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Automakers to Make Diagnostic Codes Available

Posted by michael on from the keys-to-the-kingdom dept.

Rubbersoul writes "As reported on /. a few months ago independent auto repair shops are a bit tense about not having access to car computer diagnostic codes. Well it seems that now the auto makers will share these codes after all. According to an article at CNN the codes will be available to all professional mechanics as well as amateurs working out of their garage at home. Good to see the auto makers came around on this one, even if it did take Congress to help a bit."

8 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. A big Deal by Tadghe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a pretty big deal since it's pretty tough to figure out what's going on on computer controlled engines otherwise.

    This is a bigger deal because it means that people publishing the codes will no longer face the prospect of being sued for posting it and means that, in this case at least, the auto makers (with pressure from congress) decided that public good out weighed copyright law.

    --
    Bugs Bunny was right.
    1. Re:A big Deal by dnoyeb · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually the auto makers have always had much incentive to release the codes. But their relationship with the dealerships has kept them from doing that. The dealerships of course make LOTS of money from diagnostics, not the manufacturers.

      But the dealerships start to be at opposition with the manufacturers when warranty claims are made. Perhaps they got too much opposition and sowered the OEMs a bit too much!?

  2. Next to Useless by dnoyeb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As someone who works in the industry on the engineering side I am very familiar with their "codes."

    The codes will be USELESS to a mechanic. A mechanic needs a "TOOL." A mechanic is not a programmer or engineer. He will still pay $300 for the tool to read the codes. he will still pay $100 per 'module' for each car's codes he wants to read.

    He can do that now. So the hope is that more tools will be developed and that will bring the cost of the tools down.

    Don't confuse this with any ability to modify anything. These will be read only idiot codes like "o2 is out of range" or "Low Voltage."

    It still takes a good mechanic to find the problem and often, VERY DAMN OFTEN, the codes are simply misleading the mechanic when his nose and ears have already given him the answer.

  3. Re:Read the article.. by Blkdeath · · Score: 2, Insightful
    That has nothing to do with this. You know the Check Engine light that people never have checked out? Thats the car's internal diagnostic system giving you a heads up that something's fscked up.
    One of my parents' cars had a constantly lit check-engine light. You know what it meant? The check engine light was broken. Cost to fix? Over $500 (they had to tear apart the entire dash, then there's parts, wires, sensor(s), re-assembly of dash, inspector to ensure they don't tinker with the mileage, etc..)

    There's a reason they're called "idiot lights", you know. :)

    --
    BD Phone Home!

    Shameless plug. Like you weren't expecting it.

  4. Re:Hack your car by Regul8or · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, it does not allow them to do this with access to trouble code information. Tweaking modern day computers has already been accomplished with modifications to the engine's running paramaters through external chips and repogramming of PCMs. People's engines don't just catch fire because you chipped it and it now make 10 more horsepower. Engine fires occur, for example, when your cooling systems fails because you neglected it. Or, better yet, an unprotected electrical circuit such as the one I know morins like to put into their bumping sound system.

  5. Not So! by EXTomar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Go to ebay and buy a scan tool. You see the engine light on your car go on. Even if you have the tool and plug it into your car's computer it only spits out an error number and a little extra information. What does it mean? No one knows....except for the car makers who want to charge you money for the manual.

    This is the same stuff Free Software Philosophy seeks to fight: closed systems that take rights away from the user. You bought the car....why can't you figure out what is wrong with it on your own if you choose to do so? Why do automakers want to keep your property a secret from you?

  6. Re:Read the article.. by Vinum · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Reminds me of the Simpsons...

    Marge: Homer! The check engine light is on!

    Homer: Ohhh no! The tape I put over it fell off. ....

    Or something to that effect. Either way, it is highly probably your mechanic charged your $500 and did some fancy work and just disconnected the check engine light. It happens all the freaking time.

  7. Don't just keep driving... also, flip a switch. by tlambert · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Don't just keep driving... also, flip a switch.

    The Chevy Sprint and Geo Metro and other Chevy cars of that vintage had a blinking "check engine" light, which would go on automatically as soon as you hit 30,000 miles, and each 30,000 miles, after that.

    This was a result of a single-pole, double throw switch in the odometer. There was also a single-pole double-throw switch inside the fuse area (below and two the left of the steering wheel). In other words, a standard two location three-way switch assembly.

    The "corrective" action for the blinky light was to bring the car into the dealer, pay them a lot of money for "scheduled maintenance", and whatever engine parts they happened to have an excess of in inventory in their parts department that month.

    And for them to toggle the position of the switch in the fuse holder, to turn off the blinky light until you'd gone another 30,000 miles.

    Hooray for blinky lights that get people to spend money at the dealer!

    -- Terry