10/26/2025
It is my belief that some folks lack education in automotive repair. Not everyone has someone to help them. So I would like to educate those that are interested. Take what you need from this, and leave what you don't. This is my perspective and it will vary from mechanic to mechanic.
A code reader, scan tool, chat gpt, AI, or any Google searches cannot fix your car. There's too many variables at play to rely on these alone. How ever, these tools do provide information and data to a person that understands it. Said person will then take the information and develop a theory and perform the necessary tests to provide you a diagnosis and ultimately land you with a quote for the repair.
I want you to remember this. When these parts houses read your check engine light and tell you the scan says you need "whatever part they try and sell you" and then you call my shop and get a quote for the install of said part, when it doesn't fix the problem you can't hold that over our heads and say, thats what the guy at that parts house said was wrong.... They are not technicians.. they didn't perform any tests... Almost every code is associated to a circuit to the computer and will spit out a part that's in the realm of the fault. Doesn't necessarily mean its a bad part. The information has to be processed and test have to be performed. Yes this is diagnostics and there is a charge. Then there is the parts and labor charge to actually do the repair. Think of it like a copay and the doctors visit and then the pay for the actual surgery... would you let the receptionist tell you what's wrong with you over the phone before you actually got looked at by the doctor at the visit? I think not.
I hope this helps clear some things up. We are here to help you, not overcharge you, or take advantage of a situation. If you get your car scanned at these places they're going to sell you as many parts as it takes to fix your car and you're going to replace them as many times as it takes. I've seen people replace the same part four five times before they realize they need actual help. If I charge you for a diagnostic then I have to stand behind it. They don't pay the labor for you to replace that part four a five times. Think about it before you do it. Get a second opinion. Thanks for reading.
- Chad
