Hands up who didn't see this sort of thing coming?

 

http://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/bmw-ford-vw-want-to-make-it-illegal-to-work-on-your-own-car/

 

US for now but if it gets through there expect Brussels to jump on it and attempt the same thing in the EU.

"The same goes for repairs too, the various companies want to make it so that only approved repair shops are allowed to fix certain aspects of your car."

For which said manufacturers would charge both the consumer and garage owner a fortune for the privilege. Another money making exercise as manufacturers realise they are losing revenue from independent specialists.

In the EU, they'd have to effectively get block exemption legislation removed.

Can't see it happening anywhere to be honest or not for a fair few years yet

I will stop working on my own car the day they sack their underqualified technicians and re-hire proper mechanics,N'kay ??!!

Edited 24 April, 201511 yr by faradaycage

Well you already need to use a VAT registered garage to keep warranty intact, so not that different.

This (non) story has been floating around for at least 2 years and has been debunked several times!

This (non) story has been floating around for at least 2 years and has been debunked several times!

Like the 'share this facebook want to remove it' posts the other day of St George?

 

They argue that as cars become more connected, it would be easy for people to pirate music through modified infotainment software, so tweaking anything electrical should be illegal.

 

This is hilarious considering that all you need to do to "pirate" music is to go onto a torrent site, download music illegally and stick a USB stick into the slot in your car. There's no modifying of anything required. The people who wrote this are either just copying what the manufacturers have been saying or this was written in the early 90s

Thing is there's not many proper mechanics round anymore. I got out just before all the computers started to fully take over. Worked for Vauxhall main dealer for a while (very short while) and when a car came in with a gearbox fault I asked the foreman if he wanted me to strip the box and investigate. His response? "No ones qualified to do that here, just remove it and put a new box in"? I ask you, main Vauxhall dealer, and none of the 12 Tech's are qualified to strip a manual gearbox?

3 weeks later a mint 1.4 corsa comes in with less than 30k on clock with a suspected piston ring failure, car never saw the workshop, job sheet was given straight to parts dept to quote for new engine.

Point is, some of the main dealers are horrendous and their technicians are no more qualified to work on your car than the " fitters" at quicknfit or hellfauds. Some of the bodge jobs I've seen over the years are crazy, and I certainly won't be forced to use a main dealer to have my car fixed.

In our trade mechanics are called fitters because generally that is all they do, fit a diagnostic machine to tell them what part to fit.

I work in a lot of garages from small independents to full franchised dealerships and from my experience the last place I'll take my car is a main dealer.

Yeah Nissans consult (equivalent of VCDS) not only tells you what part is at fault but also tells you what page in the service manual to refer to to replace the part.

Vauxhall now only replace faulty parts. Any diagnostics are done by computer then faulty part replaced. Very little of them actually have mechanical diagnostic skills.

No ENGINEERS around then. i served an apprenticeship as a Telecomms Engineer. Skills ,that are transferable to a lot of other jobs ,given some training. Most important, was " find out how it works, then if it's faulty, what it's not doing ,and see why". I see ,even on TV programs like "the Garage", supposedly staffed by Trained blokes, a "try this and that " approach. Give most young fitters( I hesitate to call them mechanics ) an old car with a coil /distributor and points, and watch the despair. I used to be looked on a lot of years ago, by daughter's BF and his mates as a guru of timing. None could work out that it was piston on up stroke ,coupled with spark on right lead that led to an engine running. If there is a fault- something is wrong. it could be petrol or spark on a petrol engine. Both OK, then it's timing. As the MEERKATS would say SIMPLES.

Same in the army nowadays the REME mechanics whether they be A mech or B mech ( armored or soft skin vehicles) just swap out parts.

Same in the army nowadays the REME mechanics whether they be A mech or B mech ( armored or soft skin vehicles) just swap out parts.

Because it's cheaper to do so and repairs are quicker, and send the part back for someone else to rework.

Like the 'share this facebook want to remove it' posts the other day of St George?

I see that as a sign to block someone on Facebook.

Im sure that relates to software changes in the ecu rather than peple servicing their own car at home.

Im sure that relates to software changes in the ecu rather than peple servicing their own car at home.

yeah, story mentions DMCA (Digital Milennium Copyright Act) so more than likely software copyright stuff rather than sticking on a cotton panel filter or doing your own oil change etc lol

 

As mentioned, this story's done the rounds before.