose a saved clip Use **Choose video**, select the clip, add your question, and tap **Send** or **Analyze attachment**. File selection alone does not submit it. If the embedded recorder is unavailable, the panel may offer the device's camera or a file-picker alternative. The device-camera alternative can open the phone's own full-screen capture interface. ### Clip limits | Item | Current app limit or behavior | | --- | --- | | Duration | **30 seconds or less**. | | File size | **100 MB shown in the interface**; the server limit is 100 MiB. | | Common formats | MP4, MOV, or WebM, provided the file's codecs and timing can be decoded. | | Attachments | One video or one image per message. | | Visual analysis | Sampled frames, approximately every two seconds, with a maximum of 15 frames. | | Sound | Analyzed when the clip has a usable audio track. Recognized speech and other sounds are separate evidence. | | Temporary upload | Can expire; the default is about one hour. Upload it again if the app says it is unavailable or expired. | A short clip containing the relevant event is often more useful than a longer recording of unrelated activity. If a very brief event matters, describe its time in the clip and consider adding a still image. Frame sampling can miss events between the sampled images. The conversation may include **Recorded speech (automatic transcript; may contain errors)** and **Other sounds (automatic observations)**. These describe the uploaded clip and help you check what the analysis used. They are separate from **Voice transcript**, which records the Madness Live conversation. Correct misheard words and treat uncertain sound observations as uncertain. ### Questions to send with a clip > This is a cold start, recorded from beside the vehicle with the phone kept clear of moving parts. Describe what you can actually see and hear, and separate that from anything you cannot confirm. > The issue appears about four seconds into the clip. Compare the sampled views and tell me what additional still image or measurement would help. > Please transcribe the words in this recording separately from any observations about the other sounds. > The rattle changes when the operating condition changes. Tell me whether that change is clear in the clip, and what information would be needed before drawing a conclusion. Noise, wind, automatic microphone processing, and distance can obscure a sound. A transcript can be useful even when the source of a mechanical noise is uncertain. The app should not treat a sound match as a confirmed failed component. Uploading a video is also different from generating a new video: **video generation is not part of this product offering**. ### Closing capture and returning from a picker Use **Close camera** or the panel's **Close** control to leave capture without sending. Actual app background or screen lock stops active capture and Live media. A system picker or owned native transition may retain paused media for the same conversation. Returning never grants a fresh Live time limit. Check the selected attachment and visible status before Send or Done; canceling a picker does not submit a file. ## 9. Save, reopen, and organize conversations ### Saved Chats Open **Saved Chats** to see recent conversations. The list uses compact rows: a meaningful topic, a short preview when available, and a date. An automatic opening “Hi” is skipped when a more useful topic exists. Greeting-only or voice-only conversations may still have a general label until there is a recognizable topic. Select a row to reopen that conversation. Use **Refresh** when looking for recent activity. The list shows up to 50 recent conversations; it is not a promise that every conversation is shown at once. Use the same account and the same environment to retrieve a conversation on another device. Changes may require Refresh; this is not simultaneous live synchronization between every open phone and browser tab. Avoid working on the same conversation from multiple devices at the same time. ### New Chat Choose **New Chat** when you want a clean start. Madness gives a short welcome and leaves Chat ready for your new question. That initial welcome is local interface text; it does not submit an automatic diagnostic request or use a query by itself. Your previous saved conversation remains available. Starting or opening another conversation may be blocked while a draft, pending attachment, active camera, or request needs attention. Finish, send, or deliberately clear that work first. Do not refresh just to bypass the guard if you need to preserve an unsent message or capture. When another conversation actually opens, the previous conversation's Scanner collection stops. Open Scanner and choose **Scan** deliberately for the new conversation; returning to Chat within the same conversation is different from opening another conversation. ### Keep a useful repair record At a stopping point, ask for a concise handoff: > Summarize this job with the vehicle, customer concern, observations, completed checks and their results, unresolved possibilities, and the next agreed step. Do not add work we have not done. Review and correct the summary. Keep any business-critical record in your normal shop recordkeeping system too. Saved conversation text is not a guarantee that a temporary uploaded-video file or every external link remains available indefinitely. ### Keep work when opening Help **Account → Need a hand? → Help** opens a separate native guide dialog. The default Android edition follows the current window; a compact tablet window can open the Android Phone guide. Select **Android Phone** in the platform selector to read this edition. Close returns to the existing screen and draft. Do not use Reload to exit Help. The manual is read-only and does not send a question or start a scan. ## 10. Diagnostic examples: follow the evidence These are **fictional teaching conversations** showing how to use the app. The sample responses illustrate useful structure, not actual test results or repair instructions for your vehicle. Add your real vehicle details and use verified vehicle-specific procedures before carrying out work. ### Example A: a rough idle and a fault code **You:** > I have a rough idle and a stored fault code. I'll give you the exact vehicle and code. Before recommending a part, help me organize the information that would distinguish the likely causes. **Illustrative Madness response:** > Let's make the evidence earn its keep. Start with the exact vehicle, code, and whether the roughness is cold, warm, or constant. Add any freeze-frame information and recent work. I'll separate the observed fault from possible causes and build the next check around the information you can actually obtain. **Your follow-up:** > It began immediately after the recent work. Here are the before-and-after observations. Which assumption in the earlier list should change? **Why this works:** you provide timing and observations instead of treating a code as an instruction to buy a part. Ask for one step at a time if you want a shorter response on your phone. ### Example B: “won't start” needs a clearer description **You:** > The customer says it won't start. Help me separate what I need to ask them from what I need to verify on the vehicle. **Illustrative Madness response:** > First, clarify what happens during the start attempt: does the engine turn over, is there a click, or is there no response? Then add the warning messages, when it last ran, and any recent changes. Those descriptions lead to different paths; “won't start” alone is too broad to choose a replacement part. **Your follow-up:** > Here is the exact behavior and a short clip. Please describe the evidence before proposing the next check. **Why this works:** you turn an ambiguous complaint into a usable observation. The clip supports the conversation; it does not replace the measurements needed to confirm the cause. ### Example C: an intermittent noise **You:** > The noise is intermittent. I recorded a short clip and noted the conditions. Tell me what is audible, what is unclear, and what additional evidence would distinguish the possibilities. **Illustrative Madness response:** > I can help compare the recording with your description, but I won't call a component failed from a sound alone. Tell me when the noise starts and stops and whether the phone's position changed. If the recording does not distinguish the source, the next step is better evidence—not a confident guess. **Your follow-up:** > The sound is near the end. Here is a still image showing the recording position and a written description of the change. **Why this works:** audio, images, and operating conditions stay separate and can support each other. Do not move a phone or your hands into moving machinery to obtain a better recording. ### Example D: electrical information that is incomplete **You:** > I have a connector photo and a measurement, but I have not verified the connector identification. What information is missing before the reading means anything? **Illustrative Madness response:** > We need the correct vehicle and connector reference, the measurement units, where the probes were placed, and the operating condition. A similar-looking connector or a generated diagram is not enough to establish a pin assignment. Let's identify the correct source before deciding what the result proves. **Your follow-up:** > I found the matching manufacturer reference. Here are the verified identification and my measurement conditions. Help me compare the result with that source. **Why this works:** the conversation can interpret supplied evidence without inventing safety-critical wiring details. High-voltage, airbag, and other hazardous systems require the appropriate qualified procedures and equipment. ### Example E: an unclear photo **You:** > Can you identify this component and tell me whether you can read the marking? **Illustrative Madness response:** > I can describe the visible shape and surroundings, but the marking is not clear enough to confirm an exact part. A wider location photo and a sharper label photo would help. I won't turn a blurry number into a confident fitment recommendation. **Your follow-up:** > Here is the label close-up. Compare the candidates and flag anything still uncertain. **Why this works:** you ask the app to distinguish appearance from confirmed identification, and you supply the missing view in the same conversation. ### Example F: close out the job **You:** > Here are the findings, repair performed, and verification results. Write a short repair summary and a separate explanation for the customer. Don't claim any checks that aren't listed. **Illustrative Madness response:** > I'll separate the original concern, the evidence that supported the repair, the work you reported completing, and the verification you supplied. I'll also list any unresolved concern separately so it doesn't disappear in a tidy-looking summary. **Why this works:** the final explanation is based on your reported work rather than an invented successful repair. You remain responsible for the actual inspection, work, and release decision. ## 11. Research parts and plan a job MadnessBot can help research parts, tools, and suppliers, compare options, and organize a parts-and-labor discussion. Ask for source links and distinguish current seller information from assumptions. ### A strong parts request > For [exact vehicle details], research options for [part or assembly]. Separate OEM and aftermarket choices, list the source links, and identify the fitment details I must confirm before ordering. Include condition, shipping, and core-charge considerations if the source provides them. Do not buy anything. **A useful response should include:** clearly identified candidates, the basis for fitment, available source information, and unanswered questions. If a price or stock status cannot be verified, it should say so. Follow up with: > Compare these two listings on the things that matter for this job. Which facts are confirmed by the listing and which should I ask the seller? MadnessBot researches; it does not reserve stock, place orders, guarantee the lowest price, or verify every supplier's live inventory. Confirm fitment and the final purchase terms directly with the seller. ### Research service bulletins and recalls > For [exact year, make, model, engine, market, and symptom], look for relevant service bulletins or recalls. Link the original sources, explain their scope, and list the vehicle or VIN details I must verify before deciding that any of them applies. A service bulletin is not automatically a recall, and a similar symptom does not establish that either applies to your vehicle. Verify current recall applicability through the manufacturer's or relevant official recall service, using the required vehicle details. Research can guide your next question; it does not establish warranty coverage or replace the actual diagnostic procedure. ### Plan the complete scope > Help me build a planning estimate for [job]. Separate diagnosis, parts, labor, related operations, and unknowns. State whether the labor figures are verified book time or a planning estimate. My shop labor rate is [rate]; do not assume a rate for me. Check whether the estimate includes both sides, alignment, calibration, programming, fluids, shop supplies, taxes, and other work relevant to the actual job. The app is not a complete invoicing, payment, or repair-order system. ### Work-order photos You can supply a readable image of the relevant work-order text and ask for a summary, clarification questions, or a diagnostic plan. Remove unrelated customer details first. Ask Madness to confirm unreadable text rather than guess it. A photographed work order is an image input, not an automatic import into your shop-management system. ## 12. Build and use your toolbox inventory Your saved toolbox is managed **through the conversation**. Use Chat to read and update it; there is no separate native Toolbox destination. ### Show what is saved > Show my saved toolbox, grouped by tool type. Include quantities and notes. ### Add tools deliberately > Add one 3/8-inch-drive metric shallow socket set to my toolbox. Note that it is my travel set. Or: > I own the tools in this list. Add them to my toolbox with the quantities shown, and tell me exactly what was saved. Include drive size, measurement system, depth, range, adapters, and other details that matter. “Socket set” may not be enough to determine whether it fits a job's requirements. ### Update or remove an item > Update the quantity of [exact saved tool] to two, and add this note: [note]. > Remove [exact item] from my saved toolbox. I no longer own it. Read the confirmation. If the tool name is ambiguous, clarify which item you mean. A discussion about a tool or a photo identifying one does not by itself mean you own it or want it saved. ### Compare a job with your tools > For the job we just discussed, make a required-tools list and compare it with my saved toolbox. Separate what I have from what is missing. Don't add the missing tools to inventory. Then: > Help me prioritize the missing items by immediate need, alternatives, and future usefulness. Ask for my budget instead of assuming it. **Illustrative Madness response:** > I'll compare the exact sizes and capabilities, not just whether your list contains something called a wrench. Missing items stay on a shopping list unless you tell me you acquired them and want them saved. The inventory reflects recorded information, not a live scan of your physical toolbox. Keep it accurate as tools are acquired, moved, replaced, or sold. Tool planning may help you avoid unnecessary purchases, but no particular savings or career outcome is guaranteed. ## 13. Create images and explanatory visuals Current DIY access does not include image generation or generated wiring illustrations. Analyzing an uploaded photo or video is a separate feature available to an eligible active DIY account. When your plan includes image generation, ask in Chat for the image you want. Describe its purpose, subject, and level of detail. Use language that clearly requests a **new generated image** if that is your intent. Examples: > Create a simple educational illustration showing the general relationship between a battery, a load, and a switch. Label it as a conceptual illustration, not a vehicle-specific wiring diagram. > Create a garage poster concept featuring a fictional drift car in our orange-and-black color scheme. > Make a simplified illustration to explain the concept we just discussed to a customer. Avoid presenting it as a photograph of their vehicle. If you want an existing reference instead, say: > Find an existing manufacturer reference for this exact application. Do not substitute a generated diagram. Generated images can contain mistakes in text, proportions, labels, routing, and technical details. An illustration is not an OEM wiring diagram or proof of a correct pinout, fastener specification, or repair procedure. Verify technical details against appropriate authoritative information. You can also request **tables, checklists, and comparisons** in ordinary answers. These are useful for organizing tests, estimates, or parts choices. Do not assume a generated chart represents measured data unless you supplied or verified the underlying values. ## 14. Maintenance, learning, racing, and shop work ### Maintenance planning Provide the exact vehicle, mileage, service history, use, and region where relevant. Ask for a maintenance discussion tied to the correct service information: > Help me organize a maintenance plan. Separate manufacturer-specified items from general inspection suggestions, and link the applicable sources. Flag anything that depends on a severe-service schedule. Do not treat a generic interval as your vehicle's requirement. Missing service history is a question to resolve, not evidence that work was or was not done. ### Learn while you diagnose > Explain the system first, then show how the symptom relates to it. Tell me what evidence would support or contradict your explanation. > Quiz me on the reasoning behind this diagnostic sequence, then explain anything I miss. > Translate this technical explanation into plain language for a customer while preserving the uncertainty. Use Madness as an aid to learning and preparation. It is not a certification program, instructor sign-off, or substitute for supervised training where required. ### Racing and modified vehicles Explain the vehicle's modifications, intended use, event conditions, current setup, driver observations, and relevant measurements. Modified vehicles need more context than an unqualified year/make/model lookup. > Organize this post-session debrief. Separate driver feedback, measurements, proposed changes, and the information needed before choosing a change. Keep track of what we change one item at a time. > Help me build a preparation checklist for this event from the rules and vehicle information I provide. Flag anything that needs confirmation from the current official rules. MadnessBot is not live telemetry, an autonomous tuner, or a sanctioning-body approval service. Do not use a general answer as approval for a modification or for operation of a safety-critical system. ### Other equipment You can describe trucks, motorcycles, boats, and other mechanical equipment in the conversation. Supply the equipment identity and context rather than expecting automotive assumptions to transfer. Availability and completeness of reliable information vary; this is not a guarantee of coverage for every machine or a replacement for regulated maintenance requirements. ### Shop Growth Reports Paid **Pro and Enterprise** accounts can request a Shop Growth Report in the conversation, with a separate allowance of **three reports per month**. Trial and DIY accounts do not include this report benefit. Explain the shop, location, specialties, audience, goals, and website or other public information you want considered. Request the report explicitly, rather than assuming a casual marketing question starts one. > Please create a Shop Growth Report for my shop. Here are the shop name, location, website, main services, and the business goals I'd like the report to address. The report is delivered as a **PDF to the account email**, so check the address and the relevant inbox. Generation and delivery can take time; the chat's acknowledgement is not the finished report. The report is research and planning assistance; it does not automatically publish marketing, contact prospects, change your website, or promise business results. Email delivery can be restricted in staging. ## 15. Account access, plans, and usage Open **Account → Account & Settings** to inspect the signed-in account, plan, remaining usage and displayed dates. Follow that account's actual status and available usage. | Account information | How to use it | | --- | --- | | **Free Trial** | Check the displayed expiry and remaining queries. The usual trial is seven days or 100 queries, whichever comes first; your account may have different terms. | | **DIY** | Check the displayed monthly allowance and current access before submitting. | | **Pro** | Check the allowance, status and available features. Eligible Shop Growth Reports have a separate allowance. | | **Enterprise** | Confirm seat arrangements with the team and check the displayed account allowance. | Feature access follows the account's actual status and available usage. Current active trial, DIY, Pro and Enterprise accounts can use Live and supported media when access and allowance permit. A plan name does not override an expired, canceled, blocked or exhausted account. Reading history, changing destinations and the local New chat welcome do not send another diagnostic request. ### Check account access Account shows your current plan, status, remaining usage and relevant dates. Use the same MadnessBot account and service across devices to access its existing conversations and permitted features. Each client has its own sign-in session; signing into another client does not change this account's access. If your trial has ended, your allowance is exhausted or access is unavailable, follow the displayed status and date. Start another request only when your account has access and sufficient usage. Contact support if the status seems wrong, using your account email and a description of the problem. Do not include passwords, verification codes or card details. Signing in again or starting a new conversation does not reset an expired trial or exhausted allowance. Staging uses separate test accounts and usage. A staging account change does not change production account access. ### Request account and data deletion Open **Account & Settings → Request account deletion** when the control is shown. Close Help and open Account first. The app opens a separate deletion-information page with the request method and retention information. Signing out or uninstalling does not delete your account. When the page offers **Write a deletion request**, opening the email draft does not send it. Send it to submit the request, or write to the support address displayed on that page with the subject “MadnessBot account and data deletion request.” Include the account email or username and original sign-in method. A Google or Apple account does not need a new password. If you cannot access the account email, explain that. Never send a password, verification code or card details. Support verifies ownership and confirms the cleanup result. Submitting a request does not immediately close the account, cancel a subscription or request a refund. Mention any subscription so support can address it with the deletion request. **Deletion requested** is different from **Account deleted**; wait for confirmation and contact support if the result is unclear. Required retained records and expected completion time follow the deletion page and applicable policy. ## 16. Permissions, privacy, and working safely ### Device permissions and interruptions Android requests camera/microphone access for native capture or Live and nearby-device/Bluetooth access for the supported Scanner when needed. If a permission is permanently denied, open Android's app permissions for MadnessBot and restore the specific permission, then deliberately retry. Choosing a supported existing photo/video uses the system picker and does not require camera access. Canceling or denying a permission does not authorize a capture or scan. Close the camera when finished and choose **End Live** when finished talking. Device privacy indicators help identify active camera/microphone access. Keep the app in the foreground. Actual app background, screen lock, account changes and reloads can stop media and collection. An owned Help window or picker may retain a paused session, but its original expiry continues. Corporate restrictions, another application using the camera or disabled permissions can prevent a feature from starting. ### AI sharing permission, when offered Some staging environments show **Share data with MadnessBot AI?** before AI transmission. Read the explanation and expand **AI service provider details** to review the recipients and data involved. Choose **Allow AI sharing** only if you agree. **Not now** or **Close** leaves the requested AI action blocked; a camera, microphone or Bluetooth permission alone is not AI sharing permission. In an environment with this gate, open **Account & Settings → AI sharing permission** to inspect or change the choice. **Revoke AI sharing** ends Live and blocks new AI transmission. It does not recall information already sent. Local scanner gauges and saved history can remain available; obtaining local readings does not authorize sending them for an AI assessment. Allow sharing deliberately before requesting that assessment. If permission cannot be checked or saved, follow the visible error and choose again after the problem is resolved. These instructions apply when that consent control is present. The service's Privacy Policy still describes processing in environments where the control is not offered. Check the current screen and policies rather than assuming another app, device or environment shares the same permission. ### What you send Questions and selected media are sent to the service and AI providers for processing; the app is not an entirely offline or on-device diagnostic tool. Saved conversations and inventory are account features. Technical troubleshooting data can also be recorded. Only include information relevant to the job. Avoid customer contact information, payment details, passwords, and unrelated material visible in the camera frame. Check your shop's policies and permissions before uploading customer documents or recordings. Refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms available from Account or the service website for the applicable service terms; contact the team for a question those policies do not answer. ### Use guidance as part of a safe process MadnessBot cannot physically inspect, support, isolate, or test the vehicle. It can help reason about the information you provide. The technician must verify the facts, use appropriate equipment, follow applicable manufacturer procedures, and confirm the repair result. Keep the phone and your hands clear of hot, rotating, energized, pressurized, or moving equipment. Never obtain a recording at the expense of safe positioning. Lifting/support, braking/steering, fuel systems, high voltage, airbags, and other hazardous work need the correct procedures and qualifications. If the task exceeds your equipment or training, stop and obtain the right assistance. Do not act on an unverified safety-critical specification. Ask for the exact source and application, and stop if that information is missing or contradictory. ## 17. Troubleshooting ### I cannot sign in Check that you opened the intended production or staging app, selected the correct offered sign-in account or email, and used the corresponding credentials. Use password recovery for an email/password account. Complete verification when requested. A staging access restriction may require help from the MadnessBot team; creating another account is not a reliable workaround. ### Live does not connect Read the message beneath the Live controls. Check your sign-in, plan access, remaining allowance, connection, and microphone permission. If the app needs a tap to permit playback, use **Enable sound**. End an unsuccessful session before deliberately trying again. If repeated attempts fail, note the approximate time and the exact visible message for support. ### I hear nothing, but the skull appears to be speaking Use Enable sound if shown, check volume and the selected audio output, and look for Bluetooth headphones or another output device taking the audio. Confirm that app audio is enabled. Keep MadnessBot in the foreground. If needed, end Live and reconnect once after checking these settings. ### The voice breaks up or interrupts itself Try a steadier connection and a quieter position. Reduce loud speaker-to-microphone feedback or try headphones. Avoid starting competing voice sessions on another device or in the website. Note the app version, device model, speaker/headphone use, and time if it repeats; a successful connection does not prove that playback was smooth. ### The camera is blank or permission was denied Check MadnessBot's camera permission in the device's Settings. Close another application using the camera and deliberately try capture again. Use **Switch camera** if the wrong lens is selected. If embedded capture is not supported, use the offered device-camera or choose-file alternative. ### A photo will not open or decode Try a clear JPEG or PNG that opens correctly on your device. WebP is also supported when it can be decoded. HEIC support depends on the app and device; convert or export it to JPEG if necessary. A renamed extension does not convert the file. If the image is large, try a smaller exported copy while keeping labels readable. ### The preview is cropped The live viewfinder fills its box from left to right. Outer edges can be cropped in the preview, while the full capture is retained. Center the important detail and review the capture before Done. Expand the panel if you need a larger view. ### Done is disabled The app may still be recording, preparing the capture, or processing another answer. Stop recording and wait for a valid review. If another answer is running, let it settle. The capture should remain in review until the app is ready to submit; do not close it unless you intend to discard the unsent capture. ### I tapped Done and the picture disappeared That is the intended compact flow. Done submits the capture, hides the large preview, and leaves progress and the written answer visible. You do not need another Send tap. If a failure message appears, follow that message; disappearing preview boxes alone are not evidence of a successful analysis. ### A video will not upload Check duration, size, and format. The full app accepts up to 30 seconds and 100 MB as shown in the UI. A supported filename extension does not guarantee that every codec or damaged recording can be decoded. Try a shorter standard clip or a newly recorded clip. A busy-processing message can mean temporary capacity is full; wait before retrying rather than repeatedly submitting. ### Upload succeeded, but analysis failed Uploading the file and generating its answer are separate stages. If analysis fails after a successful upload, retain the original clip and follow the error message. A completed upload alone does not mean the recording has been analyzed. When the message says the audio analysis could not be confirmed or the upload expired, **select or record the clip again as a fresh upload**. Pressing Send repeatedly on the same failed upload may not restart that audio analysis. Include the approximate failure time when contacting support. ### The clip's words or sounds were misunderstood Separate the problem: were the spoken words misrecognized, or was the source of another sound uncertain? Correct the words explicitly in Chat. For other sounds, explain the recording conditions and what you personally observed. Upload a clearer short clip if necessary. Do not treat a confident-sounding guess as a verified acoustic diagnosis. ### Resume Live is visible but unavailable The app may still be sending or analyzing the recording, or your account or microphone may need attention. Wait for the current answer and check the visible status. Resume Live continues a paused, unexpired session with its original deadline when available. If it has expired or ended, use Go Live to start a new session when permitted. A recording does not create a new time allowance. ### A saved chat has a vague title, or I cannot find one Greeting-only or incomplete conversations can have general labels. Use Saved Chats → Refresh and check that you are in the correct account and environment. The recent list is limited. A draft, attachment, open camera, or active request can also prevent opening a different conversation until you finish or clear that work. ### New Chat will not open Look for unfinished work in the current conversation. Send or clear the draft, finish or remove the selected attachment, close the camera, and wait for or deliberately stop the active request. Then choose New Chat again. It should show a fresh Madness welcome and the Chat composer—not require you to create a new account. ### My account access or allowance looks wrong Open Account → Account & Settings and review the displayed plan, status, remaining usage and dates. Check that you are signed into the intended account and service; staging data is separate from production. An expired trial or exhausted allowance does not reset when you sign in again or start a new chat. If the status is unexpected, contact support with your account email and the visible message. Do not send passwords, verification codes or card details. ### An answer, link, or specification looks wrong Stop before using questionable information. Explain the mismatch and ask for the supporting source and the exact application. Open the source yourself when necessary. If a link is unavailable, ask for a current source or a clearly labeled alternative; do not assume that an unavailable reference proves the claim. ### Bottom controls disappeared while typing Compact Android navigation hides while the keyboard is open. Use Android **Back** to dismiss the keyboard, then choose a destination. On a wide tablet, the rail remains available. Return adds a line; use the upward **Send** arrow to submit. ### Scanner is connected, but no readings are shown A connection alone is not a live reading. Confirm the supported setup and choose **Scan** explicitly. Read the current status and any unavailable/stale labels. Do not interpret an empty gauge or catalogue entry as a fresh measurement. If Clear codes is unavailable, fresh matching evidence or the confirmation may be missing; do not try to bypass it. ### A download or export did not appear A download still needs the device's save/share completion. Return to MadnessBot if it finished while the app was backgrounded, check the visible panel, and finish or cancel it. A canceled picker does not save a file. Keep the original conversation open while troubleshooting. ## 18. Questions worth trying Replace the bracketed details with your own. These are starting points, not special commands. ### Diagnosis and follow-up - “For [vehicle], here are the exact symptoms and codes. What missing fact would change the first diagnostic step?” - “Give me the next useful check only, and explain what each possible result would tell us.” - “Here is the result from your previous suggestion. Update the plan rather than repeating the whole original list.” - “List the assumptions in your answer and tell me which are still unverified.” - “What evidence would rule out the leading explanation?” - “Summarize what we have confirmed and what remains a hypothesis.” ### Photos and video - “Identify what is visible in this photo and state how certain you are.” - “Can you read this label? Mark any character you cannot read rather than guessing.” - “Compare this new photo with the previous one and describe only visible differences.” - “Separate the recorded speech from your observations about other sounds.” - “The event happens near [time]. What additional view would make it clearer?” - “What cannot be determined from this clip alone?” ### Parts, tools, and estimates - “Compare these part candidates and show the exact fitment details still needing verification.” - “Build a parts list from the repair scope we agreed on. Separate required parts from optional related work.” - “Give a planning estimate with assumptions and exclusions; do not call it verified book time.” - “Show my toolbox and group similar tools together.” - “Compare this job's required tools against my saved inventory without changing it.” - “I have now purchased [tool]. Add it with [quantity and notes] and confirm the saved result.” ### Learning and communication - “Explain this system at apprentice level, then give me a short knowledge check.” - “Explain why this test is more informative than replacing the suspected part.” - “Rewrite the findings for the customer without promising an outcome we have not verified.” - “Create a concise technician handoff for the next shift.” - “Turn the findings into a table suitable for copying into my own job notes.” - “Create an illustrative diagram of the general concept and label it as an illustration.” ### Planning and shop work - “Organize my maintenance history and identify missing information before suggesting a schedule.” - “Help structure a post-track-session debrief from these observations.” - “Make a tool purchase plan using my stated budget and the jobs I actually do.” - “Please create a Shop Growth Report using these shop details and goals.” ## 19. Frequently asked questions ### Does MadnessBot connect directly to my vehicle? Scanner can connect to the supported OBDLink CX bench-simulator setup in an eligible app/environment. Open Scanner, then explicitly choose Scan. A connected adapter is not proof of received measurements. This implementation does not establish enhanced real-car or manufacturer-specific coverage; provide exact outside scan-tool readings where needed. Clear codes requires fresh matching evidence and a separate native confirmation. ### Can I talk, type, and show evidence in one job? Yes. Chat, Live, and Video share the current conversation. Recording can pause Live to keep the clip clean. Resume Live continues the same unexpired session when available; the original deadline still applies. After expiry or End Live, start a new session and check the written handoff for important context. ### Do I need to press Send after Done? No. **Done in the in-app camera review sends automatically.** Selecting an existing file is different: review it, add context, and use Send or Analyze attachment. ### Does Madness watch the camera before I submit? The camera panel is a viewfinder for capturing media. Madness Video analyzes a submitted clip; opening the viewfinder is not continuous live video diagnosis. ### Does it inspect every video frame? No. It analyzes sampled frames and available audio. A very brief event can fall between samples. Explain when the event occurs and consider providing a still image too. ### Why is the spoken answer shorter than the text? Live provides a spoken summary while the detailed answer remains in the conversation. Read the written answer for full instructions, caveats, and source links. ### Will it remember everything forever? No. Saved history helps you resume, but model context and temporary media availability have limits. A new Live session does not automatically replay the entire spoken history. Keep important facts in a corrected written handoff and your own records. ### Can it replace all my tools or repair-information subscriptions? It can help organize information and research next steps, parts, and tools. It does not replace physical measurements, appropriate equipment, manufacturer procedures, or professional judgment. It does not promise licensed access to every manufacturer or subscription repair database. ### Can I upload a PDF through Choose file? The current attachment chooser accepts supported **images and videos**. “Choose file” is not a promise of arbitrary PDF, spreadsheet, or document ingestion. A readable image of relevant text can be discussed as an image. ### Is an AI-generated wiring picture a factory diagram? No. Generated imagery is illustrative. Request and verify the correct manufacturer reference for actual circuits, pinouts, wire colors, and specifications. ### Does Madness order parts or update my toolbox automatically? Parts research does not place an order. Toolbox changes are made when you ask to save, edit, or remove items. A discussion or photograph alone should not be treated as proof that you own the tool. ### Is the website preview the same as the full application? No. The website previews the interface and explains MadnessBot. Free Trial and preview actions lead to the real Google/email sign-in panel. Sign in or create an account to use the application described here; guest AI demos are disabled. ### Which device does this manual describe? This is the native Android Phone edition. Select another native edition only when you intend to read directions for that platform. Every edition has twenty chapters and its own complete Download Markdown source. ## 20. Get help and report a problem Open **Account → Need a hand? → Help**. The guide opens in a separate native dialog. The default Android edition follows the current window; a compact tablet window can open the Android Phone guide. Select **Android Phone** in the platform selector to read this edition. Use **Close** to return to the retained screen, conversation and draft. Help does not send an AI question, start a scan or reset the Live timer. The chapter list and search find information within the guide; the platform selector opens another complete native edition in the same Help window. ### Download the full written guide Use **Download Markdown** for all twenty chapters, including diagnostic examples and troubleshooting. The complete Markdown manual and supported app exports open Android's system save picker. Choose a destination and confirm **Save**. Canceling cancels the save. Downloads are limited to **32 MiB**. If a download finishes while MadnessBot is backgrounded, its save picker waits until you return. A chosen file name or an initiated download alone is not proof that the file was saved. ### Send a useful problem report For an unresolved problem, email **support@madnessbot.com**. Include: 1. The app and whether you used staging or production. 2. Your Android Phone model, operating-system version and app version when available. 3. Approximate date, time and time zone. 4. The feature and exact control sequence, such as Video → Record → Stop → Done. 5. The exact visible error and whether upload, analysis, written text or speech had started. 6. Whether it repeats, any displayed support reference, and a cropped screenshot with private details removed. Keep original media privately available if a recording failed. Do not send passwords, verification/reset links, payment details or unredacted customer material. Example: “Android Phone staging app, about 3:20 PM Pacific. A six-second recording uploaded after Done, but analysis stopped with [exact message]. Chat still worked. I returned from the picker and my draft was [retained/missing].” Keep the evidence clear, check the visible result, and continue with the next useful step.