Diagnostic Fee - Fair?

Ibrahim5

Robbo66 said:

Ibrahim5 said:

There weren't 'diagnostic' fees in the 1970s. They were only introduced when cars had computers on them. The cars in those days didn't have screens so the data had to be transferred across to something with a screen to display data. Any basic PC or phone is capable. Just need an interface. As long as it transmits data it's fine. Even if it only costs £3.95. The software is often free or very cheap. There was never any need for expensive computers or large fees to use them. All invented by auto industry to make money. Just talking to people you realise how successful they have been. People really are convinced that they are too complicated even though they use computers everyday without fear.

You seem to be living in your own world, a very good friend of mine is an accredited master diagnostic tech for a large manufacturer, he is also registered with various motor agencies as that, this qualification has then the best part of 25 years of training and exams so when he works on a car you are paying for his knowledge,  training and experience and I'm quite sure their diag computer he used costs many thousands of pounds to buy and keep undated.

The only time I took a car in for a warranty repair they broke it. I phoned them up and told them. "Unlikely but bring it back". "Oh yes we did break it and he is a master tech." Not very impressed by those master techs.

motorguy

Robbo66 said:

Ibrahim5 said:

There weren't 'diagnostic' fees in the 1970s. They were only introduced when cars had computers on them. The cars in those days didn't have screens so the data had to be transferred across to something with a screen to display data. Any basic PC or phone is capable. Just need an interface. As long as it transmits data it's fine. Even if it only costs £3.95. The software is often free or very cheap. There was never any need for expensive computers or large fees to use them. All invented by auto industry to make money. Just talking to people you realise how successful they have been. People really are convinced that they are too complicated even though they use computers everyday without fear.

You seem to be living in your own world, a very good friend of mine is an accredited master diagnostic tech for a large manufacturer, he is also registered with various motor agencies as that, this qualification has then the best part of 25 years of training and exams so when he works on a car you are paying for his knowledge,  training and experience and I'm quite sure their diag computer he used costs many thousands of pounds to buy and keep undated.

Exactly.

Hes living in cloud cuckoo land.

If i've a simple fault i'll fix it myself.  If i've a more complex fault or maintence thats required, i've a great indy up the road.  If i take the car to a main dealer i know i will be charged accordingly.  The service they offer is not "free".

Ibrahim5

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Software is like that. Linux is free. Windows more. Apple extortionate. You can charge what you like.

Software is not like that.

Diagnostic software is not free.  Do you work for free?

Lots of software is free. Surely I don't have to list all the software that's free.

Ibrahim5

motorguy said:

Robbo66 said:

Ibrahim5 said:

There weren't 'diagnostic' fees in the 1970s. They were only introduced when cars had computers on them. The cars in those days didn't have screens so the data had to be transferred across to something with a screen to display data. Any basic PC or phone is capable. Just need an interface. As long as it transmits data it's fine. Even if it only costs £3.95. The software is often free or very cheap. There was never any need for expensive computers or large fees to use them. All invented by auto industry to make money. Just talking to people you realise how successful they have been. People really are convinced that they are too complicated even though they use computers everyday without fear.

You seem to be living in your own world, a very good friend of mine is an accredited master diagnostic tech for a large manufacturer, he is also registered with various motor agencies as that, this qualification has then the best part of 25 years of training and exams so when he works on a car you are paying for his knowledge,  training and experience and I'm quite sure their diag computer he used costs many thousands of pounds to buy and keep undated.

Exactly.

Hes living in cloud cuckoo land.

If i've a simple fault i'll fix it myself.  If i've a more complex fault or maintence thats required, i've a great indy up the road.  If i take the car to a main dealer i know i will be charged accordingly.  The service they offer is not "free".

Apart from the warranty repair where the master tech broke my car I have never been to a main dealer for anything. I find them a bit irrelevant.

Phantom151

Ibrahim5 said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Software is like that. Linux is free. Windows more. Apple extortionate. You can charge what you like.

Software is not like that.

Diagnostic software is not free.  Do you work for free?

Lots of software is free. Surely I don't have to list all the software that's free.

I'd quite like you to quote some free proper car diagnostic software. Not software that'll just read the simple OBDII codes. Software that'll do the lot including resetting fault lights and service lights.

Ibrahim5

Phantom151 said:

Ibrahim5 said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Software is like that. Linux is free. Windows more. Apple extortionate. You can charge what you like.

Software is not like that.

Diagnostic software is not free.  Do you work for free?

Lots of software is free. Surely I don't have to list all the software that's free.

I'd quite like you to quote some free proper car diagnostic software. Not software that'll just read the simple OBDII codes. Software that'll do the lot including resetting fault lights and service lights.

You are best searching for your own brand of car. Things like service lights are often done by techniques like turning the ignition on while holding odometer reset. I would have thought most fault lights would go off on erasure of DTCs. Google is great for common cars 

Ibrahim5

Torque lite and the cheap torque pro is normally used with the £3.95 Bluetooth adapter. Never used it personally though.

motorguy

Ibrahim5 said:

Torque lite and the cheap torque pro is normally used with the £3.95 Bluetooth adapter. Never used it personally though.

For home use?  Absolutely fine.

Relying on them as a professional business?  No, not at all.  

But you know that, you just cant admit it.

Phantom151

Ibrahim5 said:

Phantom151 said:

Ibrahim5 said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Software is like that. Linux is free. Windows more. Apple extortionate. You can charge what you like.

Software is not like that.

Diagnostic software is not free.  Do you work for free?

Lots of software is free. Surely I don't have to list all the software that's free.

I'd quite like you to quote some free proper car diagnostic software. Not software that'll just read the simple OBDII codes. Software that'll do the lot including resetting fault lights and service lights.

You are best searching for your own brand of car. Things like service lights are often done by techniques like turning the ignition on while holding odometer reset. I would have thought most fault lights would go off on erasure of DTCs. Google is great for common cars 

So that's a no on the free diagnostic software then?

Ibrahim5

I was actually saying that there is lots of free software not specifically car diagnostic software. I have used VAGCOM and FORScan which are both free. Not sure of all the brand's because I have never owned all the brand's. Sometimes you have to pay for certain functionality but I have never needed to.