Right to repair act ?

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I agree!

The GOVT tries to interfere WAY TOO MUCH!!

Yep, we should have let GM fail and let the economy fall further.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I agree!

The GOVT tries to interfere WAY TOO MUCH!!

If the government hadn't "interfered" this time, with loans and stock purchases by the way, GM and Chrysler would have gone belly up, throwing all of their workers onto the unemployment rolls. There really was no other option.

John

[Kamakiri]

Used to be that parts and service was the meat and potatoes, now it's seen by many dealerships as a necessary evil. More often than not, parts and service is a break even now that maintenance schedules are stretched to such extremes.

Now, rather than selling the typical things that used to go wrong in cars, most parts managers walk in praying to get a good wreck order to keep them in the black.

[Combwork]

Same thing's happening here. Ten years ago, a friend of mine who used to run the local garage invested in £10,000 worth of Bosch diagnostic equipment on the understanding that it could be upgraded every year. Now he finds some manufacturers are restricting updates to main dealers only.

[merrylander]

Doesn't this sort of thing fall under "restraint of trade"?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Doesn't this sort of thing fall under "restraint of trade"?

Well, I suppose that if the entire auto industry goes belly up, the manufacturers can start selling narcotics.

They've got the business plan down pat.

Chas

[BlueStreak]

I've never had a car company tell me where to take my car. I don't THINK I have. But, anyways, it's my car I should have the right to take it anywhere I want.

If the dealer or manufacturer has a problem with it; Oh well, tough crap.

But, I guess that's what makes me a Stalinist Minion of Satans Evil Empire.

Dave

[finnbow]

I think a lot of this has to do with the proprietary software used for each company's OBD II onboard diagnostics computer. If all companies were to use generic OBD II software, any competent mechanic could scan the codes when the Check Engine light comes on. As it is now, a complete annual software update (including data from all manufacturers) is necessary for an independent mechanic to read the codes on all models. This update is very expensive, prohibitively so for small shops.

I think that there is a body of opinion that the auto companies deliberately use proprietary software rather than generic OBD II software in an effort to keep small shops from working on their cars. At least this is the story I get from two friends who own small independent repair shops.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I think a lot of this has to do with the proprietary software used for each company's OBD II onboard diagnostics computer. If all companies were to use generic OBD II software, any competent mechanic could scan the codes when the Check Engine light comes on. As it is now, a complete annual software update (including data from all manufacturers) is necessary for an independent mechanic to read the codes on all models. This update is very expensive, prohibitively so for small shops.

I think that there is a body of opinion that the auto companies deliberately use proprietary software rather than generic OBD II software in an effort to keep small shops from working on their cars. At least this is the story I get from two friends who own small independent repair shops.

that certainly sounds like corporate america

[Dude111]

Ya maybe your right Boreas,im not sure........