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TIL some repair shops are charging $200 just to hook up a diagnostic computer

Stopped by a shop near my place in Austin last week to ask about a check engine light on my old Freightliner, and the guy told me it's $200 just to plug in. I get charging for time, but that seems like a lot for something that takes 5 minutes. Has anyone else run into shops doing this?
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luna_kim40
luna_kim4018d ago
$200 just to plug it in? That's insane.
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casey393
casey39318d ago
I get why it looks crazy on the surface, but sometimes paying a bit more upfront saves you headaches later. A legit installer isn't just plugging it in, they're checking your electrical panel, making sure the circuit can handle the load, and securing everything so nothing catches fire. If you hire some random handyman for cheap and they mess up, you're looking at way more than $200 in damage or repairs. Plus most of them include a warranty on labor if something goes wrong within a year, so it's kinda like buying peace of mind. Have you had a bad experience with an electrician before or is this just sticker shock?
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