No more code readers @ AutoZone in Ca

[Chris142]

Big sign on the door today. Says that Ca won't let them read your codes anymore.

I dunno why but my 2 guesses are either Ca doesnt want em clearing codes for emission reasons or shops are complaining about they taking wotrk from them.

 

[Gary Allan]

probably the trade association complaining. You can clear all the codes you want on an OBDII system and you can't get a PASS (badge) in PA without passing all except one of the readiness tests. You're allowed one not triggered. If your fuel tank is too full or too empty (depending on manufacturer - allegedly) the EVAP-PURGE test will not be performed. This led to the "one item" exemption. If you've reset a CAT EFFICIENCY code ..it will reappear when the O2 heater readiness sequence is performed. So, if you have such a code, you reset it and make sure that you're tank is not too full or too empty and have the O2 heater test as the one not performed. This is a royal pain. You have to have a start from cold ..yet not drive too far to allow the O2 heater sequence to initiate.

I doubt that CA is less totalitarian than PA ..so it reasons that resetting the codes is a waste of time to get a badge.

 

[bdcardinal]

also in CA, legally to do work with OBD2 you have to have a smog license.

if im not mistaken, Autozone will also pressure you into buying whatever part set off the light without doing proper diagnostic processes, which is not looked highly upon in CA.

 

[Cutehumor]

I have them read my codes. but that's it. I don't buy their sell pitch.

 

[JTK]

The fact that they read codes for free was my only reason for doing business with them. No more code reads, I'm done. Back to Wally for oil/filters, etc.. and Napa or CarQuest for parts.

Joel

 

[eljefino]

Asinine. If they wanted to they could turn the code reader into a "buy this tool for full price and return it and get your money back" loan-a-tool, then the onus is on the customer to handle it properly.

I agree it's an internal business decision, that they are pinning on the government b/c they might get away with it.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
also in CA, legally to do work with OBD2 you have to have a smog license.

if im not mistaken, Autozone will also pressure you into buying whatever part set off the light without doing proper diagnostic processes, which is not looked highly upon in CA.


-You are mistaken. Quite the opposite. Autozoners are to print out the trouble code and and show them the probable causes, not diagnose what is wrong with the car.

I wish they would get rid of the OBDII readings everywhere. Autozoners are not allowed to reset trouble codes, but some may do it. THIS IS NOT ALL AUTOZONES. THIS IS IN CA ONLY.

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Asinine. If they wanted to they could turn the code reader into a "buy this tool for full price and return it and get your money back" loan-a-tool, then the onus is on the customer to handle it properly.

I agree it's an internal business decision, that they are pinning on the government b/c they might get away with it.


They do have the OBDII scan tool in the loan-a-tool program. It's always been there.

 

[MrCritical]

Anyone who can tell you what parts to replace (if any) from just readying an OBD2 code is lying.

They might tell you of a probability, but that's about it.

 

[eljefino]

IDK, some are pretty cut and dry, P0133 "front o2 slow response" is usually that part.

It gets better when someone goes looking for a cam position sensor on a saturn 1.9-- there is no such animal, but there is a fairly common code for one.

Perhaps the pervasiveness of online forums has lead to remote autozone abuse, to a point where it's not worth their time. Took several hundred "get us the Pxxxx number code, not the part name" e-lashings.

 

[oilyriser]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
It gets better when someone goes looking for a cam position sensor on a saturn 1.9-- there is no such animal, but there is a fairly common code for one.

There is one, but it looks totally unlike what you expect it to be.

 

[brad_d]

I've always treated resetting the code to see if it comes back as a legitimate diagnostic technique.

Do you guys not feel that way?

 

[globey]

The problem is, some will ask to have their codes reset and then something will happen to their car. Then they will try and lay blame on Autozone for resetting/allowing them to reset their code.

It's really a liability issue. Autozoners are not allowed to reset troublecodes. Some do but it is against policy.

The problem with the scan tool is some of the trouble codes are as a result of a certain condition. The scan tool kicks them out in numerical order, not order of appearance. Sometimes, in order to find the original problem, you do need to reset the codes and then scan the system right after the light returns to find the original code.

But, as most of us already know, there are other ways other than using an OBDII scanner to erase codes.

 

[MrCritical]

Are you erasing the codes, or just turning the light off?

 

[globey]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Are you erasing the codes, or just turning the light off?

My post was centered on erasing codes, which they aren't supposed to be doing at Autozone.

 

[brad_d]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Are you erasing the codes, or just turning the light off?
If you're asking me, I'm (I guess) talking about erasing the codes.

I wasn't aware there was an option to turn the light off without clearing the code. What purpose would that serve, anyway? I'm not trying to sneak by a smog check when I do this - I'm honestly trying to see if the problem is gone or not.

 

[Gary Allan]

I've never seen a MIL light extinguished without the code being cleared. Now a pending code can remain present without triggering the MIL until so many "good trips" occur without the condition being present ..and that will reset the code.

By that I mean that I can't figure a way of manually (electronically) extinguishing the MIL without clearing the code. The PCM can probably do this and leave the code pending for diagnostic purposes if you went to the shop soon enough after the event.

 

[bdcardinal]

when you have a OEM style scan tool, you are able to do so much more.

 

[MrCritical]

I've never tried it, but many hear swear they can turn the MIL light off by disconnecting the battery. If it does work, I promise it doesn't clear the code out of memory.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
I've never tried it, but many hear swear they can turn the MIL light off by disconnecting the battery. If it does work, I promise it doesn't clear the code out of memory.


I helped a friend clean the IAC valve on a 97 Acura CL a few weeks ago, in response to a trouble code. I'd cleared the code before with my scangauge to see if it would come back, and it did. When we tore into it we unhooked the battery until we were finished. When we hooked it back up the CEL was off, and when I connected my scangauge it didn't find any codes.

So at least on some cars, disconnecting the battery (for a time, at least) will clear the codes.