Proposed Law To Open Code ... In Cars

SEWilco writes: "A Minneapolis Star Tribune story points out that small repair shops say they lose money because they don't have access to car computer codes. These 'codes' are the diagnostic messages used by onboard computers to report problems and perform tests. Older designs only required a jumper wire to make a test light flash code patterns, certain dashboard actions to display codes, or a cheap display terminal from a parts store. Now the interfaces and code meanings are more complex and undocumented, so only auto dealer repair shops can easily find causes of some problems. U.S. Senate S.2617 and House H. R. 2735 would force auto manufacturers to share the codes. Sen. Wellstone says that manufacturers are acting like a cartel, blocking independent shops and car owners. But GM is being helpful."

Comments

Re:This has always driven me nuts...

[El_Nofx]

After reading about 20 posts and noone else saying it, I feel I need to set the record straight.

1. These codes are available to anyone who wants them for very cheap, all they have to do is purchase a book from the manufacturer or from a dealer, I know I own 3 at home for OBD2 systems. OBD2 = On board diagnostics Second Generation

2. The car companies do not want to protect their IP, they make this information public to anyone, the real reason for this bill is that,
A. It is an election year and anyone pushing
this wants to look like he is out for the
little guy, against big corporations.
B. Backyard mechanics are complaining because
they have to re-invest in their education
more and more frequently now because
automotive technology is changing about
500 times faster then it used to. They
have to spend thousands to buy equiptment
to service the vehicals and they don't
want to.

The reason cars are much more complicated and computerized then they used to be is that the enviromental regulations placed on vehicals neccesitate them. These draconian laws force the big 3 to make their cars more and more complex every model change to keep up.

The problem with alot of people is that they just believe what they read. Don't ever do that. This law is political and nothing more. It is a waste of time that adds more burocracy to a fat cat.

Re:Um, OBD-II is NOT the same thing...

[El_Nofx]

In the example I used, Audi's tech manuals cost well over an order of magnitude more than the "consumer" level manuals cost.

Well, do I need to even tell you why this is a problem? I don't ever deal with foreign cars, just the big 3 and their manuals aren't that much, about $100 a piece.

Yeah, thats a pretty common excuse stated by people who want to spout off and make people think they know what they're talking about

Senator Paul Welstone (D) MN had a press conference for the very purpose of pushing this issue yesturday. It just so happens he is running for re-election this year.

The manuals that we end users have access to have the very bare minimum of information to perform very basic maintennance on the car

You are right about this, that is why you make friends with a guy at a dealership and get access to the books with the info. 99%of end users don't need that information and shouldn't have it. It is just like computers, they just take it to someone who can fix it and pay the bill, then pretend to know what the guy is talking about when he explains what was wrong, (smile and nod). The information is out there if you want it, and you whining about an AUDI is just sad, BUY AMERICAN NEXT TIME.