Auto data monopoly

Maintenance/Repairs
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I read an opinion in the local newspaper concerning auto manufacturers preventing independent shops from accessing systems and data required to repair modern vehicles. The author is a successful shop owner with seven shops in Central and Western Maryland. He believes if this effort to force consumers to use dealerships for maintenance and repairs is successful, it will end indie repair shops and DIY repairs. Has anyone had to turn away work because they can’t access the information needed for repairs or system resets? If the manufacturers offer subscriptions, about how much do they cost, and will the subscriptions put you out of business?

On the positive side, there is action in the US Congress to prevent this from happening. IIRC Deere tried to do this with their off road equipment and laws eventually stopped the practice.

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This has been going on for a while. The movement to counteract this is the “Right to Repair”.

I thought this was settled decades ago when the same thing was happening in the computer industry (specifically IBM). The computer industry lost this decades ago. I figured it would also apply to the automotive industry.

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The information IS available . . . for a price

The auto manufacturers provide a means to subscribe to their technical information websites, which provide all the service manuals, wiring diagrams, trouble trees, TSBs, etc.

Shops can also use pass-thru devices to flash modules . . . again, there are fees involved

The factory physical devices . . . scanners and what not . . . are also available for a steep price, afaik

And then there are aftermarket information providers, such as Identifix, Mitchell, Chilton, Alldata, etc.

I’m not sure I completely agree that a shop “can’t access the information needed . . .”

Information is a commodity

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As a professional technician, former shop owner/operator, shop manager, and currently working for an OEM, here are my observations:

No one is forcing anybody to use the dealership for auto service and no independent shops are “locked out” from information or ability to repair cars. I have yet to hear of an OEM that has refused to provide factory level information or tooling to the aftermarket. Note: I’m talking about mainstream automotive, not niche brands or John Deere farm equipment.

There are of course a small number of exceptions, mostly related to security/anti-theft systems. But no one wants there to be quick easy access to stealing cars.

Those who are complaining about not having access to tooling or information are not willing to pay for it. Maybe because they’re not willing to charge properly for it either? These are often the shops that advertise free diagnostics or lower labor rates than the competition.

The last shop I ran had several fleet accounts, the majority of which used Ford products. So it was a no-brainer for the shop to spend $5000 a year to gain $60,000 worth of service and repair. We did not have a very high Nissan car count, so we didn’t invest in that equipment and sublet out what we needed. Simple business decisions.

There are some hardware issues. For instance in the past if you wanted to buy Nissan Consult to do factory level repairs you had to have a dedicated laptop, you couldn’t install their system on a laptop that also had Ford or GM installed on it.

People who expect service info for free are nuts. Even back in 1968 when your entire vehicle service manual could fit in one book, you didn’t get the book for free. You had to buy the manual.

Never. That doesn’t mean I’ve always had everything I’ve needed to complete a repair. If I diagnosed an engine computer that would need programming, and I couldn’t do it myself, I sublet the programming.

Here’s my opinion: Information and software subscriptions are just tools and equipment like wrenches and jacks. If your car needs new brakes, you have to buy the tools to do the work. If the shop down the street wants to do an alignment, they have to buy an alignment machine and a hoist. How is software and a scan tool any different?

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I’ve got nothing to offer as far as the question goes. And this is a bit of a side-subject to it.

But figured I’d say, though I think we’ve had this conversation before, that as far as I’m concerned, if I buy a car then it’s “data” belongs to be along with the rest. And I’ve bought rights to the software - it’s in there running my stuff. As such, I should at least have full access to those data - meaning full software mucking about capabilities. (E.g., if I have a Toyota, I should have full access to Techstream for as long as I own the car). I already know that some others don’t agree.

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He said that some, not all, of systems and data were available by subscription but that it would cost him tens of thousands of dollars to get what he needs. With seven shops maybe he can afford the subscriptions but others might have trouble. The opinion piece was in last Thursday’s Baltimore Sun on page 15 if anyone is interested. He is advocating for legislation titled REPAIR Act.

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IMO, the legal problem here is that “open access” to manufacturers’ repair manuals may run–head-on–into IP Law. AI provides a simplified explanation of Intellectual Property, and the legal protections that are available for the creator(s) of such:

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce, that are given legal protection to grant their creators exclusive rights and encourage innovation. These rights are similar to owning physical property, allowing the owner to control the use and benefit from their intangible assets. Types of IP include patents for inventions, copyrights for creative works, trademarks for brand identifiers, and trade secrets for confidential business information.

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That sounds like an inflated number, used to try to scare people. OEM service access is available to purchase for less than the cost of a breakfast sandwich every day, meaning you can get what you need by buying anything from a 2-day subscription to a full year depending on your needs.

You want factory level complete access to anything and everything to repair and program a Ford product? Buy a subscription to Ford Diagnostic and Repair System:

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You work on a lot of GM cars? Service Information is available to you as well:

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Maybe you need Toyota software as well. That can be had as well:

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You’re working on a Chrysler product and found that the TIPM has failed and needs to be replaced and configured. WiTech provides access by the VIN and each separate vin requires a separate yearly subscription, for the princely sum of…$35

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Now granted these prices don’t include hardware, but any repair shop in business today that is doing this level of repairs is already using several laptops and interfaces and has the entire facility wi-fi’ed, etc. Or is the business in question one of those discount places that takes over every old 2-bay gas station and muffler shop?

Bottom line, if you’re replacing a power window switch that needs factory level programming (yes that exists), and you can’t find your way to a $22 3-day subscription to do the work, you’re not fit for this industry.