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Originally Posted by shakran
I'd like to see us go back to the earlier days of engine management computers. When the check engine light on my old Civic would go off, you'd just peel back the passenger side carpeting and count the number of flashes from a little LED. Look up the code, and you know what's wrong.
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This is the part that concerns me. Many new cars (2005 and up) have gone more proprietary again with many of the systems beyond basic engine performance and emissions. If only the dealer has the right scan tool or software to communicate with the car how do you know what the dealer is telling you is true?
Newer cars are more reliable but the opposite side of that is what happens when your warranty runs out? If the aftermarket catches up and tools as well as parts are available then great. But right now the cost of replacement batteries for a Toyota Echo is a few thousand dollars each and I believe there are 3 or 4 in the car. Toyota reccomends replacement of all batteries at the same time not seperately. And life span is given at 5-7 years if they die before you sell the car you're going to replace them. That's just one example.
I may be a little biased against the dealers because I work for an independant repair shop but I also know that on many an occasion the dealer techs have the luxury of replacing parts until it's fixed rather then actually diagnosing and solving the problem. I would like for the manufacturers to make available all the tools/software as well the information to repair their cars. I'm willing to pay for it and others must be as well. As long as it is available.