Do you think it's unfair that AutoZone is now prohibited in CA to scan Service Engine Soon light?

Question

They said because mechanics were complaining that they should be the ones to "diagnose" the problem and charge for it. This is really a load of you know what if you ask me, just like the "Test-Only" Smog Checks.

Answer 1

There is some justification to it, allow me to explain. First off a "scan" is no where near a diagnostic procedure, it cannot and does not tell you what is causing the CEL to be illuminated, it simply tells you what area of the system the malfunction is being detected. AutoZone has sold many parts to many customers and many parts have been replaced that were not the cause of the problem. At this point the customer cannot return the installed part and still has a broken car. They have 2 choices, replace more parts on another AutoZone guess or pay for a professional to diagnose and repair the car. Only about 20% of the time will an AutoZone "scan" and part replacment fix the problem, the rest of the time it becomes a huge waste of your money and time. I know all of this to be true because I see it on a regular basis.  

Answer 2

Get yourself a gauge and reset the engine light yourself.  

Answer 3

I would set up a petition about this. Or talk to that idiot for a governor, "The Governator". Tell him the kind of financial hardships that this dumb rule is creating. Well if this were to be made illegal, how about making the sale of OBD 2 scan tools to do it yourselfers be made illegal?

Answer 4

Naw it's not fair at all. You have a right to have your car checked by who you choose. Even though Autozone is the last place I'd take it to have something like that done, but I feel the same way about Jiffy Lube, but I don't think they should be banned.

Answer 5

yes, but what else do you expect from the people's republic of california?  

Answer 6

Well, a "code reading" which is what Autozone does, isn't a diagnostic by any stretch of the imagination.  It is a great way to sell parts that you don't need and won't fix your problem, which is I suspect the real reason this service can no longer be done.