New Chevy - hard to start.

mkirsch wrote:
Maybe you now better understand why modern mechanics have no other choice but to rely on the computer diagnostics?

No, I don't understand it at all. It should be ONE tool that is used. But if you have a problem, and the "computer doesn't code", and you still have that problem, then it's something the computer is NOT telling you.

THEN if you're a mechanic, and expect to receive payment for diagnosing the issue, then a customer needs something besides a "the computer gives no code." That's not an explanation ...

These guys at VARA went beyond that - checked for kinked lines, for example, and others. They didn't stop at "no code", and we talked about why and what to look for as well. And came up with some possibilities. But at the moment, it's running fine, so I'll see what happens in cool, damp weather next time and hope nothing.

I'm hoping it was a glitch - but that idea "no code = no problem" is not the correct answer. We may never find out why unless it happens again, but the "no code means it runs fine" is simply a cop-out if a problem still exists. IF it doesn't code, and you still have a problem, then the next step becomes "get your hands dirty".

We had electronic diagnostics for some things in the navy too, on the submarine I served on. When we couldn't find it the simple way, we didn't say to the skipper "Opps, no code Captain" run the boat without this pump (or whatever) we began at the source and tracked every line, wire, circuit and every component by hand until we fixed it, including sometimes manufacturing a temporary part on occasion.

It can be and might be (at times) an issue the "code reader" won't read. If so, then it needs a mechanic that can take the next step.

In this specific case, we could not reconstruct the same conditions (cold, wet, rain) because we are traveling - but if we'd been home, we could have waited until the same conditions existed, and then it may have done it again (we can't know at this point) ... but that fact of "on the road" impacts the way we had to attack this issue.

As for now, I'm happy it runs fine, and hope we never have to find out again. But am also happy with the dealer who took the extra steps, even tho we have no result at present, we do have lots of info to compare if it does happen again. But I hope it never does it.