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Charging $50 to read engine codes?
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pjrcard
New User
Sep 16, 2011, 7:03 AM
Post #1 of 5
(3099 views)
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Charging $50 to read engine codes?
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I posted a few months ago and got little response. Check engine has been on in my 2001 Daewoo Nubira for probably a year, maybe more (101k miles), but mechanics have never mentioned it, even when I've gotten it inspected.
It's past time for an oil change though, so I took it to the Meineke across the street. He said he'd fit me in shortly, and just as I was walking back out to the car, I asked if they would also run the codes for me, explain what they mean, and just guestimate how much it'd take for them to fix the problem(s). Seems like a fair request to me. It'll take them 5 minutes. AutoZone took even less than that, and for free. At Meineke, his response was, "Oh, okay, but we charge for that." I said, "How much?" He said 49.99. And I said, "Really? You'll take a look at any other problem and tell me what's wrong with it... before you charge me anything at all. You did it for me just a couple months ago. But you can't run the codes just to give me an idea what might be wrong?" He insisted there would be a charge even for a minimum of work if they ran the diagnostic, and I said forget it and walked out. The irony, of course, is if he had run the codes... I probably would have gone back for the repairs... which probably would have cost well over $50. But money is tight, and it seemed like a money grab. Anyway... is this normal? If so, why?
That all said... hopefully someone here can give me an idea. Car runs fine for the first few minutes... after probably 15 minutes, it sometimes (not always) seems sluggish and may sputter a little when I hit the accelerator... and also when upshifting, especially around 4th (it's automatic). Usually if I give it more gas it powers back to life, although it may lag and I may have to back off the gas completely for a split second before giving it gas again. It's especially noticable in stop and go traffic. It seemed like a timing or some sort of sensor issue to me but I really have no idea.
Codes from AutoZone are:
P0342 - Cam sensor condition - The camshaft position sensor signal is monitored for errors
P0463 - Fuel level sending unit - poor electrical connection at fuel level sending unit
P0742 - TCC stuck on - TCC commanded off by the ECM, TCC slip detected after off command
P1627 - Analog to digital performance - The ECM has detected a fault in the A/D converter within the ECM
There are some probable cause listed... but what do you think? More importantly, how severe are the problems, individually and in their entirety... and how much will it set me back to get it fixed?
Thanks for your help!
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2011, 11:20 AM
Post #2 of 5
(3068 views)
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Re: Charging $50 to read engine codes?
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I think I should start by saying that codes do not tell us what is wrong with the vehicle nor do they tell us what part to replace.
Codes tell us what system has been affected by some form of fault. Whether that fault is due to a sensor, wiring, terminal connections, computer or it could possibly not be an electronic problem at all; but a mechanical one forcing a sensor signal to go out of its parameters.
For example; a codes sets with a description of; O2 sensor bank 1 sensor 1 latched lean. All that tells us is that the computer has performed all adaptive measures to bring that sensor back into its operating range and could not; the computer sets the code, not the sensor.
Yes this could be a bad O2 sensor; but it also could be low fuel pressure, plugged injectors, a vacuum leak anything to cause that bank of the engine to run lean (not enough fuel or to much air) or make the computer think it's lean.
So your guy that you’re pissed at; knows that it’s a waste of time just pulling codes and is charging this fee to begin preliminary diagnostic checks to narrow down the root cause of the fault. This is so he can give you an honest “gestimate” of the costs involved.
Even the codes that you’ve provided us; they don’t mean squat until we/you get under the hood and start proving out what portion of that system/circuit is or is not functioning properly.
Plus he wouldn’t have walk out to your vehicle with a 50 dollar code reader but an 8 to 10 thousand dollar scanner and we won’t even begin talking about the hours, days or even years of training that went into learning how to use the scanner and your vehicles systems.
Guess why Auto Zone reads codes for nothing; they want you to run into their store and buy up all the sensors that you can carry and then point out the return policy on electronic devices.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
(This post was edited by DanD on Sep 16, 2011, 11:25 AM)
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 17, 2011, 1:46 AM
Post #4 of 5
(3042 views)
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Re: Charging $50 to read engine codes?
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Well I’m glad that there are more techs out there that are willing to spend the time to educate people, rather then just bark at them.
It does feel a little redundant at times though; no I’m sorry sir that box thingy that we can plug into you car, won’t tell me what that rattle is, coming from your neighbor’s car. LOL
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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samg.
User
Oct 8, 2011, 11:27 AM
Post #5 of 5
(2961 views)
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Re: Charging $50 to read engine codes?
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Just to add to it....The 3 tech 2's and 3 mdi's we have at my shop cost A LOT of money. We bought a new top of the line snap on unit and all the programming data and I know that was at least 13 k....The point is shops have to spend money to make it. While autozone will tell you the code with their generic scanner remember the guy (or gal) is working at a parts store not a shop for a reason.
Do you go to the doctor and complain when they charge you to go in there to tell you that you have the flu? Then it's gonna cost 40 in meds and another trip to the doctor? I doubt it.
If you think that 50 is unreasonable think of this my shops rate is 72.50 an hour, the bigger city close to here's gm dealer is 101.00 an hour. Most places charge 1 hour diag plus the repair. There are codes that set for only one reason and there are codes that set for 100 reasons. The reason you pay that money it to assure that it is diagnosed right. If autozone told you that your tcc was out and you replaced it for 1500 dollars and the light was still on you'd probably wonder why you didn't have it done the first time professionally.
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