My check engine light is on. To get the code read, I can drop my car off in the morning and they can keep it all day and charge me money. How about no. Since they're not willing to plug the little device into the car and give me the code, which takes about 5 seconds, how about I go, let's see, anywhere else, to the dozens of other places who will do it on the spot for free. ** Since this system doesn't let me reply to a response, here's my edit. I completely understand that. I didn't want a master technician to do anything, and I didn't ask them to. I was very specific in my request. Payne's was a last resort, after I had two shops (one supposedly broken) and two other mechanic shops tell me point blank they 'don't own one of those'. Then to come to this place and be told the only way to read the code was to drop off my car for a whole day was beyond frustrating. And I stand by my request and the failure of this establishment to care. You don't want to do it? Fine, tell me, sorry, we don't want to. But don't give me BS about it requiring a Master Technician, a fee, and a day without a car to read a code off an automatic device that a toddler could plug in with minimal dexterity.
Perfoming a diagnosis is much more than plugging a computer in to the vehicle. That is just the beginning. We do charge for diagnosis as a master technician is performing the work and there is value in the diagnosis. If all you want is to get a code read - yes most of the retail parts stores will do it for you.
- Payne's Automotive