"What happened to all those garages that you could bring your car in and they would give you a free estimate on whatever was the problem?."

...........went out of business due to lack of funds ?(likely). The scan tool might quickly bring up a code but that doesn't always mean "replace part". What does a "fuel trim" code tell you to replace?

OBDII was simply created to force manufacturers to use the same codes for the same parts as before that there were no standards and many manufacturers had their own code #s that weren't the same as the next car. The idea was help independant shops to (hopefully) be better prepared to diagnose a code as all fuel/ignition codes
should then lead to same parts by code # (but realize that a given code doesn't always mean that's the bad part).

I've been in the auto business 24 yrs now and have never worked in any place that does FREE diagnostics. It will always be 1 hour unless it's something very simple and obvious such as the customer who left his gas cap loose after re-fueling. Why? Because if I were to begin diagnosing auto problems for free then that's all I'd ever be doing because everyone and his brother would be over just for the free diagnostics, then either go elsewhere for the work or do it themselves and I'm sorry but I need to pay my bills too. Do you work for free? I highly doubt it.



Now, yes.....IMHO no one would want to own many of todays cars once the warranty expires because some of them will definately keep your bank account active. Try to also consider that the shops, technicians didn't create these problems but they're trying to make a living by repairing todays cars. Most of our customers aren't the do-it-yourself guys like many people here, they're typically people who don't ever open the hood and don't want to.
I'm not saying that techs should take advantage of the situation and over-charge their customers, but a fair charge is perfectly acceptable.
Most professionals in other fields don't give free estimates for anything either these days, try asking your doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician or lawyer once (just a few examples).