Service Engine Soon, Light
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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Service Engine Soon, Light
My service engine soon light came on. I changed the oil and it didn't go off. I took it to the dealer and they want $100 to diagnose it. Seems a bit expensive. Is there another way to find out why it's on?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
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From: CA Bay Area
$100 at stealer for hooking up a scanner and reading the codes, what takes 5 minutes 
TYPICAL
For the price you can buy new scanner, or have it scanned for free at Autozone or AAMCO.
That said, not all models will work with OBDII scanner. My 99 will not. It require different scanner.
TYPICAL
For the price you can buy new scanner, or have it scanned for free at Autozone or AAMCO.
That said, not all models will work with OBDII scanner. My 99 will not. It require different scanner.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 544
Likes: 2
At Autozone you can pull the code, which will tell you where to start looking. Depending on the code, it could be one thing, it could be more than one thing. After you pull the code, google the codes, and you should be able to find out where to look for your problem. Post them on here, and folks will be able to help point you in the right direction. If the dealer wants $100 just to pull the codes, they're ripping you off. If they want $100 for a reliable diagnosis of the problem, not so much. Remember, they have to pay wages and overhead. And most dealers in my area have to pay union wages and overhead. Lots of overhead. You can totally save a ton of money by doing things yourself, or taking it to a private shop that you trust, but while the dealer will take any opportunity to make an extra buck off of you, not always are they ripping you off.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
Auto Zone cannot diagnose the problem. Some of the better stores can read the code. The code only tells you where to start looking, it is not the diagnosis. Diagnosis takes time and knowledge, that's why the dealer charges for it. A diagnosis takes more than 5 minutes.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: St Louis
If you don't know what you're doing, hire someone who does. Dealers have invested large amounts of money in equipment and training and have a lot of overhead plus, they still expect to earn a profit. People who bitch about their labor rates are generally either clueless or jealous (or both).
You wouldn't go to a pharmacy for a heart attack or an appendectomy, would you?
You wouldn't go to a pharmacy for a heart attack or an appendectomy, would you?
New User
Joined: Jun 2011
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If you don't know what you're doing, hire someone who does. Dealers have invested large amounts of money in equipment and training and have a lot of overhead plus, they still expect to earn a profit. People who bitch about their labor rates are generally either clueless or jealous (or both).
You wouldn't go to a pharmacy for a heart attack or an appendectomy, would you?
You wouldn't go to a pharmacy for a heart attack or an appendectomy, would you?
My dad had a 07 dodge cummins 5.9 fuel injectors went out 8 times while he owned it and it was in the shop 3 times in the last two weeks he owned it. All this equipment and training must have been missing.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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Thanks for all your help. I called back the dealer and told them to go ahead do the diagnostic after all. I had some recall items that needed to be done too so I thought it would be worth the $100 to get everything sorted as I'm leaving for a big trip on Thursday and I don't want any glitches.
Next time I'll definitely take it to Auto Zone though.
I'll keep you posted as to what they find out.
Thanks again everyone.
Next time I'll definitely take it to Auto Zone though.
I'll keep you posted as to what they find out.
Thanks again everyone.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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So after charging me $100 to run the diagnostic the dealer told me that I possibly need to replace my Glow Plug Module at a cost of $400. They said this may or may not be the problem but it's a good place to start. I told them I wanted to look into it first. Does anyone know what a Glow Plug Module is. I have a 2000 PSD 4x4
Thanks
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
The glow plug module is simply the relay that turns the glow plugs on/off. It is smart enough to do basic diagonsis. I am not a 7.3 owner, but I've replaced the GPM on my 6.0 and it was a 20 minute job, and the part cost ~$120. But I didn't get a warranty. 
As for the $100, let me tell you why they charge that. Because people come in asking for diagnosis, and then when they get one they decide to take it home and do it themselves. Why the hell should they do that for free? And it costs them a lot more than 5 minutes. You have the service writer, the porter (twice), the technician, and the cashier, are all going to have their own 5 minutes on the job. Not to mention all the equipment that they put at your service. Some of you need to get a clue about how a business is run. They are not there to tell you how to fix your truck for free.
Usually, if you have the problem fixed, the $100 diagnostic is included. If you cheap out and do it yourself, they get paid.
As for the $100, let me tell you why they charge that. Because people come in asking for diagnosis, and then when they get one they decide to take it home and do it themselves. Why the hell should they do that for free? And it costs them a lot more than 5 minutes. You have the service writer, the porter (twice), the technician, and the cashier, are all going to have their own 5 minutes on the job. Not to mention all the equipment that they put at your service. Some of you need to get a clue about how a business is run. They are not there to tell you how to fix your truck for free.
Usually, if you have the problem fixed, the $100 diagnostic is included. If you cheap out and do it yourself, they get paid.
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