Autozone B.S., in california?

Check engine light came on so I went to Autozone in Millbrae, and the two sales reps told me that they do not run diagnostics because it is illegal in the state of California ever sice last week. Is this true?

Originally Posted by dippin330

Check engine light came on so I went to Autozone in Millbrae, and the two sales reps told me that they do not run diagnostics because it is illegal in the state of California ever sice last week. Is this true?

I hope so for my selfish sake LOL!!! I think the issue is what they were using the codes to do and the emission laws you have out there

I noticed another thread mentioning that their local stores were no longer offering the reset. I don't remember what state that was, though.

Be sure to understand the difference between what Autozone does for free (OBDII) and BMW specific - like our Peake Research scan tools.

Click the 'Everything you ever wanted to know about Peake tools' article in my sig for details.

ken@bimmertools.com if you have any questions.

Good luck,

Ken

Originally Posted by jbeurotech

I hope so for my selfish sake LOL!!!

Amen, brother.

it would be illegal for them to "clear" the codes. I dont think there is any legality issues with scanning for codes.

Thanks ken Ill look into that.

Yea I asked them to scan for codes; not clear anything out.

yup this is true

my friend works at a kragen right now, and he told me that thats how all the car parts stores are.

supposedly people would get their obdII codes scanned/cleared and when there were still problems with their cars, they would blame it on autozone/kragen/etc for "doing something to the car"

What one guy told me was that Autozone employees are by law prohibited from taking their OBDII scanner, walking out to your car, scanning the codes and then clearing it.

He told me that I have to be the one to do it, and I can't just take the took, go outside, do my business and bring it back. I have to lay the deposit down (make a transaction), then I can take the took outside, do my business, and then return it for my deposit back.

He said the employees can't actually scan your codes, at least in California because they arent mechanics...

Originally Posted by NorCal Einstein

What one guy told me was that Autozone employees are by law prohibited from taking their OBDII scanner, walking out to your car, scanning the codes and then clearing it.

He told me that I have to be the one to do it, and I can't just take the took, go outside, do my business and bring it back. I have to lay the deposit down (make a transaction), then I can take the took outside, do my business, and then return it for my deposit back.

He said the employees can't actually scan your codes, at least in California because they arent mechanics...

werd, they've actually been doing this as long as I remember. Every place I've been to just needs your credit card that they put in the box the OBDII scanner was until you bring it back.

yeah, just pay a deposit to borrow the scanner, scan the ecu yourself and return the scanner for a full refund of the scanner.

Every time I've "loaned" the scanner, they charge me some amount, $170 or so...cant remember.

And then when I return it, they put the order in to credit my account back.

i got my cam sensor replaced. went back to the place. told them they didnt clear the code FOR THE CAM. Fukers cleared every code i had!!!
is this the kind of law suit were talking about?

If it makes you feel any better, the fault codes for your camshaft position sensor are still logged in your car and can be pulled up with GT1 or Autologic.

i work at an autozone and they tell us not to clear the codes on a car, i do it though, just as long as they seem cool and wont come back in mentioning it to people.

Dont ask them to inside, ask them to scan the car and when they have the codes ask them if they can reset it. if they say they are ot allowed to do it, ask them if you can hit the button yourself....it is just one button that says "erase" and thne you hit enter.....

i tried to get them to scan a ses light for me months ago and they wouldnt do it...in california they dont do it for free...they lend u the tool and charge u a 150 deposit and refund u once u return the tool

So when's Cali due to sink into the Pacific?

I used to get my codes scanned at Checker's. They no longer do it. One store said it was because someone sued them. The other store said that we have to do it ourselves, then when we went down they said it was broken.

Come on guys get your own scanner from eBay.
Even the GT1, brand new, costs 4000 USD from eBay.
For course for the guys like us. 4k is a lot, but for 150 USD you can get a pretty good tool that not only read and reset errors, but also allows you to enable/disable OEM settings of your car.

My 2 cents