Time to end the Great Diag Rip-Off

[ourtomtom]

A 100.000 petition would get the matter debated by Parliament and it's about time we did it

 

[ourtomtom]

A response

A Merc Exec, told me the worst thing I had done was to look for an answer to my fault on the Forum.

 

[Frontstep]

What would be your ideal ?

 

[SL63 Mark]

A Merc Exec, told me the worst thing I had done was to look for an answer to my fault on the Forum.

Well, you have to filter some of the responses, but that's a little extreme. I have always found this forum to be helpful and knowledgeable, with input from independent specialists, and owners with 1,000s of years of combined experience.

 

[Naraic]

What is a Diag rip off?

 

[Naraic]

A 100.000 petition would get the matter debated by Parliament and it's about time we did it

There is no certainty it would get the mattered debated.

 

[Frontstep]

Well, you have to filter some of the responses, but that's a little extreme. I have always found this forum to be helpful and knowledgeable, with input from independent specialists, and owners with 1,000s of years of combined experience.

You mean Malcom ? I didn't think he was that old

 

[SL63 Mark]

What is a Diag rip off?

I assumed the OP was referring to the £150 charge for diagnostics, but could be wrong.

 

[V6Matty]

mind if we ask what your trying to accomplish? OK if the government make a ruling to abolish the cost of diagnosis on systems like STAR and only charge a time related rate it's still not going to make much difference, all that will happen is they move that cost to other things?

 

[V6Matty]

A Merc Exec, told me the worst thing I had done was to look for an answer to my fault on the Forum.

did you expect a huge response in the 5 minutes between your post??

 

[drmw]

I've seen some cryptic posts but this one is nonsensical

 

[television]

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

 

[EmilysDad]

I questioned the £108 +vat diag charge and they knocked it off ...... mind you though, they handed me my car back a week later not fixed :-?

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

So why not use an Indy......

This is my typical reply when people call me for "STAR tests" and diagnosis. A STAR test is not diagnosis, its a fault code check, in the main, thats £30. I usually do it for nothing if its a well known fault and the car is repaired at my workshop. The majority of customers offer something if I say its on the house.

Diagnosis is different, its where a fault is complicated, not known or could possibly be tricky. I usually say, give me an hour, which is £60+VAT, in that hour I will likely tell you what is wrong, or how much extra I may need to diagnose the issue. If I diagnose it in half hour, it will be less.

Most faults you can diagnose inside 45 mins. The tricky ones can take longer, but essentially you never know.

I do get frustrated on occasion when some think diagnosis is free because "the computer tells you whats wrong". I wish that was the case. My life and others would be so much easier if that were true. It does amuse me when some people seem shocked at a charge for diagnosis. I mean, a dentist charges you for a check up, for use of his surgery, kit and expertise in his field. And yet some think its free when it comes to their car when workshop overheads, tooling and expertise in a product cost thousands of pounds and years of ongoing training.

Ive said my bit.

 

[Craiglxviii]

And a damn good bit it was.

I call FAIL on part of the OP.

 

[nyx]

so many people think that star or any diag system does the technicians job entirely.
it can only tell you so much, it cant tell you the water pump is wearing or the belts are worn for example.
i have a neighbour whos renault is making a real nasty noise on startup but when i mentioned it she said the computer wasnt showing a fault so itll be ok for a few more months.

 

[television]

so many people think that star or any diag system does the technicians job entirely.
it can only tell you so much, it cant tell you the water pump is wearing or the belts are worn for example.
i have a neighbour whos renault is making a real nasty noise on startup but when i mentioned it she said the computer wasnt showing a fault so itll be ok for a few more months.

I just love that

 

[Craiglxviii]

so many people think that star or any diag system does the technicians job entirely.
it can only tell you so much, it cant tell you the water pump is wearing or the belts are worn for example.
i have a neighbour whos renault is making a real nasty noise on startup but when i mentioned it she said the computer wasnt showing a fault so itll be ok for a few more months.

If you don't want to support the OP's proposal then you're just furthering the great diag rip-off, you pocket liner you!!!

 

[SL63 Mark]

What shall we start a petition about then ?

 

[EmilysDad]

so many people think that star or any diag system does the technicians job entirely. .....

but almost the first thing that is ever said about any fault on any car here is .... get the car put on STAR