Uber driver's text asking for car advice

[Leo99]

Took an Uber last night. The driver will often text or call to confirm the pick up location. So, it's not unusual to receive text from the driver immediately after booking the ride. Last night's text from the driver was something like this: Hey, what's up man, this is Charles. Trying to get my mother's car to pass inspection. Do you know if I disconnect the battery if it will reset the smog CEL on my mother's car? I started to laugh. What a random text to send to a random uber rider. We drove a few miles and I asked him about the smog issue and told him the car's computer is on to that trick. He told me he had the sparkplugs and a coil replaced and the CEL reset and were in the hope and wait phase that the CEL stays off. I thought he was going to tell me he sent the text to me by accident but he didn't. I had to help another uber driver with a CEL while we were driving and the car went into jog mode and we limped to my destination. Wonder if there is some note about me that the uber drivers see. That'd be funny.

 

[eljefino]

Tell him to get an ELM327 for $4. He already has the phone.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: Leo99

Wonder if there is some note about me that the uber drivers see. That'd be funny.

Pretty sure both parties can leave feedback for each other.

 

[Mr Nice]

It's best he doesn't drive for Uber making peanuts.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

Tell him to get an ELM327 for $4. He already has the phone.

My first thought when he texted me was, "oh, man, I don't have mine with me." LOL He paid someone to replace the plugs and a coil on a Ford Taurus so I wasn't sure if he was the right guy to have the power of ELM327.

 

[SZR48207]

Uber can be such a wide spectrum of experiences. The best ride I've had was a dude who drove a newer Toyota Highlander with leather seats. Immaculately clean.. AC on full blast and better than any cab. But the last ride was an airport pickup, different guy, and the dude and his wife were at a nearby burger place (getting drive thru) and decided to take the fare. Mid size SUV just full of his [censored].. and the entire ride was me smelling the burgers and fries they just bought and him talking to his wife about their day.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: Leo99

Originally Posted By: eljefino

Tell him to get an ELM327 for $4. He already has the phone.

My first thought when he texted me was, "oh, man, I don't have mine with me." LOL He paid someone to replace the plugs and a coil on a Ford Taurus so I wasn't sure if he was the right guy to have the power of ELM327.

I think Ford is pretty lax, most cheap ELM327's should work and Torque should tell him the readiness state of the car if he has an android phone. At least he can use Forscan which reads Ford specific error codes. Too bad it only works on Fords and Mazda as it's a free program. He'd have to get a wifi one if he has an iphone.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice

It's best he doesn't drive for Uber making peanuts.

And lots of Uber drivers are taking out subprime car notes as well, the only maintenance those cars see is Jiffy Lube. I've been in some nice Ubers and Lyfts, but a few needed some TLC.