Diagnostic Fee - Fair?

Jenni_D

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

arctic_ghost said:

Well I was in the car today and sowhen I jumped in to head home the very lamps from my earlier post activated - coil lamp flashing once per second and  orange cruise control activated.

Ran torque pro for quickness, no fault displayed, sent erase command, warning lamps still illuminated. Had to get my diagnostic instrument out the boor and connect that. This showed a pending fault, fuel rail pressure outside expected value.

Cleared and set off without further incedent. ELM and torque pro failed to even load a fault (again).

@Ibrahim5 what cheap software do you suggest for clearing safety faults, SRS or ABS spring to mind?

Sorry I really don't profess to be an expert. I have just taken an out of date PC and bought an interface off eBay. Downloaded free software and it's worked for everything I have needed. Most of these programs have been reverse engineered which implies that the manufacturers won't assist at all. I don't think you can guarantee that they will do everything you need. 

Which works for you Fred, however the O/P has told us shes a woman in her 60s with no interest in any of that, so not sure why you're persisting with it.

It can't be Fred ... Fred would never lower himself to not think of himself as an expert.

Ibrahim5

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

arctic_ghost said:

Well I was in the car today and sowhen I jumped in to head home the very lamps from my earlier post activated - coil lamp flashing once per second and  orange cruise control activated.

Ran torque pro for quickness, no fault displayed, sent erase command, warning lamps still illuminated. Had to get my diagnostic instrument out the boor and connect that. This showed a pending fault, fuel rail pressure outside expected value.

Cleared and set off without further incedent. ELM and torque pro failed to even load a fault (again).

@Ibrahim5 what cheap software do you suggest for clearing safety faults, SRS or ABS spring to mind?

Sorry I really don't profess to be an expert. I have just taken an out of date PC and bought an interface off eBay. Downloaded free software and it's worked for everything I have needed. Most of these programs have been reverse engineered which implies that the manufacturers won't assist at all. I don't think you can guarantee that they will do everything you need. 

Which works for you Fred, however the O/P has told us shes a woman in her 60s with no interest in any of that, so not sure why you're persisting with it.

Sounds a lot sexist if you are asking me. A lot of women are capable of using computers.

motorguy

Ibrahim5 said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

arctic_ghost said:

Well I was in the car today and sowhen I jumped in to head home the very lamps from my earlier post activated - coil lamp flashing once per second and  orange cruise control activated.

Ran torque pro for quickness, no fault displayed, sent erase command, warning lamps still illuminated. Had to get my diagnostic instrument out the boor and connect that. This showed a pending fault, fuel rail pressure outside expected value.

Cleared and set off without further incedent. ELM and torque pro failed to even load a fault (again).

@Ibrahim5 what cheap software do you suggest for clearing safety faults, SRS or ABS spring to mind?

Sorry I really don't profess to be an expert. I have just taken an out of date PC and bought an interface off eBay. Downloaded free software and it's worked for everything I have needed. Most of these programs have been reverse engineered which implies that the manufacturers won't assist at all. I don't think you can guarantee that they will do everything you need. 

Which works for you Fred, however the O/P has told us shes a woman in her 60s with no interest in any of that, so not sure why you're persisting with it.

Sounds a lot sexist if you are asking me. A lot of women are capable of using computers.

I'm repeating what she told us.

If you want to call a woman in her sixties with no interest in working at her car sexist because shes a woman in her sixties with no interest in working at her car, then you go right ahead.

Let us know how that works out for you.

motorguy

Ibrahim5 said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

arctic_ghost said:

Well I was in the car today and sowhen I jumped in to head home the very lamps from my earlier post activated - coil lamp flashing once per second and  orange cruise control activated.

Ran torque pro for quickness, no fault displayed, sent erase command, warning lamps still illuminated. Had to get my diagnostic instrument out the boor and connect that. This showed a pending fault, fuel rail pressure outside expected value.

Cleared and set off without further incedent. ELM and torque pro failed to even load a fault (again).

@Ibrahim5 what cheap software do you suggest for clearing safety faults, SRS or ABS spring to mind?

Sorry I really don't profess to be an expert. I have just taken an out of date PC and bought an interface off eBay. Downloaded free software and it's worked for everything I have needed. Most of these programs have been reverse engineered which implies that the manufacturers won't assist at all. I don't think you can guarantee that they will do everything you need. 

Which works for you Fred, however the O/P has told us shes a woman in her 60s with no interest in any of that, so not sure why you're persisting with it.

Sounds a lot sexist if you are asking me. A lot of women are capable of using computers.

Theres sexism right there - implying some women arent capable of using computers.

pimento

In fact, computers were my job when I was working.. it's the fixing the issue that I'd struggle with. I refer you to my signature

dipsomaniac

You can so tell you were in the motor trade motorguy. This is MSE 🙂 stop defending the indefensible. Diagnostic fees are a rip off and should have been outlawed 20 yrs ago. What does the garages £100+ per hour labour costs cover?

Ibrahim5

I think very common standard cars which are made in their thousands are probably more likely to have been reverse engineered well. I tend to buy that sort of car for parts availablity and quantity of repair info. So vagcom should work well on a 2015 Golf because they are very common and have had 7 years to sort problems out. Rare or recently produced cars less likely to work I guess.

motorguy

dipsomaniac said:

You can so tell you were in the motor trade motorguy. This is MSE 🙂 stop defending the indefensible. Diagnostic fees are a rip off and should have been outlawed 20 yrs ago. What does the garages £100+ per hour labour costs cover?

I'm not defending it, i'm explaining it.

Its frankly naive of you to think they dont have overheads to cover.

I've explained it twice now as to what they need to cover with any job they take on - reread it if you're struggling to grasp it.

I've also given advice on how to avoid paying main dealer diagnostics - use a well regarded local mechanic at a fraction of the price - which, as the O/P doesnt want to attempt to do the work herself, has opted to do.

OR, are you going to insist that the only solution for this lady is to do the work herself? 

hangryconsumer

Haven't read the whole thread but if diagnostics mean plugging it in and getting a fault code then...

https://www.aldi.co.uk/vehicle-fault-code-reader/p/019888298097100

You could get your own fault code reader for cheap and then just tell them what to repair.

motorguy

pimento said:

In fact, computers were my job when I was working.. it's the fixing the issue that I'd struggle with. I refer you to my signature

Exactly my point for these armchair experts telling you to go get a code reader yourself and find out whats wrong.  What exactly are they expecting you to do with this "knowledge" should you be able to diagnose the fault correctly?  

You're doing totally the right thing finding a local trusted mechanic you can rely on going forward.