I'm in NJ, and Autozone here will still read codes. I have my own Snap-On "brick" MT-2500, but I have had a light come on while driving near Autozone, so I have had them "pull a code" for me a few times. I was told they are not supposed to clear any codes though. Apparently too many people would come back complaining that they hadn't "fixed' the problem, because the MIL would come back on?!?!?
They do it for me (clear the codes), basically because a.) they know I know what I'm doing and b.) I'm in there so much, several counter people and managers (in 2 local stores) have my phone number memorized! Last time they were busy, so they just handed me the code reader at the counter, so I went out and did it myself.
That said, I can definitely understand where SVO is coming from. While I certainly feel that the labor rates many shops charge these days is just outrageous, they shouldn't have to work for free. Just being a "backyard" mechanic, I have personally invested thousands of dollars in tools and diagnostic equipment. (That snap-on scanner was over $1000 5 years ago, and it's sorely in need of an update now. More $$$). I don't like just throwing parts at a problem. It's much more satisfying to properly diagnose and correct the problem. It is also the ethical and professional thing to do when I'm working on someone elses vehicle. Of course, an actual shop has many more thousands of dollars invested in their equipment. Tire machines are $1500 and up, plus a balancer. Alignment machines $5-10,000, and so on.
Even with only doing "side" work, I'm kind of upset about the free scans. Two reasons:
1.) Yes, it would be nice to able to recoup some of my investment in the scanner/updates by charging a very small fee for quick scans. Say $20-$25. Not to mention the time it takes to do the scan and interpret the data. (not always just codes)
2.) Simple code readers provide you with just enough information to be dangerous, or to be an annoying, arguementative customer who thinks they know what the problem is because Autozone/Advance/their cheap code reader from Walmart/etc... told them so. It really only helps to further perpetuate misinformation. As has been said, just because you have a code for a particular part, it doesn't mean that is really the cause of the problem. Conversely, just because the ecm hasn't set a code, doesn't mean a part isn't bad. O2 sensors are a perfect example. An o2 sensor will start to have slower response times and be inaccurte enough to cause a loss of fuel economy, and other symptoms, long before it's "bad enough" to set code. Many other sensor are the same way. The can "drift", and send erroneous data, but as long as that data is still within the acceptabl parameters, no code.
Just to be clear, I'm not "bashing"/ "flaming" anyone in particular, and I'm sure that many of you are knowledgeable enough to use the information properly. I'm also sure that there are plenty of people out there who have code readers, and probably shouldn't, for their good.
Think I'm going to skip that one.
