$40 to pull engine codes?

[Otto]

So I went to a few local garages around town to do a diagnostics and all said there's a $40 fee to check the computer...wtf?

Anyways so I ordered up one of these on ebay for $30 yesterday but I'm getting impatient. Last week I changed the sprak plugs, drove it a couple miles it started running rough with lacking a lot of power/bad mpg, clutch slips etc etc and cel. Anyways I'm 80% its running on 5 or less cylinders. I Pulled the new plugs(cheap made in mexico bullshit) and put the old ones back in. It Ran a bit better but cel stayed on and still shows the same symptoms. Anyone have any idea what the hell went here? As far as maybe getting a little dirt in the cylinders I'd think that's likely not the cause but who knows.

 

[RangerMan64]

Autozone pulls codes for free if the CEL is on.

 

['95 ranger]

so does o'reilley's, better customer service

 

[martin]

You found a code reader for thirty bucks that reads obd2?

 

[Otto]

You found a code reader for thirty bucks that reads obd2?

actually 28.75 with shipping

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...K:MEWNX:IT&item=250411818075#ebayphotohosting

 

[kansas 4x4]

So I went to a few local garages around town to do a diagnostics and all said there's a $40 fee to check the computer...wtf?

Anyways so I ordered up one of these on ebay for $30 yesterday but I'm getting impatient. Last week I changed the sprak plugs, drove it a couple miles it started running rough with lacking a lot of power/bad mpg, clutch slips etc etc and cel. Anyways I'm 80% its running on 5 or less cylinders. I Pulled the new plugs(cheap made in mexico bullshit) and put the old ones back in. It Ran a bit better but cel stayed on and still shows the same symptoms. Anyone have any idea what the hell went here? As far as maybe getting a little dirt in the cylinders I'd think that's likely not the cause but who knows.

You might have a SEEPING head gasket allowing a EVER SO SMALL amount of coolant to on occasion get a plug wet.

 

[Otto]

You might have a SEEPING head gasket allowing a EVER SO SMALL amount of coolant to on occasion get a plug wet.

I was thinking that actually, the left valve cover is leaking oil too. I'm pretty certain the compression is bad on a couple cylinders, which could be throwing the timing out and gears to slip/reset. I'll probably end up doing a whole tear down this month.

 

[Bent Bolt]

So I went to a few local garages around town to do a diagnostics and all said there's a $40 fee to check the computer...wtf?

The nerve of them expecting YOU to pay THEM to diagnose YOUR problem !! What the hell is this world coming to , eh ?


BTW, those cheap code readers don't read all the codes.

 

[zachis4wheeling]

The nerve of them expecting YOU to pay THEM to diagnose YOUR problem !! What the hell is this world coming to , eh ?

X2...

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

$40 bucks ain't bad.

Its an hours labor charge at the ford dealership I'm working at, so that equals $90.00 plus tax.

 

[Mark_88]

I had my Tempo diagnosed by a shop about ten years ago and they charged me $50 just to pull the codes...I'd imagine after ten years the price has probably doubled, but I don't have an engine that uses OBD now...but I can spend the $100 or so on swapping parts in a matter of minutes if I can't figure out the problem...