My new toy
10-22-2008, 09:49 AM
#16
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Year: 1990XJ/1989MJ
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0L Renix
Don't get upset with the majority of members here at CF. They are hobbists not professional mechanics. They see the CEL as a bother and not as a warning. Most times their Jeep is running fine and it is just an annoyance.
There are a few of us that understand what you are saying but the majority are not going to. I have tried to aquire as much Jeep knowledge as there is out there, but realize that I also am not a professional mechanic. You guys serve a great need but many neophites see you as a financial drain and don't see the years of training that goes into being good as a mechanic. I have seen my share of parts changers that call themselves mechanics. They don't deserve the title.
Just be a little more understanding as many members are just kids with their first vehicles and don't understand what a CEL tells them. We at CF are trying to be teachers not anything less.
There are a few of us that understand what you are saying but the majority are not going to. I have tried to aquire as much Jeep knowledge as there is out there, but realize that I also am not a professional mechanic. You guys serve a great need but many neophites see you as a financial drain and don't see the years of training that goes into being good as a mechanic. I have seen my share of parts changers that call themselves mechanics. They don't deserve the title.
Just be a little more understanding as many members are just kids with their first vehicles and don't understand what a CEL tells them. We at CF are trying to be teachers not anything less.
10-22-2008, 09:49 AM
#17
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6 HO
Lets get this straight, autozone do not diagnose vehicles, they plug in a code reader and tell you the code, that is not diagnosing a problem, if you have a lean o2 code they will sell you and o2 sensor when the chance is there are another ten things that could be causing the code, you can spend a lot of money guessing and replacing parts, you are better off taking your car to a shop and paying an hours diagnostic fee and replacing the corrrect part first time around.
I get asked all the time at work, can you clear my check engine light? i tell them sure we can do that, its an hours labour to hook up the scan tool and diagnose it, then they say, oh i just want it cleared, "jiffy lube do it for free", people do not understand, the CEL is on for a reason, to alert you of a problem, I do not clear lights unless the problem has been fixed, jiffy lube, autozone and napa cannot diagnose CEL, they just tell you the codes,
I get asked all the time at work, can you clear my check engine light? i tell them sure we can do that, its an hours labour to hook up the scan tool and diagnose it, then they say, oh i just want it cleared, "jiffy lube do it for free", people do not understand, the CEL is on for a reason, to alert you of a problem, I do not clear lights unless the problem has been fixed, jiffy lube, autozone and napa cannot diagnose CEL, they just tell you the codes,
PS I like tigger too...lol
10-22-2008, 09:56 AM
#18
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Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
All autozone can do is read a code and guess at replacing a part, if you put a part on and it works its nothing but luck.
Last edited by XJ Stryker; 10-22-2008 at 10:07 AM.
10-22-2008, 11:00 AM
#19
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Year: 2000
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Lets get this straight, autozone do not diagnose vehicles, they plug in a code reader and tell you the code, that is not diagnosing a problem, if you have a lean o2 code they will sell you and o2 sensor when the chance is there are another ten things that could be causing the code, you can spend a lot of money guessing and replacing parts, you are better off taking your car to a shop and paying an hours diagnostic fee and replacing the corrrect part first time around.
I get asked all the time at work, can you clear my check engine light? i tell them sure we can do that, its an hours labour to hook up the scan tool and diagnose it, then they say, oh i just want it cleared, "jiffy lube do it for free", people do not understand, the CEL is on for a reason, to alert you of a problem, I do not clear lights unless the problem has been fixed, jiffy lube, autozone and napa cannot diagnose CEL, they just tell you the codes,
I get asked all the time at work, can you clear my check engine light? i tell them sure we can do that, its an hours labour to hook up the scan tool and diagnose it, then they say, oh i just want it cleared, "jiffy lube do it for free", people do not understand, the CEL is on for a reason, to alert you of a problem, I do not clear lights unless the problem has been fixed, jiffy lube, autozone and napa cannot diagnose CEL, they just tell you the codes,
10-22-2008, 11:06 AM
#20
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Year: 1990XJ/1989MJ
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0L Renix
hey man,in no way am i coming down on you for doing things right,it's just that heres how my luck always goes: a couple years ago i took my 98 zj to the shop cause it was shifting out of first very late,they charged me $80 for diagnosis and said it was the pcm and would be $750,well i had just paid them $400 for fixing the rear end and didn't have the extra $$,so i bought a used non-returnable computer for$275..well that didn't fix it,took it back to the shop another $100 for them to diagnose and fix..a sensor...they had no explaination as to why they told me it was the pcm the first time and this was the dealer!! now i still take my wifes 04 expedition to the shop to get worked on but for my stuff..well at least autozone can give somewhere to start looking..so i see both sides of the coin
10-22-2008, 11:54 AM
#21
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Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You can get stung pretty badly if you are not careful, If I diagnose a problem i make sure I am 100% before i tell a customer what it needs, 1. because the customer wants his car fixed the right way, and 2. If it comes back to my shop, I have to work on it again for free. Most mechanics work on 100% commision, no work no pay, so I for sure make sure the problem is dealt with correctly the first time round.
I can say this, dealerships are the worst at diagnostics, the have the parts on the shelf and they just keep swopping stuff out until they get to the root of the problem , it seems to be trial and error rather than diagnosis, ask me how i know this....
There is no way someone should have to pay more money because they have been given a mis-diagnosis.
I understand why people want to look at their cars themselves, I do not trust anyone to work on my stuff, at least i know its done right if i do it myself(most of the time anyway)
I can say this, dealerships are the worst at diagnostics, the have the parts on the shelf and they just keep swopping stuff out until they get to the root of the problem , it seems to be trial and error rather than diagnosis, ask me how i know this....
There is no way someone should have to pay more money because they have been given a mis-diagnosis.
I understand why people want to look at their cars themselves, I do not trust anyone to work on my stuff, at least i know its done right if i do it myself(most of the time anyway)
Last edited by Olivegreenxj; 10-22-2008 at 02:25 PM. Reason: I Stoopid
10-22-2008, 06:30 PM
#24
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Year: 1987
Model: Comanche
Engine: I6 4.0L
great tool and i must say i agree with olive here considering im headed down the path to become a TECHNICIAN not mechanic now vehicle systems are so complex these guys have to work there *** off to learn how they operate and hey plugging a car into a computer isnt my cup of tea but long gone are the days of being able to listen to the motor run or drive it around to find a problem
Sounds like you got a great tool and now you can keep your jeep running at peak proformance
Sounds like you got a great tool and now you can keep your jeep running at peak proformance
10-22-2008, 09:23 PM
#26
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Year: 1990XJ/1989MJ
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0L Renix
Manager at my local AZ said he looked for 1/2 an hour to find the plug to check on a dash lite on a 76 Chevy pick-up. Turns out he never learned when OBD stuff started. He was a manager who was 20 years old and was going to college as a business major. Had never worked on cars but knew how the books worked a a store so was hired as a manager.
10-22-2008, 10:08 PM
#28
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Year: 1989
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10-22-2008, 10:11 PM
#29
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Year: 1989
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