Right to Repair Law

[modelageek]

A friendly suggestion to call YOUR STATE Legislators and tell them to support the Right to Repair Bill/law (most states are working on some form of it) the Auto manufacturers are trying to make it so only Dealers have access to repair codes for YOUR VEHICLE. Without a new law you will have to get most work done at a Dealership. Its is a little more complicated than that but that is the idea

 

[Hopman]

I think I read something about this. It had something to do with "violating intelectual property laws," or something like that.

Anyway you slice it, it's a horrendious, awful, and abominable idea. It will effectivly crate a monoploy on car repairs for dealers, and consumer gets screwed.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Thats BS! I mean its not like I bring my truck to a shop anyways but its even worse when you have to go back to the dealer... if they do this they better makesure dealers drop their prices.

...actually you know what i don't think theres any way this is gonna pass... that would mean thousands of lost jobs for regular shops and mechanics. That is just something thats not gonna happen.

 

[bcost882]

I can't imagine that. they would have to dust off the old books for 80's and so vehicles too because instead of buying new vehicles people have been fixin the old ones...... so what then

 

[modelageek]

Actually it is the other way around the Auto Manufacturers are slowly doing it now. The Bill is to make them let you access the codes. Without the Bill Dealers will control the Codes. They have PROMISED to let others have access

 

[Hopman]

Okay. I get it.

 

[TheBeast]

Most of the advanced engineering in alot of the latest cars requires dealerships only to work on them. The last place to bring a hybrid escape is to a mom and pop, as they have no idea what to do, and no training in it. It's a bad idea, and can cost the owner alot of money in the long run. Your not supposed to flush the motor or the trans in a hybrid car. I'll always be driving old crap. I haven't had but like one or two OBD II capable cars in my entire life lol

 

[LearjetMinako]

I think the idea is for dealerships to get more vehicles in that have a "check engine" light on. Make it so that special equipment is needed and only the dealership can service it.

In my 5 years of a mechanic. So many owners have had their "check engine" light on. And most of them did know this. They just didn't care. And in some cases, the light annoyed them enough to place a piece of tape where the light is.

Also, some auto shops should have their mechanics checked. Do a battery replacement for a lady's Galant and the engine no longer idles. Checked everything and found the IAC to be at fault. She takes it to Firestone where they cleaned the throttle body. 2 years later, she is back with a dead battery. Replaced the battery and the engine once again will not idle. She gave me the repceit from Firestone from 2 years ago, they charged her $80 for the TB clean. Now she will have to go back and have a shop replace the IAC. Probably for the same price as that TB clean that she could have avoided if she listened.

 

[Hopman]

Sadly, part of the problem that cars have become so friggin' complex that you need to be a computer geek just to open the hood and a contortionist just to change the oil.

Add that to the fact that most people today couldn't tell you the difference between a spark plug and a spanner wrench.

 

[Slim]

Actually it is the other way around the Auto Manufacturers are slowly doing it now. The Bill is to make them let you access the codes. Without the Bill Dealers will control the Codes. They have PROMISED to let others have access

Oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, they PROMISED!! Did you hear that, fellas?!?!?! They PROMISED! Wow, I guess then it MUST be true! I mean it's not like any politician or auto manufacturer in history has ever broken a PROMISE.

I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't hold my breath over words like those. They can promise anything they want, but when action's start it's all ruled and governed by one thing and one thing alone - money!

 

[OilPatch197]

I think I read something about this. It had something to do with "violating intelectual property laws," or something like that.

Anyway you slice it, it's a horrendous, awful, and abominable idea. It will effectively crate a monopoly on car repairs for dealers, and consumer gets screwed.

DUDES, I saw this coming back in the late 80's, computer controlled cars blow at serviceability. The same can be said of all the complex fasteners and specialized tools needed to work on today's vehicles. Just look at Chiltons, Haynes service manuals, there is so much missing information.

Remember those Propane enriched Carburetors GM used in the mid 80's? You had to have special equipment, and for decades that is how the little guy gets screwed, the "special equipment" that is very costly to obtain(so you might as well take it to the dealership.)

I say mandate a OPEN SOURCE type computer management system, have it accessed via 9 pin serial port(or USB) and use a NON-PROPITIATORY linux distro.

With all the memory and brainpower in modern cars, there is no, NO, ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE, for hiding trouble codes, IMO the computer on the dash should tell YOU what is wrong.

 

[Shran]

I sent out emails to my Congressmen a couple months ago regarding this.

I feel that anything that really benefits the dealer specifically is crap. They do not care and will charge you exorbitant amounts for anything because it is extremely profitable when consumers don't have a choice.

 

[OilPatch197]

I am thinking of BMW right now...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I just wish they would have a little window on the dash like the odometer that would show any codes/datalogging so you wouldn't have to even mess with a scanner.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I sent out emails to my Congressmen a couple months ago regarding this.

I feel that anything that really benefits the dealer specifically is crap. They do not care and will charge you exorbitant amounts for anything because it is extremely profitable when consumers don't have a choice.

Yeah I was in for some service work at the ford dealership and they wanted 98.00$ just to replace and change an Air Filter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wish they would have a little window on the dash like the odometer that would show any codes/datalogging so you wouldn't have to even mess with a scanner.

THat would be Amazing! unfortunately for us mechanics we would get the low ball version that didn't include that because we didn't want to deal with the extra computer stuff. lol