Why does my local Honda dealer want £86 an hour to read a diagnostic fault code on my wife's Jazz?
Last week the engine warning light would not go out on my wife's 2003 Jazz 1.4. I rang the local Honda dealer and was quoted £86 an hour to read the fault codes to find out what was wrong ("or a bit less if it doesn't take that long"). Is that figure remotely justified? I cannot believe it really takes an hour to read the codes? Fortunately, having bitten the bullet and booked an appointment at the dealer, the warning light suddenly stopped coming on and has been fine since. However, in case it happens again, can you recommend a cost-effective code reader that I can buy, preferably compatible with a 2008 Forester too?
Asked on 28 May 2011 by TL, Bristol
Answered by
Honest John
First the car has to be booked in. Then a fitter has to be put onto the job. Then he has to find the car and drive it into the workshop. Then he has to book out an OBDII interrogator. Then he has to plug it into the car. Then he has to do his analysis. Then he has to print it. Then he has to take the car back to the carpark. Then he has to deliver the report to the workshop manager. Little jobs just aren't that simple any more. A company called Gendan does Fault Code Readers, www.gendan.co.uk
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