Can AutoZone be held liable for fixing your check engine light if they scan it and sell you a part because they sold diagnostic time as interpreted by the federal govt?

Answer 1

I am not sure about the wording of this question. The fed doesn't mandate that a shop or repair facilty sell you anything, as if to say that you must buy what they say is wrong. The owner always has the final word as to what gets fixed on their car and what doesn't. It's up to you. When they scan a car, they are simply asking the car's computer to give the trouble code that caused it to turn the light on. The definition of that code is mandated by the fed. In other words, a P0452 has to mean the same thing that it does on a Ford, Chevy, Hyundai, VW, or any car sold in this country. However, that code does not actually tell you what is wrong. It tells what system there is a problem in(like the EGR system), or what symptom the car is having(like it is running too lean). It takes a technician to figure out why there is a problem in that system, or what is causing the symptom that set the code. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to Autozone if they gave you the wrong info. A lawyer might tell you differently. One of my best sources of work is these auto parts stores trying to give out free diagnostics, and getting it wrong. I see cars all the time that people went to get something for free, and end up spending way more in wrong parts replaced, than what they would have if they would have just come to see me in the first place, and they still have to come to me afterall. I didn't really understand your question, but I hope I gave you what you wanted anyway.