Pep Boys, Checker: no free code scans

[matthew1]

I just stopped in to my local parts stores. Pep Boys asks $89 for an "engine diagnostics check", which is rip-off speak for "code scan".

I asked why so much. The clerk said "we not only read the codes, we tell you what they mean." I said I can do that on the internet for free, and he just smiled.

Checker no longer scans codes. The clerk said she had no idea why. Wandering the aisles for injector cleaner, the reason almost knocked me over: a large kiosk with 4 or 5 models of code readers, from $69 to well over $200. Of course they don't read codes any longer, they sell code readers.

I don't know if these new policies are city-wide, regional or national. If you know your local store's policy, please add it to this topic.

[lienmarine]

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to share my experience with this. Shortly after moving to California, my Acura TL threw an engine code. First thing I did was drive to my friendly neighborhood Autozone (which I used to manage an Autozone back home) and asked for them to read my codes. I was told that a new Federal Law prohibited them from checking my codes. I told them that as a former store manager, I knew that it was Autozone store policy to check all check engine lights for free, and that I was pretty sure that I would have heard about this "new federal law". They refused to check it, so I took my business elsewhere. I went to Kragen (Checker to you midwesterners) and was given the same answer. Confused, I went to the only other place I knew did diagnostic testing for free- Pep Boys. To this day they have checked all my codes without any questions and I haven't paid a penny. When I went back home, I went to my old Autozone and asked if their policy on check engine codes had changed and I got a confused look of "no, why would it have?" I'm convinced that this whole deal is a few places trying to get some more business in a failed economy by selling high ticket items to DIYers. It really pissed me off at first, but in the end I just have to be a little more picky about where I do business.

On a positive note, the Volvo dealer in Carlsbad CA is top notch and has helped my free of charge on several occasions.