First Pass is the very first step of the inspection — a fast, honest first read on
whatever a customer is describing, right there at the counter. You type in their own words, answer
a couple of quick questions it asks you, and First Pass hands back the likely causes to check,
a calm explanation to read to the customer, and a running start for the technician. Think of it
as a well-informed second opinion you can pull up in under a minute: a source, not a
verdict. What it is not — it is not a diagnosis, it never quotes a price or says a part
"needs" replacing, and it never takes the place of the hands-on inspection. Every car still goes up on
the lift, and the technician is who confirms what's really going on. First Pass just helps you start
that conversation like a pro.
✓ What it is
The first read, given at the drive as you take the car in
A calm, confident thing to tell the customer while they wait
A head start for the tech — where to look first
A helper that asks you the right next question to ask the customer
✕ What it isn't
A diagnosis or a final answer — the lift decides that
A price or estimate — it never talks money
A reason to skip the full inspection
Something the customer ever hears the "how" behind
Before your first one
Get signed in
Got an invite email? Tap its Create your account button. First Pass opens with your
email already filled in, so you just add your name and a password. (Not in your inbox? Check Spam / Junk.)
No email? Go to firstpass.trainingbay.ai, tap New here? Create an account and enter your name, email,
and a password. Use the same email your shop invited — that's what puts you in your shop, with no
code to type. If it asks you to confirm your email, tap the link in that email, then sign in. Your name is
what teammates see when you share a pass with them (change it any time with ✎ Edit your name under
your name). Forgot your password later? Type your email and tap Forgot password? — everything
you've saved comes right back.
See “You're not part of a shop yet”? You
signed up with a different email than the one you were invited with. Ask your shop's admin to invite the
email you used, then refresh.
Five steps at the counter
Running a First Pass
1
The vehicle
Tap 📷 Take a picture of VIN Barcode or VIN and let it read the
door-jamb sticker. Can't get a clear shot? Type the 17-character VIN in by hand and tap
Decode VIN — that always works. Add the mileage and
RO number if you have them.
The decoded vehicle shows in the dark bar up top — check it matches the car, and tap
Edit to fix anything.
2
The customer's own words
Type everything they mention — every noise, light, smell, or feeling — the way they say it.
The fuller their story, the sharper the read. Don't clean it up; "wub-wub when I brake" is perfect.
Faster to talk? Tap the 🎤 mic key on your phone's keyboard and say it.
3
The conversation
Tap Continue conversation → and First Pass drops in the single
best question to ask the customer next, marked with a 👉. Ask them, type what they say, and tap
Continue again for the next one — usually three questions or fewer. If they don't know, leave the
answer blank. When it has enough, First Pass tells you so and stops asking.
Customer not there? No problem — put in whatever you've got instead: details
off the RO, what you noticed on a road test — then tap Conversation finished.
When the customer is there and you've got what you need, tap it just the same.
4
Codes & a photo (optional)
If the tech pulled any scan codes at intake, type them in, separated by commas (e.g. P0300, C0561).
Tap 📷 Take or upload a photo of the dash / warning lights if that helps.
Skip either one if you don't have it — it still runs.
5
Run it
Tap Run First Pass — once. In a moment you'll have the read.
This is the only button you press to finish; everything above it is just gathering the story.
Next car? Tap + New at the top to start a fresh one.
The read you get back
What's on the screen
Symptoms to be triaged
Your customer's words, tidied into a clean list to confirm at a glance.
Scan codes — what they point to
Plain-English meaning of any codes you entered, and where they tend to lead on this vehicle.
What it could be — check first
The likely causes, each tagged common, possible, or less likely. Possibilities to check, never a verdict.
Read this to the customer before moving on
A short, warm, no-pressure script to say out loud, plus a safety line — ✅ safe to drive, ⚠️ drive with caution, or 🛑 have it looked at now. Read it as-is.
NHTSA records
Real recalls and the top owner complaints on file, with a link to this vehicle on NHTSA.gov. Not relevant? Tap the ▾ to collapse it — that also leaves it out of the Advisor Notes.
Advisor Notes (for the repair order)
The write-up for the RO: the customer interview, what it could be, and the NHTSA records. Tap 📋 Copy Advisor Notes to paste it, or 🖨 Print Advisor Notes.
Sources
Your receipt — where the read came from. For your eyes, not the customer's.
When you're done
Save it, or hand it off
Tap 💾 Save this First Pass at the bottom to keep it — you hold your
last 15. Open one again any time from the Saved First Passes… list at the top.
To pass a vehicle to a teammate so you don't both work it, open the menu from your name in the
top-right corner and choose 📤 Share with a teammate… Pick their name and tap Share →.
They'll get a 🔔 alert at the top of First Pass, and it shows under 📥 Shared with you in
their Saved First Passes list. You can share with anyone in your shop who has signed up.
Keep these in mind
Four rules that never change
A source, not a diagnosis. First Pass points; the lift proves. Talk in possibilities — "worth checking," "commonly," "we'll take a look."
Never talk money or condemn a part. No prices, no "you need a new ___." The technician confirms it and the shop handles what it costs.
The customer hears a calm read — never the "how." No AI, no Google, no forums, no scan-tool talk. Just a professional, reassuring explanation.
Every car still gets the full inspection. First Pass is the start of the DVI, not a shortcut around it.