Jerry Figueroa works on a car in his shop, J&E Express Auto Service, in Oak Cliff on June 23, 2022. Today, technicians often rely on vehicle data and software just as much as they do traditional tools like wrenches and hammers, if not more. But automakers are unfairly limiting access to vehicle information and tools needed for repairs, writes Mike Dolabi.
And yes, even something as simple as an oil change might be affected by restrictions on vehicle data and software access. Independent technicians can be blocked from resetting a vehicle’s check-engine light after successful service, leaving drivers to either deal with the annoyance and discomfort of an unresolved dashboard alert or head to the dealership.Without action from Congress, a troubling experience I recently heard from one car owner could become the norm for drivers across the country.
Independent shops might be the only reasonable service option within a person’s budget or community. Over 80% of respondents in a recentsaid they take their cars to a repair shop less than 30 minutes from home.