I went to Autozone yesterday to rent a code scanner for my GF's car and to my surprise they had a sign posted on the door.

"Effective Immediately, due to a new California Law, we are no longer offering the OBD scanner as part of our Free Tool Rental Program. All OBD II sales are final"

WTF?!

No California Penal code of Vehicle code was sited. Upon inquiry, NO ONE in the store was able to tell me new law.
Google shows several other car forums reporting the same problem, so far the "law" remains a mystery.

I understand the liabilty issues AutoZone faced but they did so knowingly and having the State tell them they can't rent OBD scanners is absolute B.S.
ie; your CEL comes on, you go to Autozone to clear the code, your car explodes on the way home, you sue.

On the other hand: the State is screwing places like AutoZone because if your CEL is on, odds are the average consumer is just going to walk inside to buy a part to correct the code.

I'm researching this later today and I'll update this thread once I find out exactly what the Governator is up to now. (you're killin' me Arnold, you're KILLIN' ME!!!)

till then, here's a few cheap code scanners if anyone needs one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94169

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46030

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94168

 

Don't forget the scanguage II as a viable alternative. May not be as cheap as the ones you listed, but it's a decent one with a lot of options.

http://www.scangauge.com/

Oh......your links aren't working..........it will get them to Harborfrieght, but that's about it.


Funny..........we will see if this spreads. The Autozones in Florida(at least in my area) will read the codes for free and will of course reset it also.

 

I think it has to do with our super strict Emissions laws in CA. If you have a CEL light when you go get a smog test, you fail.

Maybe they think this will stop people from trying to 'cheat' the smog test?
Resetting the code wont' fix the problem though!!! Maybe they don't realize that?

 

It's probably not a law, but a regulation. CARB, a agency of the governor, decided that this wasn't good so they formed a new regulation. The federal government works like this all the time.

 

I dunno, but the state ref is suspended

http://smogcheck.ca.gov/

 

-scribed

 

I feel for you guy's in Cali.
No wonder people are moving out of the state faster than they are moving into the state.

 

That sux...

 

lol. damn i actually reached for a tissue to squash that bug on my screen.

good lord.

 

Gotta move to AZ! haha

 

Good Lord, $40!

Just buy one you cheap Karleeforneeyans!

S

 

^ 40$ is alot of money

 

My CEL's on right now. How long will a cleared code stay cleared? Long enough to get you thru a smog check?

 

Kinda depends on what's causing it.......which should have you more concerned than just passing emissions.
Anyway, it could come back right away if the computer goes polls whatever is causing the problem. This could happen on start-up, could happen during a drive cycle, could happen after several drive cycles, it all depends on what code you are throwing.

 

Oh I know it's the catless race pipe I put on I was just wondering how much time I'd have after clearing it before it comes on again. Either way I'll have to put the cat back on to pass visual inspection.

 

so what kind of scaneer is good for the rx8???

i want to really do some work on it
since im taking my automotive classes

 

There are many, do some searches.
It needs to be CAN bus compatible.

 

I talked to a few people in several auto zone's, according to them (of course their information is diluted), it is not a law nor a CARB regulation, but the result of a class action lawsuit with dealers, repair centers and smog test centers stating that end users "are not qualified to deal with the information provided by a code reader"
...

Now i have to buy one :|

 

^Super Autobac's

they don't advertise their use of it...but if you ask them at the service shop, they should hook you up...their scanners also decode