Managing Smartcar Connections
Once vehicles are connected via Smartcar, the dashboard provides tools to monitor connection health, view telemetry data, and troubleshoot issues. This guide covers the day-to-day management of your Smartcar connections.
Connection Status Panel
Each Smartcar-connected vehicle displays a Smartcar Connection Panel in its detail view showing:
- Connection status — Current state of the Smartcar link
- Vehicle info — Make, model, year, and VIN retrieved from the manufacturer
- Permissions granted — Which data scopes were authorized
- Last successful command — The most recent lock/unlock or data request
- Last telemetry update — When data was last refreshed
Connection Statuses
| Status | Meaning | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Connection is working normally. Data is flowing and commands are available. | None |
| Expired | The OAuth refresh token has expired (typically after 60+ days of inactivity). | Reconnect the vehicle |
| Disconnected | The vehicle owner manually revoked access through their manufacturer's app or account. | Reconnect with the owner's permission |
| Error | A connection error occurred (API failure, manufacturer outage, etc.). | Check back later or reconnect |
Reconnecting an Expired Connection
Smartcar tokens can expire if a vehicle hasn't been accessed for an extended period (typically 60+ days). When this happens:
Identify the Expired Vehicle
The vehicle's connection status will show Expired in the dashboard. You may also see this in fleet-wide status alerts.
Click Reconnect
On the vehicle's detail page, click Reconnect in the Smartcar Connection Panel. This opens the Smartcar authorization flow again.
Complete Authorization
The vehicle owner logs into their manufacturer account and grants permissions, just like the initial connection. Existing vehicle data is preserved.
Verify
Confirm the status returns to Active and telemetry data resumes updating.
Preventing Expiration
Vehicles with regular rental activity rarely experience token expiration, since each data request refreshes the token. Expiration is most common with vehicles that sit idle for weeks.
Disconnecting a Vehicle
To remove a Smartcar connection from a vehicle:
- Open the vehicle's detail page
- Click Disconnect in the Smartcar Connection Panel
- Confirm the disconnection
Disconnecting removes Levy Fleets' ability to read data or send commands to the vehicle. The vehicle record itself is preserved — only the Smartcar link is removed. You can reconnect the vehicle at any time.
Active Rentals
You cannot disconnect a vehicle that has an active rental session. Complete or cancel the session first.
Telemetry Updates
Smartcar-connected vehicles receive automatic telemetry updates via a background cron job. This keeps vehicle data fresh without requiring manual intervention.
Data updated automatically:
- GPS location
- Fuel level / battery charge percentage
- Odometer reading
- Lock status
Update frequency: Telemetry is polled periodically to keep fleet data current. The exact frequency depends on your plan configuration.
Dashboard indicators:
- The fuel gauge on the vehicle card shows the current fuel or battery level
- The Smartcar badge on vehicle list cards identifies connected vehicles
- The last updated timestamp shows when data was last refreshed
Troubleshooting
Token Refresh Failures
Symptom: Connection status shows Expired or Error unexpectedly.
Common causes:
- Vehicle owner changed their manufacturer account password
- Manufacturer revoked third-party API access
- Extended period of inactivity (60+ days)
Solution: Reconnect the vehicle through the Smartcar authorization flow.
Missing or Stale Data
Symptom: Location, fuel, or odometer data appears outdated or empty.
Common causes:
- Vehicle is in an area without cellular connectivity
- Manufacturer's connected services are experiencing an outage
- The vehicle's telematics system is off (vehicle hasn't been started recently)
Solution: Start the vehicle to wake the telematics system, then wait for the next telemetry update cycle.
Permission Issues
Symptom: Some data fields appear but others are empty (e.g., location works but fuel doesn't).
Common causes:
- Not all permissions were granted during connection
- The vehicle doesn't support certain data points (e.g., older models may lack fuel API support)
Solution: Disconnect and reconnect, ensuring all permissions are granted. If a specific data point is still missing, the vehicle may not support it.
Lock/Unlock Command Failures
Symptom: Lock or unlock commands fail during rental sessions.
Common causes:
- Connection has expired
- Manufacturer API rate limits
- Vehicle is in a low-connectivity area
Solution: Check connection status first. If active, retry the command after a brief wait. If expired, reconnect.
Need Help?
If you're experiencing persistent Smartcar connection issues, contact us at support@levyelectric.com with the vehicle ID and a description of the problem.