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The diagnostic fees charged by shops are ripoffs, pure and simple. It takes 5 minutes to run a scanner.
Like others said then if you feel that way than fix it yourself that way you won’t be ripped off as you say because in your opinion everyone should do stuff for free.
They are pushy and need to make money at your expense.!
So, what contrasting principle did you think was the foundation of the free market economy?
Multiple choice: For what reason do wealthy investors risk their capital to open oil change shops?
( ) So you can sleep knowing you have clean fluids
( ) So the wealthy investors can have acccess to your money
This thread is just one more example of why I'm a *former* mechanic.
Already suspected that the way you were jumping on me but you would have liked me for a customer.
I've never complained about hourly rates or big mark up on parts because I know they have a lot of overhead.
Also,very appreciative of good work.A good tech in any business is someone to support and tell your friends about.
I do stand by my OP however because code readers actually make their work easier.
Code readers have only recently become cheap, so now it seems outrageous given how easy it is to pull codes, but a decade or so ago nobody had them unless you wanted t pay $300-500 for one.
Even if it was $1K I would find a $125 charge for this to be excessive. The reason something like this would cost so much is proprietary tech, e.g. the port might be patented. As I recall a common ports will be mandated, I believe USB. You'll be able to do this with phone soon.
I think $120 is just the hourly labor rate they are charging people. I think $50 to scan seems more fair to me, but if it actually has to be narrowed down, then the $120 makes sense.
A P0171 & P0174 code is a common one many people get about running lean and could be:
A faulty fuel pressure regulator.
A weak fuel pump.
A clogged fuel filter.
A faulty powertrain control module.
A vacuum leak.
Faulty injector(s)
Faulty oxygen sensor(s)
A faulty mass air flow sensor.
My cause were worn intake manifold gasket and thats not even listed above, others is a pinpole leak in a rubber hose, that sometimes requires a smoke machine to find that vacuum leak.
If diagnosis should be free, then you folks won't mind doing it yourself. Right?
Lemme know how that works out for you
Having been in business myself I understand the overhead of operating a business, I have no problem with someone charging me reasonable amount of money if they need to use a specialized tool. $125 is not resonable given the cost of these units and the time involved.
That said when a USB connector is available shortly I'll just be able to download the inevitable open source software that will be available and just use my laptop...
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