Right to Repair

[camera doctor 25]

Click link

"Massachusetts voters resoundingly passed the “Right to Repair†ballot question, meaning the new law requiring automakers to provide independent repair shops as well as dealers with easy access to the computer codes needed to diagnose complex car problems will need to be reconciled with compromise legislation passed after the ballots were approved.

Legislators could also decide to re-approve the compromise. The regulations are the first of their kind in the nation.

Under the ballot legislation, automakers are required to make diagnostic and repair information available to independent shops and dealers through a universal system by 2015. The compromise legislation, passed in July, gives automakers until 2018 to comply with new regulations. "

Moving in the right direction ??

I see similar restrictions in my repair industry, and it is good to see Govts getting involved.

[my_e36 43]

Good move, but do the car manufacturer have to make the diagnostic EQUIPMENT available as well?

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2959]

Another good reason for car makers like BMW to stop developing new technology if they have to then give away all their knowledge.

If a repair shop needs to be told how to do something, are they really the right place to take the car?

[*Glenn* 854]

Getting the info is easy....buying the tools to do it is the difficult part

[camera doctor 25]

I think what they are saying is that all manufacturers will need to comply to a 'standard' diagnostic sytem ( I guess like OBDII was supposed to be )

That way independent garages can invest in one system that will work for all brands.

I do not see how that can effect R&D at the different brands ?? No trade secrets are being asked for, just standardisation of diagnostics.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2959]

That's not how I am reading it at all, the part that is of interest to me is in bold below...

"automakers are required to make diagnostic and repair information available to independent shops and dealers through a universal system by 2015"

US consumer legislation is very good at this sort of thing, especially for non-US companies. Diagnosing the problem is one thing, fixing it is another.

It does mention the diagnostic codes in the article, but then there is the addition of the second phrase. Would like to have a look at the whole legislative document. I wonder who will foot the bill to supply this wonderful new "universal system" and whether the users will have to pay any fees to access this information?

[*Glenn* 854]

The manufacturers, especially the Europeans have now decided they can't stop the copying of diagnostic & written material. They are now introducing their new wave of protectionism by manufacturing cars that need a special tool to do everything... and I do mean everything... it's getting stupid. The same way they are introducing technology for the sake of technology and getting away from what a car is meant or should be used for.

[jeffbebe 1560]

If a repair shop needs to be told how to do something, are they really the right place to take the car?

So an auto repair shop needs to be able to understand all new technology in brand new cars or they're not worth their salt? How do they do this without some kind of training or information?

That seems a bit over the top to me, mate. Even BMW's own repair shops have to be given some instructions on how to repair the new technology (and how it works) - shouldn't that information be available to everyone... Some people even like to repair their cars themselves. Isn't that fair trade?

Nobody's asking them to share the product technology (how to build it) before it's released.

In my experience organisations that share their IP tend to be more successful than those that jealously guard it.

[hybrid 1043]

When you buy a car you dont own the copyright of the design of the software. Copy protection for cars .. or Dongles for cars had to come at some point.

But people will always find away around it.

Its a shame that theyre going to encrypt the firmware in the MCUs though. It means a lot less for the enthusiats to be able to do.

But what will happen is someone will just copy the tool and market that. Kind of like copying a sky decoders decryption keys.

[jeffbebe 1560]

Good point, Josh. Once your technology's in the market, someone will find a way to replicate it, hack it, mod it, etc. There's always likely to be a blackmarket for that kind of stuff but why make it difficult for genuine operators who just want to service cars for their clients.

I certainly wouldn't want to change mechanic just because I bought a new car - and in fact that would influence my decision to buy. If he told me the car in question wouldn't share enough info for him to service it adequately, I'd look for a different car.

[*Glenn* 854]

But what will happen is someone will just copy the tool and market that. Kind of like copying a sky decoders decryption keys.

That will always and always has happened. What I find wrong is having to buy a $1,000 worth of tools to change a alternator belt. An example is the new BMW 3.0 Litre diesel motors..they don't use tensioners anymore. It uses a special limited life multi rib stretchy belt