Autozone, Kragen, no more CEL service or scan tool rental

[BrooklynBay]

Chryslers are easy to retrieve codes from. You turn the key a few times, and the check engine light flashes out the code on the older models, and the newer models have the Pxxx code on a small digital display on the dashboard. Why can't every manufacturer do this?

 

[Tbars4]

Chryslers are easy to retrieve codes from. You turn the key a few times, and the check engine light flashes out the code on the older models, and the newer models have the Pxxx code on a small digital display on the dashboard. Why can't every manufacturer do this?

...Then how would Ford get it's newly announced $135 an Hour (I think thats the new price) service rate???

 

[35Remmy]

I don't think the Big 3 can piss customers off any more than they have in the past with customer service, and I think the inability to retrieve codes would only add fuel to the fire.

Look at GM...latest news is that their consolidation will include no more GMC, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, and selling Saab. Only Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac will survive. Unbelievable, huh?

Ford is the only one that's financially "ok". 2009 F150 Motor Trend truck of the year and JD Power and Associates highest number of initial quality awards, beating out Toyota, GM and Chrysler by a bunch. They must be doing something right.

 

[BrooklynBay]

If they are doing something right, then why is everybody discontinuing minivans and replacing them with crossovers? The crossovers have less room.

 

[eXcali]

I don't think the Big 3 can piss customers off any more than they have in the past with customer service, and I think the inability to retrieve codes would only add fuel to the fire.

Look at GM...latest news is that their consolidation will include no more GMC, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, and selling Saab. Only Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac will survive. Unbelievable, huh?

Ford is the only one that's financially "ok". 2009 F150 Motor Trend truck of the year and JD Power and Associates highest number of initial quality awards, beating out Toyota, GM and Chrysler by a bunch. They must be doing something right.

Ford isn't doing "ok" they reported to congress they had the funds to "survive" thru the 1st quarter 09. They said if the economy doesn't pick up buy end of March they will be in need of financial assistance.

I don't think any of the big 3 will make it to be honest, the Government is pushing them to make cars the citizens don't want. Now that gas is down to $2 a gallon no one is going to spend $3-10k more for a hybrid. Also if banks aren't lending as is the case, people won't buy.

 

[Tbars4]

...Part of the new stimulus plan gives I think, a $1500 cash back for the new cars...New Car sales are down to the lowest point in 27 years and gas is on it's way back up...

...It will get worse before it gets better...Buy your scan tools now..

 

[eXcali]

...Part of the new stimulus plan gives I think, a $1500 cash back for the new cars...New Car sales are down to the lowest point in 27 years and gas is on it's way back up...

...It will get worse before it gets better...Buy your scan tools now..

It just continues the current energy savings deductions on your taxes which ended with 2008.

The reason gas went so high is because the banks played the futures market. It is meant for farmers to be able to know what their crops will fetch at the end of the growing season. But the banks decided to make it their own little stock market and bought the futures for the oil. This created a FALSE demand. Demand actually dropped 5% and supply raise 15% which should have created a 20% drop in price, but oil shot up to $150 a barrel.
Then these same banks lost their butts in the predatory lending home foreclosures, cashed out their oil futures and the price of oil fell like a brick. So since we are on this topic, I think these bankers need to be taken out to Death Valley and burried to their necks.

 

[Tbars4]

...The government profits off of gas and car sales too..Big time..

..Edit: I just posted a link in Ricks thread found here, post #28 http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235395&page=2

 

[SVO]

we have totally opposite opinions here. i like not having to pay 50-60$ to have a code pulled so that i can work on my truck. i know your a good mechanic, and hell if you were here i might have you work on my truck.. but the reason i went to doing all my own work is its hard to trust someone/find a good mechanic

I Agree, it's VERY hard to find people to trust, that's why my customer's come from all over, such as Froader from Cali, cause he didn't feel as though he could trust someone as much as me to do the work.

Sometime you drive the distance for this trust.

I don't believe that the issue is getting the code itself ... I believe that it's more that the workers at these stores would try to interpret the codes / tell the customer what they need to buy to repair the problem.

That is also a great example, thanx for reading more into what I said, you are absolutely correct.

When service stations stop charging $35-65 just to hook up the machine and tell you what the code said then Autozone should stop doing it for free.

This service was meant to help knowledgable customers retrieve CODES only! I don't take the advice of autozone employee's when it comes to what brand to buy or what a code means, simply give me the code readout and I'm happy.

Now that you have the code, do you REALLY think you can make the correct repair?

Do you have the pin point tests to accurately determine the "root" of the problem?


Example:

Your OBDI Ford vehicle shows a high voltage on the TPS, is that really the issue?

How about the reference voltage and the grounds are both the same for the EVP, the EVP isn't the problem, the EGR is, but because you think you and the Auto Zone guy know what your doing you replace the TPS, now $35 of your money is gone, and the problem is still there, so now you spend $60 on an EVP sensor, and again the problem is still there, so on a suggestion you replace the EGR @ $90, NOW your problem is gone, IF you set the TPS volage correctly and didn't have to shim/nor grind off the tip of the EVP sensor for correct signal voltage.

How monies did you waste?

Do you really thing the scan tool tells you what the problem is?

What do my students pay $25k+ to sit in my classes for 9 months?

Would you loan your $4000 scan tool out for someone to fix thier car for free when it cost you to pay for the tool.

Would you give your experience and training out for free?

How about the service manuals, and the software like Alldata, and Mitchel's on demand, that charge for the service info and pin point tests you need for fixing the problem right the fist time?




In 1996, it was federal mandated that all vehicles have a generic DLC connector, and base DTC's, other code are manufacture specific and have definitions that are either defined in specific manuals or on some data systems.

What about CAN, do you realize that these systems are interconnected, and can affect one another?


If all this was the case, I guess I need to go wash cars for a living and stop teaching automotive technology, and give up my tools.

And then I'll have all of you come down and explain to my students that they have just wasted $25k of thier money.

I'm sure a pissed off mob of 30day/28 night students would be easy for you to handle.

"So big a boy are ya?" - R.D. Mercer




I know you come here for help on your vehicle, because prices for repairs aren't cheap, that because it takes a lot of monies to keep us trained and upto date on the latest technology, and the tool cost most all of the times comes out of OUR pockets, not the shop.


Next time you want to get pissy, look at the stones your throwing in the pond and how they affect everyone.

And stop with the me, me, me, mentallity, and you'll understand what's really going on.

I love helping out here, and do give some of my trade secret's away for free, and information, but that's because I want to, but belive me I don't have too, so the next time you think someone owes you something, andyou don't get it, besure to review why.

Before you get angry at why a service costs so much, research FULLY why that cost is what it is.

If it wasn't that big of a deal, I bet you prolly wouldn't be on this web site.


We're all here to help, please just besure you the toes you step on are not your own.




Jeff - :navajo:

EF Moderator
ASE Tecnician
IMACS Certified
Shop owner
NATEF Automotive Instructor
Gear Head

And works very hard for very little monies






Jeff - :navajo:

 

[Blee1099]

You'd better start now.. You got quite a fleet of cars & trucks and a boat to wash.. While your at it give bailey a bath too.

 

[eXcali]

SVO: The problem with all that is you have a car mechanic who went to school for 9 months charging more than a doctor that went to school for 8-10 years.

That $4,000 tool is just that, it's a TOOL. What ever happened to free inspections/qoutes? What is the next step here, you have to pay per minute on the lift? Or how about a $35 charge for every tire balance.

Oh here is a good example, there is a shop down the street from me that offers free scans, yet they put a $54.99 coupon in the newspaper and on a sheet in their lobby for the same scan. So if you ask for it free you get it, if you present the coupon it's 54.99, then if you don't have the coupon it's $65.

If you ask me there are WAY to many dishonest mechanics who have gotten nothing more than greedy. This makes no sense whatsoever to me. My father owned a shop and was honest and fair with everyone. He had cars lined around the block for his service because they knew he wouldn't rip them off.

Now as for the codes I have autozone pull, I reference them both online and pick up the phone to talk to my dad. I only take the codes from the guys at autozone, not the advice.

 

[eXcali]

I Agree, it's VERY hard to find people to trust, that's why my customer's come from all over, such as Froader from Cali, cause he didn't feel as though he could trust someone as much as me to do the work.

Sometime you drive the distance for this trust.





That is also a great example, thanx for reading more into what I said, you are absolutely correct.





Now that you have the code, do you REALLY think you can make the correct repair?

Do you have the pin point tests to accurately determine the "root" of the problem?


Example:

Your OBDI Ford vehicle shows a high voltage on the TPS, is that really the issue?

How about the reference voltage and the grounds are both the same for the EVP, the EVP isn't the problem, the EGR is, but because you think you and the Auto Zone guy know what your doing you replace the TPS, now $35 of your money is gone, and the problem is still there, so now you spend $60 on an EVP sensor, and again the problem is still there, so on a suggestion you replace the EGR @ $90, NOW your problem is gone, IF you set the TPS volage correctly and didn't have to shim/nor grind off the tip of the EVP sensor for correct signal voltage.

How monies did you waste?

Do you really thing the scan tool tells you what the problem is?

What do my students pay $25k+ to sit in my classes for 9 months?

Would you loan your $4000 scan tool out for someone to fix thier car for free when it cost you to pay for the tool.

Would you give your experience and training out for free?

How about the service manuals, and the software like Alldata, and Mitchel's on demand, that charge for the service info and pin point tests you need for fixing the problem right the fist time?




In 1996, it was federal mandated that all vehicles have a generic DLC connector, and base DTC's, other code are manufacture specific and have definitions that are either defined in specific manuals or on some data systems.

What about CAN, do you realize that these systems are interconnected, and can affect one another?


If all this was the case, I guess I need to go wash cars for a living and stop teaching automotive technology, and give up my tools.

And then I'll have all of you come down and explain to my students that they have just wasted $25k of thier money.

I'm sure a pissed off mob of 30day/28 night students would be easy for you to handle.

"So big a boy are ya?" - R.D. Mercer




I know you come here for help on your vehicle, because prices for repairs aren't cheap, that because it takes a lot of monies to keep us trained and upto date on the latest technology, and the tool cost most all of the times comes out of OUR pockets, not the shop.


Next time you want to get pissy, look at the stones your throwing in the pond and how they affect everyone.

And stop with the me, me, me, mentallity, and you'll understand what's really going on.

I love helping out here, and do give some of my trade secret's away for free, and information, but that's because I want to, but belive me I don't have too, so the next time you think someone owes you something, andyou don't get it, besure to review why.

Before you get angry at why a service costs so much, research FULLY why that cost is what it is.

If it wasn't that big of a deal, I bet you prolly wouldn't be on this web site.


We're all here to help, please just besure you the toes you step on are not your own.

I really don't understand why you are thinking someone is getting pissed off? I actually think it's the other way around. It would seem you are the one upset here. I use the free code readers and I'm doing just fine.

As for the "me me me" it isn't that case for most of us. Many of us have a family to support and we have to make cuts everywhere we can. If you really want to know my story and why I have to make every cut in finances I can I would be more than happy to PM it to you so you can understand where I come from. After reading my story I can guarantee you won't think there has been anything about my life that is "me me me."


We are all here to help to give advice and share our experiences as well as try to cut a few corners. So please keep this is mind, it's not about screwing the local mechanic, it's about doing what you can to get your family from one day to the next.

 

[Cobraguy]

That $4,000 tool is just that, it's a TOOL. What ever happened to free inspections/qoutes?

And how would you expect to pay for that tool? And believe me, $4000 is dirt cheap. Some of these shops pay well over 100K for some of their equipment. You don't pay for it by doing "free" check ups.

What do you do for a living? How long could you (or your company) survive doing things for free? You need a ROI, or you go bankrupt. Maybe that has something to do with CSK Auto no longer being in business and being sold to O'Reilly's.

 

[Maniak]

...It must be fairly recent out here, but it sounds like California and Hawaii are definately out...I had read where Arizona had sued autozone for price mis-marking...

Something like that happened a few years ago with the spark plug wires.. Thing on shelves where customers can get them must have a price.. Spark plug wire boxes were right behind the counter and there were no prices but a customer could grab them.. That was considered illegal.. Now they have signs saying to ask an associate for spark plug wires (I can't remember the wording)..

That is the info I got from them a couple years ago from an autozone manager.. who knows how accurate it really is..

Also, I like it when they would "read" the code and tell you what the code was.. I don't think they should have been trying to diagnose the issue though..

We did finally buy a scanner as I didn't like having to drive 30 miles to get a code read..
As already mentioned, code scanners are pretty cheap nowadays.. We got a CAN ODB-II scanner that actually told you what the code was in english (standard codes and many of the vehicle specific ones) for < $80 (on sale and used a coupon @ harbor freight). They have other ones (CAN & ODB-II) for $50ish (just spits out the number) but I like having the freeze frame and can save vehicle info (I think 8 times)..

~Mark

 

[Tbars4]

...Do you have a link to your model scanner...with all the coupons I am recieving from harbor freight lately, now might be a good time to get one, while I don't need it...

 

[Maniak]

I may fall into the "me me me" catagory.. Sort of..

I first started to go to Discount Tire to buy my tires because they fixed my flat for free.. It made me think of using them next time and I did.. for many years...

They changed their policy and wouldn't fix a tire with a tire plug in it so I found Jack Furriers tire center in tucson.. They not only fixed the tire, but did it for free. Their prices are still "decent" (not always the cheapest) but now I will go to them because I have a "good feeling" about them that they won't try to nickle and dime me to death...

Same with mechanics.. I haven't had to use one in years, but last time I did I found one that was willing to do the diag for free (read the codes), talked to me about what it could be didn't charge me and even cleared the code. When the issue came back I went back to them to get the repairs done..

I can understand needing to charge because they went to school and had to buy the right tools but sometimes you just need a loss leader to get people to come to you.. You need something to make yourself stand out..

~Mark

 

[Maniak]

...Do you have a link to your model scanner...with all the coupons I am recieving from harbor freight lately, now might be a good time to get one, while I don't need it...

Here it is.. and its on sale right now for $69.99.. Thats the online price and they don't match online prices anymore so I don't know what it costs in the store..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94217

We went with it because it supported CAN (2006 mustang uses CAN) and it did more than just spit out the number.. Its no Snap-on scanner (I've gotten to use the Snap-on brick a few times which is really nice but I didn't "need" it).

~Mark

 

[Donner]

Agreed ^^

Batt charger and code reader... If you have more than one vehicle, don't wait for big business to determine how much, when and where and what you can do... buy your own equipment... Now, if I could only do my own smog checks, I'd be set! (Camera is broken, tacky pics

 

[Tbars4]

...:shifty_ey ...Donner's starting his own shop and is now open for business...

 

[Donner]

Ha! I have a tire balancing computer too (j/k). How much are the shops charging now to read codes? Last time I checked it was between $25 and $75 bucks...