The wife’s 1999 Gand Cherokee was displaying a Check Engine light the other day and would not extinguish istelf after one or two start-stop cycles. So, we took it to two local mechanics and the first wanted $95 to plug into the ODBII port and the second wanted $90.  I knew that this was a matter of plugging their computer into the car and reading a code from their diagnostic software. Now, I understand everyone has to make a buck and get paid for their time. But, I think it is a bit ridiculous to charge someone $100 for about 5 minutes of your time and use of your equipment.  So, after I told the second shop to plug in and figure out the problem, I hopped on the computer at home to see what OBDII scanners and diagnostic equipment would cost to buy.  I found the AutoTap OBDII scan tool and software setup for $200.  Hmm, I can buy a full blown OBDII diagnostic tool for $200 and it works on any car since 1996?  The shop called a little while later and told me that one of the O2 sensors was bad and that it would have to be replaced.  They wanted $168 for the oxygen sensor and another couple of hundred to put it in.

That was the final straw. I told the wife that I would screw in the oxygen sensor myself, since it is one plug and the size of a spark plug. And, that I would order the AutoTap scan tool so that we can just do our own Check Engine light scanning in the future…for less than it will cost to have them do the repairs.  Of course, I will have to crawl under the Cherokee, but I am cool with that…I like to tinker with stuff.  Plus, I am getting tired of everything in San Francisco being marked up 300% just because they can get it.

tags: auto, check engine, obdii, repair, scan tool, tools