Local Mechanics May Get All Car Repair Codes

WATERTOWN, Mass. -- Independent mechanics will have access to all car manufacturers' computer codes if a bill moving its way through the Statehouse becomes law.

Local Mechanics May Soon Have All Repair Codes

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that every modern car has many computers, even in the tire systems. A repair shop recently replaced a tire pressure sensor on a Lexus, but the shop couldn't reset the system with the equipment they owned.

"So I now make an appointment and I drive to the Lexus dealer. They charge me a sweet $100 for a 10-minute operation that I should be able to do for my customer myself," said Tony Koles, of Montvale Tire.

Independent repair dealers are mad. Most own diagnostic computers and software, but said manufacturers won't give all the information.

"There's that 10 percent that we just can't have access to, which means you, as a consumer, you don't have the choice," said Barry Steinberg, of DirectTire & Auto.

Consumers are sometimes forced to use a more expensive dealership for service. New legislation may require auto manufactures to divulge all their computer codes -- something the industry opposes.

"I think what it would do is create more hoops and create a government bureaucracy in a place where a government bureaucracy doesn't need to exist," said Charles Territo, of the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers.

And some small repair shops like things the way they are now.

"If Right To Repair is successful, I think the best these folks can hope for is to get a more expensive and bureaucratic version of what we already have," said Rusty Savignac, of Paxton Garage.

But other repair shops complain that they've spent money on computers and software that only works part of the time.

"Business is business and the consumer is not given a choice. It's really right on the border of being antitrust," Steinberg said.