Illegal to work on your own car?
 

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/gm-for...160000229.html

"One of the inherent rights of owning a vehicle is the ability to get on one’s backside — a wrench in one hand and a grease rag in the other, and just tinker to your little heart’s desire. Since the vehicle was invented, it’s been an important facet within the community of gearheads.

General Motors — the same company responsible for 87 deaths related to faulty ignition switches, FYI — wants to take that right away from you citing safety and security issues. Along with a few other big names.

It’s called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It’s been around since 2000 and started as anti-Internet piracy legislation. But automakers want to use it to try and make working on your own car illegal. Yes, illegal. The general premise is that unlike cars of the past, today’s vehicles are so advanced and use such a large amount of software and coding in their general makeup, altering said code could be dangerous and possibly even malicious.

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2015

Listing the vehicle as a “mobile computing device,” the law would hypothetically protect automakers from pesky owners looking to alter any sort of technology in the vehicle that relates to the onboard computer. Flashing your ECU would be a big no no, which could also lead to all sorts of problems for aftermarket shops.

What GM, and even tractor companies like John Deere, argues is that you, as an owner, don’t actually own your car. Rather, you’re sort of just borrowing it for an extended amount of time and paying for the rights to use the technology. If it sounds ridiculous— it is. But it gets even more ludicrous.

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, John Deere argued that “letting people modify car computer systems will result in them pirating music through the on-board entertainment system.”

That’s right— pirating music. Through a tractor.

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2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

DMCA does give a little bit of leeway, though. While the act could hypothetically lock customers out of key safety features, it would still allow owners the ability to repair other areas of the vehicle’s onboard computer as they see fit. It’s a slim compromise, but one that may be more closely based in reality.

As it currently sits, there are 13 (!) large automakers on the list supporting the DMCA. Want to know who they are? Of course you do:

General Motors Company
BMW Group
FCA US LLC
Ford Motor Company
Jaguar Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mitsubishi Motors
Porsche
Toyota
Volkswagen Group of America
Volvo Cars North America

Ironically, one of the brands that relies most on technology in its vehicles — Tesla Motors — in not in support of DMCA. While other American companies like GM, Ford and Chrysler all agree that working on your own vehicle should be punishable by law.

Funny how three brands that pride themselves on American ingenuity don’t want customers to work on their cars."

Then all the ads on tv of brands oils, auto parts stores encourage the DIY. Those are exclusive from North America. What is next? I cant fill my tank?

From: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....their-own-gas/


In an era where full service gas pumping seems to be a thing of the past, Oregon not only still offers this type of service to its citizens but the “beaver state” also does not offer them any other choice – Oregonians are not allowed to pump their own gas! Of fifty states, only two do not allow “self-service dispensing of Class 1 flammable liquids at retail”. New Jersey is the other state that keeps its drivers in the driver’s seat when filling up their tanks.

Whoops sorry for the repost!

Oh, I am sure this one will get posted many, many more times yet.

Richmond BC, too.

Note to self: Don't move to Oregon.

I recall a trip I made up through Oregon on my motorcycle at the time (Yamaha RD 400) and I had no idea of this law. I got off the bike, started pumping gas and the dude came walking over to me asking me repeatedly if he could pump my gas for me. I said no and he seemed worried about it so I asked and he told me of the Oregon law. I apologized and as politely as possible said I don't want anyone but me putting gas in my bike. Ended up taking a detour around Oregon on the way back south.

If I recall, I believe the so-called 'mini serve' they put into law was done at a time long ago to help increase jobs and the law never got taken off the books or revisited to see if it was still pertinent/needed.

Quite interesting that he wanted to pump for your motorcycle. I live in Oregon and whenever I fill up while riding they always hand me the nozzle. They get all worried about spilling gas on your tank and would rather that you do it. I don't mind them pumping for my car though since then it's raining on them instead of me.

Ding!

And it works. Also fewer people light themselves on fire in that state. Also, it's not like you have to remain in your car either.

Maybe, but the PacNW isn't so bad when it comes to things like... having enough water. :)

Oh, I agree. And once I retire I'm thinking of setting up shop in either the PacNW or the very northeast, such as Maine. I just don't trust the kind of people that look for jobs pumping gas to do their job correctly.

News at 11, sarcastic gas attendant thinks he knows more than you? Find out why hes wrong at 11.

I drove through Oregon once on my way up to Alaska and had some 50 year old hippie pump my gas. Then a few hundred miles later I get a check engine light. I was about to drive up the Alaska highway so kind of freaked out and took it straight to a dealer. 2 hours and $79 later they told me I had a lose gas cap. :mad0259: