I had a check engine light come on yesterday so today I went to Autozone to get the code read and apparently that particular location doesn't check for codes. Has anyone ever heard of this? The guy said something about it being a city ordinance or something to that order. So I just ended up buying a code reader for 60 bucks.
Autozone and code checking
- Thread starter mike7139
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Live not too far from Charlotte, I've never heard of it. One way to tell is to call a few other Charlotte AZ stores, without mentioning what the one AZ store said, see if they will check your codes.
That said, not a bad a idea to have a code reader, very useful, but if that AZ store was telling a tale to sell one, I'd be ticked.
That said, not a bad a idea to have a code reader, very useful, but if that AZ store was telling a tale to sell one, I'd be ticked.
LOL that what autozone tells people when they want to make a sale. I was once told it was against ordinance to sell Peak Global lifetime coolant also. It was the funniest thing i had ever heard of. Called napa and they laughed and thats when I got the story about Autozone and their city code sales tactics
My local AZ used to check AND clear codes until the good bureaucrats in Taxachusetts told them to cease and desist. Now they will only check codes but give you a nifty little printout.
Advance Auto will lend you a code reader for free if you have one close.
In Ca it's illegal for a shop that does not do repairs to pull codes. Since AZ does not do repairs, they sell parts they can't pull codes here. I would not be suprized if other states have simmilar laws.
I bet this law goes federal soon if it has not already.
Chrysler/Jeeps are the only cars that I know of that can tell you the code w/o a special reader. The owners manual for my 02 Jeep tells you how to turn the key on 3x in 5 seconds to get it to spit out codes.
I bet this law goes federal soon if it has not already.
Chrysler/Jeeps are the only cars that I know of that can tell you the code w/o a special reader. The owners manual for my 02 Jeep tells you how to turn the key on 3x in 5 seconds to get it to spit out codes.
Yes im in Charlotte but this particular Autozone I went to is just outside the city limits. Its one of those things that even though your actually in Charlotte itself you will hit a block where its zoned for another bordering community and then once you pass that your back in Charlotte lol.
The guy at the counter was extremely nice. I was not pressured at all into buying a code reader. I inquired about it after he said that they weren't allowed to go outside and hook up the scanner and read the code. I ended up buying the scanner because I didn't feel like going from parts store to parts store trying to get the code read and plus I always wanted a code reader for myself.
Anyways the code ended up being a P0128 code(I need a new thermostat) where on my car it actually disables the temp gauge and will make the cooling fans run consistently whenever the car is running. So I cleared that and now I have my temp gauge back and the cooling fans dont run all the time. I just hope that this will get me though the next 8 weeks
without having to install a new thermostat.
The guy at the counter was extremely nice. I was not pressured at all into buying a code reader. I inquired about it after he said that they weren't allowed to go outside and hook up the scanner and read the code. I ended up buying the scanner because I didn't feel like going from parts store to parts store trying to get the code read and plus I always wanted a code reader for myself.
Anyways the code ended up being a P0128 code(I need a new thermostat) where on my car it actually disables the temp gauge and will make the cooling fans run consistently whenever the car is running. So I cleared that and now I have my temp gauge back and the cooling fans dont run all the time. I just hope that this will get me though the next 8 weeks
without having to install a new thermostat.Why don't you fix it properly and install a new thermostat?
Originally Posted By: mikered30
I only know of stores in the People's Republic of California not being able to check codes for free.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
In Ca it's illegal for a shop that does not do repairs to pull codes. Since AZ does not do repairs, they sell parts they can't pull codes here. I would not be suprized if other states have simmilar laws.
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
I only know of stores in the People's Republic of California not being able to check codes for free.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
In Ca it's illegal for a shop that does not do repairs to pull codes. Since AZ does not do repairs, they sell parts they can't pull codes here. I would not be suprized if other states have simmilar laws.
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
Originally Posted By: ddean
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
I've never heard of $80 to pull a code. No trade unions here. CARB comes up with all these ideas themselves. This one keeps people from clearing a code then getting the car smog tested before the code comes back on.
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
I've never heard of $80 to pull a code. No trade unions here. CARB comes up with all these ideas themselves. This one keeps people from clearing a code then getting the car smog tested before the code comes back on.
Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
Advance Auto will lend you a code reader for free if you have one close.
+1
My local Advance lets me use their code reader if I give them my driver's license.
I've never asked them at Autozone
Advance Auto will lend you a code reader for free if you have one close.
+1
My local Advance lets me use their code reader if I give them my driver's license.
I've never asked them at Autozone
Originally Posted By: ddean
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
Our new service manager dropped the diag fee to 49.95. But it is not just pulling a code with a $30 scan tool. Its pulling the code with a $10,000 factory scan tool and then following hte proper diagnostic procedure and actually using a DVOM to verify the code is the problem and not just flinging parts at it.
Its fun getting customers in who their friend pulled the code for an EGR valve and when that does not fix it seeing they just needed a DPFE that is 1/2 the price.
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
Our new service manager dropped the diag fee to 49.95. But it is not just pulling a code with a $30 scan tool. Its pulling the code with a $10,000 factory scan tool and then following hte proper diagnostic procedure and actually using a DVOM to verify the code is the problem and not just flinging parts at it.
Its fun getting customers in who their friend pulled the code for an EGR valve and when that does not fix it seeing they just needed a DPFE that is 1/2 the price.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: ddean
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
Our new service manager dropped the diag fee to 49.95. But it is not just pulling a code with a $30 scan tool. Its pulling the code with a $10,000 factory scan tool and then following hte proper diagnostic procedure and actually using a DVOM to verify the code is the problem and not just flinging parts at it.
Its fun getting customers in who their friend pulled the code for an EGR valve and when that does not fix it seeing they just needed a DPFE that is 1/2 the price.
Right on - shops have a lot of money tied up in scan tools and should charge a fair amount for its use. If just pulling a code to get a person started with the diagnostics themselves then I'd say $30 or less is fair. But when real diagnostics are done for the person - revealing the REAL problem, then $80 or so is not unfair...this is work by a trained mechanic on his time. I saved a ton of money because I own quite a few scan tools, one being a Tech 2. People know I have a Tech 2 and I would always help them for free until I caught a neighbor who actually was making money doing a repair for a neighbor!! Nobody is making money off me and my kindness. (He didn't have a scan tool) I stopped that all together. If somebody wants me to hook my tool up - I charge them $25, more for diagnostics like live data or programming a module.
Originally Posted By: ddean
The mechanics in CA must have either a strong trade union or a lot of pull with the state government. I hear that the going rate to "check codes" with a code reader is $80 most places. That $80 is no troubleshooting or diagnostic work just reading the codes using a $30 OBD II code scanner. A lot of money, especially for a stupid code like a P0300 or a P0442.
Our new service manager dropped the diag fee to 49.95. But it is not just pulling a code with a $30 scan tool. Its pulling the code with a $10,000 factory scan tool and then following hte proper diagnostic procedure and actually using a DVOM to verify the code is the problem and not just flinging parts at it.
Its fun getting customers in who their friend pulled the code for an EGR valve and when that does not fix it seeing they just needed a DPFE that is 1/2 the price.
Right on - shops have a lot of money tied up in scan tools and should charge a fair amount for its use. If just pulling a code to get a person started with the diagnostics themselves then I'd say $30 or less is fair. But when real diagnostics are done for the person - revealing the REAL problem, then $80 or so is not unfair...this is work by a trained mechanic on his time. I saved a ton of money because I own quite a few scan tools, one being a Tech 2. People know I have a Tech 2 and I would always help them for free until I caught a neighbor who actually was making money doing a repair for a neighbor!! Nobody is making money off me and my kindness. (He didn't have a scan tool) I stopped that all together. If somebody wants me to hook my tool up - I charge them $25, more for diagnostics like live data or programming a module.
There's a few possibilties here.
Charlotte does have some of the highest ozone pollution in the country, so checking codes and possible code clearing might be an issue.
Perhaps they don't want there employees to get mugged while checking for codes. A possbility anywhere, but particularly in a city.
Or, just wanted to sell a code reader.
Charlotte does have some of the highest ozone pollution in the country, so checking codes and possible code clearing might be an issue.
Perhaps they don't want there employees to get mugged while checking for codes. A possbility anywhere, but particularly in a city.
Or, just wanted to sell a code reader.
I'd always heard they would pull the codes, but not clear them.
I agree, this store wanted to make a sale.
Originally Posted By: mike7139
I had a check engine light come on yesterday so today I went to Autozone to get the code read and apparently that particular location doesn't check for codes. Has anyone ever heard of this? The guy said something about it being a city ordinance or something to that order. So I just ended up buying a code reader for 60 bucks.
There is the outside possibility it's legit, that when they zoning approved the "retail store" they won't allow "repairs" in the parking lot.
I get sales flyers for various parts stores that brag about free battery, wiper, light bulb installation "except where forbidden by law". Code clearing may count as "work".
Then there are those company trainers who threaten employees that something is "illegal" when it's just against their own internal rules. Walmart, and my former bank, are guilty of this.
I had a check engine light come on yesterday so today I went to Autozone to get the code read and apparently that particular location doesn't check for codes. Has anyone ever heard of this? The guy said something about it being a city ordinance or something to that order. So I just ended up buying a code reader for 60 bucks.
There is the outside possibility it's legit, that when they zoning approved the "retail store" they won't allow "repairs" in the parking lot.
I get sales flyers for various parts stores that brag about free battery, wiper, light bulb installation "except where forbidden by law". Code clearing may count as "work".
Then there are those company trainers who threaten employees that something is "illegal" when it's just against their own internal rules. Walmart, and my former bank, are guilty of this.
Kestas
Staff member
I gave up on Autozone and bought myself the cheapie $40 Harbor Freight code reader that is CAN-BUS compatible. I've successfully used it a number of times. I think I saw it recently on sale for less than $40.
The last time I went to my local Autozone for code reading, they read the code, mumbled something to me, then headed back into the store.
The last time I went to my local Autozone for code reading, they read the code, mumbled something to me, then headed back into the store.
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