Automakers Look to Neuter Maine 'Right to Repair' Bill

techdirt.com

15 pointsDaveFlater2 comments

There's interesting videos of mechanics working on new cars floating around on TikTok. It's CRAZY how much work it can be to do repairs that you'd think are simple on the newest cars. 2 I saw recently were needing to disconnect the drive axle on a car to change an oil filter and another that required removing the front bumper to change an air filter!

I know this Bill isn't aimed at that type of thing, but it seems like even the most basic repairs are becoming nearly impossible outside of a dealer.

I recently went shopping for a Toyota gr Corolla. I asked the salesman if they could throw in the repair manual or access to it. He swore me up and down there was no manual and that there was special training needed to obtain said information. After he came back from the lead tech to tell me it's not possible to obtain. I showed him Toyotas website where you pay for access to the information.

They certainly don't want you fixing your own car and and they even go as far as to spit out generic error codes that you need special software to troubleshoot and diagnose. I swear I have a memory that this whole movement started because of cars and somehow became about phones and electronics. But I really can't verify that fact.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com