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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."

3 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Paki Rhyme 2001 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Paki Rhyme 2001

    my name is shaki im a paki smell real nasty like ass cracky and nut sacky cuz i dont use soap so i smell like dead goat like a horse eating oat and taking a shit dont make me bitch about your high prices seventeen cents and i have a crisis my wife is a bitch who thinks shes hot but shes not cuz shes all i got from my mom for droppin the bomb on isreal and still i smell cuz i know i suck you american fuck but you still need us cuz we got the fuel butt fuckin mule come into my tent and i sodomize you i do not speak english very well as you can tell and i dont use soap as you can smell make you wanna impale your head on a rail as i drive like a snail down the highway dont make me say batarahzees get on your knees and suck my dick you american prick as i eat garlic and take a piss on your store on the floor dont want no more you fucking whore cuz you want to be lord then BUTT SULTAN BUTT SULTAN bitch be boltin as i fuck you like an animal ride you like a camel sportin my towel and worshipin cow i tell you right now i bring you down so batarahzees lets go to chuck-e-cheese and play some games as us kids take a shit on the ride want to make you cry want to make you die then fry you fucking guy PAKI RHYME.

  2. Re:This has always driven me nuts... by El_Nofx · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    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.

    --
    It's not the OS it's the user that sucks. If it's user friendly, you get stupider people. - clinko
  3. Re:Um, OBD-II is NOT the same thing... by El_Nofx · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    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.

    --
    It's not the OS it's the user that sucks. If it's user friendly, you get stupider people. - clinko