Pretty simple fix

By Boston Herald Editorial Staff  |   Tuesday, July 13, 2010  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Editorials

The “right” for an independent mechanic to repair any car that drives into his garage is hardly enshrined in the Constitution. Still, the pending “right to repair” bill that would give mom-and-pop shops access to the same repair information that dealers have (for a price) is in the interest of Bay State consumers. The Senate has passed the bill; the House should, too.

Certainly a car manufacturer has the right to require that a vehicle still under warranty seek repairs at a dealer shop.

But that mandate shouldn’t live on after the warranty expires, and that is effectively what happens when manufacturers are stingy with repair information on today’s ever-more complicated new cars.

Independent shops complain that, while they can subscribe to manufacturers’ repair Web sites, the most detailed information and computer codes are often withheld. (A task as simple as turning the “check engine” light off after a repair is complete requires a code.) That can limit consumers’ ability to shop for the best price by forcing them to go to higher-cost dealers.

Manufacturers don’t want to give up proprietary information and fear that the law would lead to the overseas sale of aftermarket tools. But supporters of the bill say there are sufficient protections built in. It would be helpful if the two sides could negotiate a compromise; without one, consumers need the protection of competition.