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The codes are helpful, for a shade-tree type such as myself. I try to do my own work where I can, and the codes for my car have been invaluable. Then again, I'm an amateur, not a professional, so I do NEED the crutch!

For the most part I'm not against the codes. What I am against is pros that can't fix cars without them thinking they have some birthright to help from the government. When I bought a new truck and the salesman told me the thing had 7 computers that would cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 each to replace (and having previous experience with broken car computers I knew that estimate was in line), I then did the math and figured that of the $17,000 for the truck somewhere between $3500 and $7000 was tied up in computers. At that point I started thinking that maybe we're a little to addicted to these computers and their precious codes. But overall I'm pro car computers and their diagnostic codes (and the other things they do, they can be pretty handy). I just think that in the 70s and 80s nobody tried to force Chiltons to give their book away because some mechanics couldn't do their job without it (actually most, Chiltons kicks), I don't see why anybody needs to give away the computer codes now.