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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.

The various computers in new cars are not something that the automakers really wanted to integrate into the cars. When congress ratcheted up the CAFE standards for emitions, there were not very many ways they could meet those imposed standards. They could reduce the cars weight, but making a car lighter usually means making it less safe in a crash. They could move to smaller engines, but who would want to by a new car if the engine is smaller and less powerful than the same model from a year or two earlier. The only other way to increase engine efficiency and reduce emitions beyond what had already been acheived in the 1980's was to use on board computers to monitor the engine and transmission and make constant, rapid changes to the fuel delivery, timing, ignition, etc. How else do you think we could have 6 or 8 cylinder engines that produce well over 250 horsepower and still manage to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 mpg?

On the issue of the computer fault codes, those will not remain secret for long. Someone who has access to them will eventually post them on the internet. Automakers are wasting time and money trying to keep these secret.

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.

Your salesman, like most, doesn't know what he's talking about.

Your truck doesn't have seven computers and they don't cost $1,000. to replace, they are covered under warranty and can be bought used when the truck ages out of warranty. Sounds like the salesman was either attempting to justify the price of the truck or just blowing hot air and attempting to appear knowledgable. He isn't.