OBD2 readers

[yello]

I got 'told off' by a mechanic (well, his wife actually) yesterday for using an OBD2 reader on our car. Claimed it damaged an injector. I call BS. So much so that I didn't bother to even debate it and just looked at her blankly.

Long story: we bought a 2nd hand car from a garage 3 weeks back. It broke down and went into limp mode, an EPS light showing. I attached my basic scanner to read the codes for more detail. That showed an injector fault. The car was then trailered to the garage for a potential warranty claim repair. They told me injectors weren't covered. OK, whatever, arguable for some maybe. Explicitly covered, no, and as an injector is arguably a 'consumable' then grey area maybe, depends on the fine print, but I wasn't going to argue the toss (it's not what I do)... dealer warranties etc.. shrug and move on...

... anyways, they then make this ODB claim. Ignoring the fact that the error occurred before I even read the codes. I reckon they were just trying to duck any responsibility for the breakdown (why? I didn't blame them, stuff happens, luck of the draw etc)

With things like this, I just chalk it up to experience, life's rich pattern etc, and forget it. Such places don't get my business again (not that they would have anyway, they're not local)

 

[CXRAndy]

Utter bullshit from garage.

Scanner won't damage anything whilst reading codes.

You would need to enter programming mode and do some weird shît to bugger anything up.

I use a full diag scanner in my and other cars. Yesterday I used the on board diagnostics on my wife's Tesla for a error code that popped up. Turns out the bump she had last year has killed her ultrasonic sensor. We have lifetime warranty on vehicle repairs so its off back in to get fixed under warranty

 

[yello]

Scanner won't damage anything whilst reading codes.

That's certainly my understanding. I've read that whilst it is theoretically possible, it doesn't happen in practice. I've certainly used the reader on my car many times (again, to simply read codes) without any issue. It's a basic reader, it can clear codes but can't reset anything. The error codes would simply reappear after clear down.

 

[numbnuts]

Taking of scanners, when I bought my last can I also brought a scanner
I plugged it in to see if it works and all was fine.
A few days later my borther-in-law asked if he could borrow it
that was 28/07/23, haven't seen it since.............
Note to self - never lend tools to anybody.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Note to self - never lend tools to anybody.

If you get them back at all they won't be in the same condition they were when you lent them out.

 

[fossyant]

My son borrowed my scanner. Apparently a friend sat on it and broke the screen. Hasn't offered to replace it.