Posted on 07/10/2026 12:55:42 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
The simplest, dumbest, most replaceable part on any vehicle since 1912, now gated behind a manufacturer login, a subscription, and a per-flash token. If you own a modern pickup truck, you do not own a battery. You own the authorization to use a battery. And when that battery dies, the dealer will tell you the part costs $250, the programming fee costs another $150, and the labor is booked at $200 an hour.
In this investigation, we are going to expose the battery management scam, the gateway module lockout, and the AGM monopoly that turned the cheapest part on your truck into a dealership-only transaction. The first crime is hiding behind a three-letter acronym that most truck owners have never heard of. It is called the battery management system or BMS.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtu.be ...
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Why are you posting this dishonest clickbait?
Entrepreneurship 101 - Find a need/market and fill it.
Unfortunately, in places such as The People's Republic Of Kalifornia, this may not work. Long before the advent of huge auto electronics/computers, the Kalifornia Air Resources Board already had its boot on automobiles necks.
Even if your car/truck is in great shape, running very clean (the smog test up the exhaust tailpipe), the final part of the smog test is the visual inspection. No matter how clean your engine is running, you cannot receive your smog certificate without passing the visual inspection.
A buddy had an older truck, with a factory 2 barrel carburetor. He replaced it with a 4 barrel carburetor. He also kept his truck engine tuned up.
After the tailpipe test came back clean, the smog tech inspected the engine, and would not sign off on the smog certificate due to the 4 barrel carburetor. My buddy went home, replaced the 4 barrel with the 2 barrel. Then he "passed" the smog test. He then returned home, and put the better, 4 barrel carburetor back on.
“2008 (the beater) and 2013 (the garage queen). The former isn’t worth anything, but the other is very clean and low miles (70K).”
My wife’s 2014 GX460 has 46k.
The GX is a great vehicle. I’ve seen one kitted up for off-road. Luxury inside and a beast on the out.
—”Why are you posting this dishonest clickbait?”
AutoZone offers free battery testing and, depending on your vehicle’s make and model, free battery installation with the purchase of a new battery. However, complex installations or vehicle computer resets may be declined or require specialized tools.
As they say, your mileage may vary.
I had a 1976 GMC Jimmy, 350 4bbl, full time 4 wheel drive...
On a good day, with the wind to my back, I got 9 mpg
“The GX is a great vehicle. I’ve seen one kitted up for off-road. “
Even stock it is a great off-road vehicle. My wife, however, will not allow that.
—”none of my GM trucks have it”
As noted, only trucks with stop/start.
IIRC half tons.
—”replace the entire engine with a stripped down version without any electronic components other than a simple ignition and starter system.”
And the EPA will stomp on you, faster and harder than they hit the dieselheads a few years back.
Did your vehicle have the ever-popular stop/start system?
So far as I know, this is only on newer cars and trucks.
You are safe for now.
You answered your own question, he is talking about newer cars.the ones that the government mandates a camera that watches you and determines if you are fit to drive and lord knows what else it will contain.
The supreme court has ignored the Constitutional limit on copyright and lets them be permanent, Protect Micky Mouse was the excuse, theft is the result because copyrights no longer expire.
You can reset using standard OBD-II scanner or performing a vehicle specific set of steps.
Your article is fake click-bait.
I have a 2015 F-150 XLT. I bought a cheap windows 11 tablet (otherwise I am a Mac guy) for $60, a USB to ODB2 connector for $15, and a FORSCAN license for $20. Gives me access to all of my truck’s systems for less than $100. Yeah it sucks, but it keeps the dealer out of my pocket.
AUTOZONE will “loan” you the scanner to reset the code.
—”This is why I’ll keep my ‘05 F350 V8 Turbo-diesel”
A good choice.
I have been driving Toyotas for the last 30 years and have spent zero dollars on repair other that tires and batteries, these car easily run two or three hundred thousand miles. Just change the oil at 5000 miles or six months and drive. Some of the Ford V8's run that long a well. Check Facebook Market Place and you can find 20 or 30 year old Fords or Toyotas still going at 200,000 plus miles.
I thought the Supreme Court just ruled against this practice by John Deere in a suit brought by farmers. JD had been forcing customers to pay for routine service repairs using some proprietary licensing agreements signed at the time of purchase. If the tractor broke down, JD would not sell the parts to the owner, forcing them to have it repaired at a licensed JD dealer, and basically allowing JD to charge what ever they deemed appropriate
__________And get 12 MPG.
And pay $75,000.00 for the privilege.
We got a 2012 GX460 14 months ago with just under 59k miles on it.it just turned over 90k. We don’t fly, but love road trips. Family in NY, FL & NV. We live in TX
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