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Anytime more money can be made ...it's going to remain exclusive . Convenience comes at a cost.
Some practical even.
Ultimately ala care in the industry...brings $$$.
Yes the codes could be implemented ...good idea. Now market it and enjoy the riches....
Another advantage would be that instead of the generic code descriptions, the manufacturer could supply specific ones and include the code extensions that the scanner doesn't read. Like, "your driver side seatbelt buckle sensor isn't working" instead of "restraint system error".
I always wondered why there was an "information" area above the dashboard on my 1995 Caravan. Never saw anything interesting light up in it, but it now seems it was an OBD1 display.
Because it would make it too easy for you to fix. Same reason they don't use standard communication port like USB. Undoubtedly that plug is patented and probably controlled by an association of automakers.
I believe there is law in place that will require all auto manufatueres to provide USB connection in the very near future, you should be able to just plug any phone or laptop into it. As long as you have the software you'll be able to get the information.
I would think that would be a bad idea, for starters failure of the screen results in loss of all diagnostics.
There's no law for manufacturers to provide a USB port for diagnostics
OBDI was mandated by the California Air Resources Board using the Society of Automotive Engineers designed connector. This preceded the USB specification by a number of years, which is why we don't see USB ports for diagnostics.
The OBD II system is an entire standard recognized by everyone in the industry. You may not consider it one but millions of people, shops, techs, et al use it everyday.
I'm not saying it isn't a standard, it's proprietary allowing them to do things like not display it on the screen. I mentioned the common communications port, implementing USB is not something they wanted to do because they can't for example license a patanted plug significantly driving up the cost of the code reader.
OP, I think this is a brilliant idea!! i can get the codes from jim-bob down at the auto parts store. What difference would it make if the car would just tell me? I could still buy parts from Jim-Bob, or take it to a mechanic.
I spent an hour and a half on the phone with Toyota yesterday trying to figure out if the problem my car is having qualifies for a recall program. (A non-dealership mechanic said it used to have recall but it doesn't anymore. So I called to find out.) It seems the dealership i took it to didn't write down the codes when they diagnosed the problem and quoted me $2000 for a repair. So it is possible they were not honest with me about the problem. Or they didn't bother to run the codes at all. OR they just didn't bother to look into potential recalls. Or....I don't know.
If I knew the codes, I could have told the woman on the phone and she could have told me what I qualified for. She is going to call the dealership on Monday to try to find out. Why send me so far around my elbow to get to my backside?
I am going to Advance auto tomorrow to find out what the codes are.
If I find out the dealer tried to shaft me, I'm going to Yelp them into the middle of next week.
Don't think for a moment that the code is going to take you directly to where the problem is. A single code covers so many overlapping issues to make troubleshooting the old fashion way still mandatory.
Don't think for a moment that the code is going to take you directly to where the problem is. A single code covers so many overlapping issues to make troubleshooting the old fashion way still mandatory.
A lot of that stuff is pretty specific, regardless it;s information and once armed with information the internet becomes your friend. I swapped an engine out on a Lacrosse and immediately got a code when I fired it. ERG valve, engine I swapped in was sitting outside and that valve has some moisture exposure. Swapped the old one fron other engine... point is I had to drive alw the wat to the damn store to find out what it was.
I have f-150 that was sitting for while, tranny is working erratically and it wasn't doing that when I parked it. The check engine light is on which is also new symptom and I'm sure it's going to tell me stuck solenoid IF I could get it to somewhere. Point here is I'm in a bit of bind because I don't have access to information other than yellow light.
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