Diagnostics reading charge 75 euro

padunne

Hey guys,
Got a quote off citroen dealer in galway for a diagnostics reading as there is something wrong with car that local mechanics cant pinpoint. 75 plus vat
Just wondering is this reasonable and have i any other options or is this the best one as it will give me a definitive reading.

nogoodnamesleft

Seems the going rate.

As far as I know a mate was charged 90euro at a VW main dealer.

A guy here at work has a C5 and wanted to install a OEM CD changer into the factory fit headunit in the car he sourced it for £50 from ebay. The dealer wanted something like 80euro as the C.D changer function has to be enabled using the diagnostic computer.

Might be worth while investing is a simple diagnostic reader for you car.

Anan1

I don't think you'll get it a whole lot cheaper, TBH. That said, i'd be trying to find a specialist with the code reading equipment, as apparently there can be a bit of an art to interpreting the results.

Owen

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Might be worth while investing is a simple diagnostic reader for you car.

Simple diagnostic readers will only tell you the basics. They're no replacement for specialised equipment like the Launch, or GT1, etc. Dealerships invest thousands in the right equipment, and some spend additional money annually to make sure their equipment covers the latest models. If they were charging 20 euro a pop to diagnose faults, they'd be a long time making the money back.

king_of_inismac

My local mechanic said he'd run the diagnostics (VAG com) on my golf for 20 euro.

I just want an error cleared, so he won't get work after it either.

I think the 75 euro is a bit much tbh, but I know people on here will disagree.

VAG-Com for example costs about 250 (I realise having diagnostics for all cars is a multiple of that).

kildare.17hmr

your being charged an hours labour, this will be minimum charge in many garages. €75 is a high rate tho

Owen

king_of_inismac wrote: »

My local mechanic said he'd run the diagnostics (VAG com) on my golf for 20 euro.

You can use any laptop with a USB OBD Reader bought cheaply off ebay for VAG Com, hence the 20 euro. Apples and oranges when compared to the ridiculously expensive OEM kits dealers are forced to buy.

padunne

Ya thats what she said an hours labour. 75 i thought was high but i suppose it is a main dealer. If i knew someone around who could read it id go with them but i dont. I also thing it will be a hard enough problem to find as no lights are coming on dash and car is driving fairly fine. Tis an odd problem. Car is 1.4 petrol btw. Year is 2000 but she said they can read that.

Neilw

PaintDoctor wrote: »

You can use any laptop with a USB OBD Reader bought cheaply off ebay for VAG Com, hence the 20 euro. Apples and oranges when compared to the ridiculously expensive OEM kits dealers are forced to buy.

A cheap usb lead will not allow you to access all the features of vcds. The genuine lead is $350, the software license is built into the genuine lead.

pajo1981

.

Owen

Neilw wrote: »

A cheap usb lead will not allow you to access all the features of vcds. The genuine lead is $350, the software license is built into the genuine lead.

That is cheap compared to OEM equipment!

kildare.17hmr

But the cheap kits that are on ebay, altho very handy and something that should be in everyones toolbox, are very limited in what they can do. there fine for simple engine codes just reading and resetting but thats as far as there use goes. we have the snap on modus in my garage, 12k when we bought it and a few hundred each year for upgrades, we have about 80+ attachments for the cable which cost a nice few quid each, its top class but we still have to bring some cars into main dealers to be read and have certain faults cleared like airbags for one.

Padraig Mor

You could PM Row from these forums - he has the correct interface and lives in the Galway region i believe.

DublinDilbert

padunne wrote: »

Ya thats what she said an hours labour. 75 i thought was high but i suppose it is a main dealer. If i knew someone around who could read it id go with them but i dont. I also thing it will be a hard enough problem to find as no lights are coming on dash and car is driving fairly fine. Tis an odd problem. Car is 1.4 petrol btw. Year is 2000 but she said they can read that.

What are you actually paying for? 1 hour to read out what codes? or to pin point the problem? There's a big difference.

They might just give you a print out with what ever trouble codes are on the car and that's it. You might not be any closer to solving the problem.

padunne

Didn't relise they wouldn't explain the codes to me. There is no actual fault registering and id say it would be found quickly by the main dealer. She said it would take an hour to hook up to car and run a diagnostic. Now im thinking they prob will just give a readout. I dunno il pm row and see sure.

Row

padunne wrote: »

Didn't relise they wouldn't explain the codes to me. There is no actual fault registering and id say it would be found quickly by the main dealer. She said it would take an hour to hook up to car and run a diagnostic. Now im thinking they prob will just give a readout. I dunno il pm row and see sure.

Hi padunne,
I can plugin for you if you want.
whats wrong with the car...??

padunne

Hi row,
car is 1.4i xsara. problem is engine shakes when idling and when passing 70. hard to explain but once you sit in it u will know what i mean. seems like tracking other than the fact it does it when stopped at idling.
just wondering will you even be able to find the fault on computer as some mechanics cant figure it out. most wanted to strip head and i didnt want them because compression is sound.
when it happened i had changed the timing but mechanics says this is okay. i think it could be mounts or timing but keep gettin told its not. thats why i wonder will a comp diagnostic help.
where abouts in galway are ya

Row

padunne wrote: »

Hi row,
car is 1.4i xsara. problem is engine shakes when idling and when passing 70. hard to explain but once you sit in it u will know what i mean. seems like tracking other than the fact it does it when stopped at idling.
just wondering will you even be able to find the fault on computer as some mechanics cant figure it out. most wanted to strip head and i didnt want them because compression is sound.
when it happened i had changed the timing but mechanics says this is okay. i think it could be mounts or timing but keep gettin told its not. thats why i wonder will a comp diagnostic help.
where abouts in galway are ya

It does sound like timing.......did this start since you got the timing belt changed....??
I'm working in Galway City but live a few miles from Claregalway.
Ron.

kerten

Before paying 75 Euro, make sure they will diagnose problem and tell you which part is faulty.

Recently our mechanic suggested us to go to dealer for diagnostic of abs light on dashboard. He used obd2 reader and get abs sensor signal missing error. He wasn't sure if sensor or ring in hub was faulty. This is why he asked us to go to dealer for exact diagnosis.

Result: dealer charged 86 euro for opening wheel hub and looking at bearing and ring in it.And they told us faulty item can be one of the belows

- Abs sensor
- Bearing
- Abs Ring
- Hub

They calculated price for changing all of them, and give it as a diagnostic result.

This is not diagnostic, this is listing all parts involved abs system on a single tyre for 86 euro. A 5 years old can say that if you change all parts, you will be ok. We learned our lesson well.

I would go to a competent mechanic. If there is not a engine fault light on dashboard, I don't expect computer diagnosis will give you a clue.

galwaytt

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Simple diagnostic readers will only tell you the basics. They're no replacement for specialised equipment like the Launch, or GT1, etc. Dealerships invest thousands in the right equipment, and some spend additional money annually to make sure their equipment covers the latest models. If they were charging 20 euro a pop to diagnose faults, they'd be a long time making the money back.

That's a false premise: they don't buy the diagnostic gear for walk-in's: they can't do their own job without it either, so the diagnostic gear is an amortised overhead, over all jobs, both diagnostic and otherwise. Not forgetting that a little 'customer service' would go a long way, btw....

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Seems the going rate.

As far as I know a mate was charged 90euro at a VW main dealer.

A guy here at work has a C5 and wanted to install a OEM CD changer into the factory fit headunit in the car he sourced it for £50 from ebay. The dealer wanted something like 80euro as the C.D changer function has to be enabled using the diagnostic computer.

Indeed. I fitted an OEM iPod connection to our Saab 9-3 and ran in to the same issue- the aux function had to be switched on via dealer diagnostic's, which cost €80. I really can see no justificition for it, tbh. Esp when we bought the car from them as well.....

kerten wrote: »

Result: dealer charged 86 euro for opening wheel hub and looking at bearing and ring in it.And they told us faulty item can be one of the belows

- Abs sensor
- Bearing
- Abs Ring
- Hub

They calculated price for changing all of them, and give it as a diagnostic result.

This is not diagnostic, this is listing all parts involved abs system on a single tyre for 86 euro. A 5 years old can say that if you change all parts, you will be ok. We learned our lesson well.

I would go to a competent mechanic. If there is not a engine fault light on dashboard, I don't expect computer diagnosis will give you a clue.

Just goes to show, all computers are prone to SISO.









**** In, **** Out......

padunne

Row wrote: »

It does sound like timing.......did this start since you got the timing belt changed....??
I'm working in Galway City but live a few miles from Claregalway.
Ron.

Ya to me its timing or injector or something. Was thinking it probably wont even register on the diagnostic. Might stay away from main dealer so as the car still drives grand. Have gotten used to it now.

Another thing i was told is that one of the pulleys may be damaged: as in it looks right but the cam or whatever on the shaft has slightly twisted. Therefore timing looks right but in fact is not.

Row

padunne wrote: »

Ya to me its timing or injector or something. Was thinking it probably wont even register on the diagnostic. Might stay away from main dealer so as the car still drives grand. Have gotten used to it now.

Another thing i was told is that one of the pulleys may be damaged: as in it looks right but the cam or whatever on the shaft has slightly twisted. Therefore timing looks right but in fact is not.

If you want i have the laptop with me today and am in Galway....5 mins would pick up any faults logged.....don't worry i don't charge anything near what the main dealer charges....;)
Ron.

padunne

Sound row,
Wont really be back home in galway for about wekk or so but might get in contact with ya then. Will let ya know. Thanks

Row

padunne wrote: »

Sound row,
Wont really be back home in galway for about wekk or so but might get in contact with ya then. Will let ya know. Thanks

No problem...pm me if you want meet up.
Ron.