Instead of pushing consumers to dealers every time a warning light comes up (for fault diagnosys), why can't the cars display error code directly on dashboard??
Is it another way of extracting money from drivers??
I think in BMW X5, dash displayes message like "Check brake light" etc.
I think depending on manufacturers, dealers charge from £30 to £100 just to diagnose the error code!!!
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They aren't making much money selling cars so the servicing has to be pricey! I have a hearing aid and, being a sort of computer, it can be 'retuned' to adjust for the result of my latest hearing test. This involves connecting it to a computer and pressing a button which adjusts the response of the aid to the shape of my hearing result graph. If this is done at somewhere where I did not buy the aid, the hearing test is 10 minutes and free and the retuning takes 2 minutes and is £250! Go figure as some people say! Not me - I don't know what it means!
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>>why can't the cars display error code directly on dashboard??
The technical reason is to discourage rash and amateur diagnosis. The problem being that is a trouble code mentions a part, the untrained might jump to the conclusion that they only need to replace that part, and all will be well. This technique is, of course, folly, and barely a week goes by without someone posting on technical having blindly followed a DTC rather than using their brain and doing some basic diagnosis.
Of course, the well trained and motivated, wise and sage dealer mechanics will know better, and correctly use the diagnostic trouble codes as a starting point for diagnosis, rather than the answer itself. ;-)
Can anyone spot the flaws in the utopian vision of dealer based diagnosis work I have described?
Cynically, of course it is to keep work in the manufacturer's dealer chain. Every time you set foot on the dealer's premises, you have another "opportunity" to be involved in the brand, and another chance where you might buy another car - especially if you are having a spot of bother with your current wheels.
Number_Cruncher
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Many Japanese cars (and a few older European models) can be put into a diagnostic mode to display a 'flash code' via the fault light (usually this just involved shorting two connector pins together). This is mainly because the Japanese sell a lot of their cars in parts of the world where you might be two days drive from a dealer and his diagnostic equipment!
In recent years most Japanese cars made for the European market have had to be EOBD compliant, meaning that the flash codes have (mostly) been abandoned in Europe. In any case, EOBD code reader have dropped in price to pocket money levels.
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>>I think in BMW X5, dash displayes message like "Check brake light" etc.
My bangernomics '95 Omega does that as well, along with 'wash fluid low' 'oil lack' 'tail light' etc. etc.
>>Is it another way of extracting money from drivers??
Yes.
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Yesterday my friend bought an Y-reg Vauxhall Astra 1.6.
It says "add coolant" on central console. Also, asks to "check brake light".
Nice feature. Wish every manufacturers do it.
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