Scary thing these days is they can write so many things into code that you don't know about... think VW diesel scam a few years ago.

-Its easy for the manufacturers to make the engine peppy and responsive when you test drive it... then after you buy it the performance slowly scales back so it meets pollution and MPG guildlines.

-Or after a random number of miles/time it starts running crappy and throws a code that tells the Dealer to change a certain part, even if its not faulty. Then it goes back to running fine until the next fake issue!

-Or aftermarket parts can't be made because they wont release the codes to talk to the control computer.

I think Right to Repair will make some of that more difficult for the manufacturers.

Alot of this is already implemented with the laws governing OBD2....same scenario. You dont need a 5k tool to diag or change fluids in your car, yes you may need a generic scan tool but you can still do it. That cheap scan tool will also give you the fault codes for your car and that will be less info than the dealerships scanner but you still can do it.

As for remote hacking....pretty hard to do honestly as the bricking technology is pretty good besides if your worried about people hacking cars/planes you better walk instead as it would have already been done.

Something to ponder before you start into me over this....do you want some backyard mecanic playing around with the HighVoltage battery system on your car?....do you know how to safely work around 600v and 500amps?....things have come a long way from the GMC days of basic cars, there is very little Joe Home Mechanic can do on any of these Hybrid and Etype vehicle...even dealership techs have to be qualified to do it.

This thread seems to have stimulated some interest -- even though we're
immune with the GMC. So it was interesting to find
in today's Georgia "Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin" an article on
the same topic, regarding tractors. Farmers are facing the same dilemma:
They MUST use the manufacturer's technicians and new and used parts on
their recent models. Not certain how many companies enforce that policy,
but John Deere does, according to the article. State "Right to Repair"
laws have so far failed to pass. It's a bad situation when a tractor dies
in the midst of a harvest and the scarce technicians are already busy --
not to mention the uncontrolled expenses.

Ken H.

Today's cars are more appliances, than transportation. No user parts
inside. They, for the most part, all resemble a Toyota Camry, even once
proud brands like you could instantly recognize, like a Chevrolet Impala
have gone over to the "dark side". Is this a good thing? Big brother seem
to be just fine with it. If our socialistic leaning politico's have their
way, we will all be driving plug in, performance limited, cookie cutter,
Frigidaires with wheels, or, better yet, crammed into public transportation
like they do in Japan.