Pep Boys Complaint - When the light goes on... stay away from Pepboys - Pepboys FREE check engine light diagnostic

Posted by MRM on 2009-11-13:

If you can afford to pay a $89.99 service, then surely you can afford a $50 OBD-II Scanner which gives you diagnostic codes. Dagnostic scanners will save you alot of money from being ripped of from repair shops.

Posted by MRM on 2009-11-13:

Presently, there is a sale on Actron OBD-II Scanner for $50 at Pep Boys. Get yours today and save alot of money from being ripped off!

Posted by Ytropious on 2009-11-13:

If the OP has a post 1996 car that would be a great idea MRM. Personally my car is too old for scanners so I have to jump it myself and read the code flashes. Still, it's free so I can't complain.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-11-13:

autozone will usually do a "free" diagnosis, but just give you a read out of what could be wrong. The people doing it aren't certified either.

Posted by Golden Rule on 2009-11-16:

Ytropious, yes my car is too old... 1993. How do you read the code flashes by yourself?

Posted by Ytropious on 2009-11-16:

It depends on the car, I'll try to find the website I used. In the mean time try finding a diagnostic manual for your make and model, there's usually some info in those on how to do it.

Posted by Ytropious on 2009-11-17:

I found the site I used but it's for Hondas only. Try searching for your car's make or model and some combination of "paper clip car jump engine code". That also explains why the free diagnostic did not apply to you, because it physically can't. And actually 89.99 is less then what honda wanted to charge me for the same service when I asked about my engine light, so I wouldn't say you were ripped off or anything, but it can be done for free.

Posted by Golden Rule on 2009-11-19:

Well, Ytropious, thanks for all your help. I'm not sure what to do at this point. After waiting 4 hours on 11/13/09, I asked Pep Boys if they would please let me take the car and go home. I asked them to mail me their findings and an estimate for the cost including having them smog the car for me. I called back on 11/16/09 and was told the estimated cost was approximately $2,500 and they were preparing to mail me the information. I live about an hour away from them so I called again on 11/18/09 and was told it should have been mailed out already. It did not come in today's mail either so I called Pep Boys again. I left a message with the service technician again. The clock is ticking on my smog requirement and I feel like my hands are tied.

Posted by Ytropious on 2009-11-19:

Oh I completely understand, my state has a similar "e-check" and my car has an engine light that's always on. Can't do the check if the engine light is on. Can't get the green light to renew my plates without the e check. I can make it go off temporarily for the check luckily, but states that have that check just need to get rid of it, it causes more trouble then it's worth.

I'd find the way to get it to throw the code yourself, find a forum pertaining to your car and ask for advice on fixing it, IE take it back from pep boys asap, because if you're handy at all a lot of part swaps can be done yourself. My problem would require a part that's pretty cheap, it's just not causing enough issues to change right now. Hope it's something small like that for you. Depending on your state you might also be able to get an extension for car troubles. My state has a clause like that where you can basically get a free pass until you fix your car. I'd look into that.

Posted by Golden Rule on 2009-11-22:

Thanks for such helpful advice, Ytropious. I thought I was safe because Pep Boys is a "name brand." Too bad they're not a reputable company. They don't have my car anymore, but I'm still fighting with them to get my paperwork... I don't even have a receipt at this point. Anyway, I'll check with the DMV regarding getting an extension and I found a website with instructions on reading the codes... http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Read-Codes-From-Your-Check-Engine-Light-Fo/

I'm off to fight the good fight. Thanks again :)

Posted by MRM on 2009-11-22:

GoldenRule, I applaud you for researching on how to read the diagnostic codes. I love my diagnostic scanner as it saves me alot of money from being ripped from repair mechanics.

Posted by 98Bird on 2012-01-18:

Not very clear by your review what you told nor committed to have done to your car. The free diagnostics was probably them plugging in a scanner to read the code(s)....then they'd can just give you the codes verbally or on a piece of paper, which are 4-digit numbers for each error code. They won't mean anything to you unless you want them to analyze and offer a solution(s)....this is probably what they charged you $89.99 for. And if you had the work done by them, they usually credit you this $89.99. I hate Pep Boys and don't trust them, but this doesn't sound like any scam. Maybe a little high and should be around $50, but not unusual business practice. You should have said that you want this free diagnostic and that's ALL. And waiting 4 hours....well that's just because they had other people ahead of you.