Accessing trouble codes.
 

A friends son has a 2006 Colorado. His Check Engine Light is on. Is there a simple way to access the codes without a scan tool and without driving down to AutoZone?

No. Anything after 1995 is OBD II and must use a scan tool to retrive codes.

Thanks. I hate that. I drive a Dodge. It is OBD II. I can turn the key ON-Off-ON-OFF-ON and the odometer will display the codes. All vehicles should be that waty. Why make your customer buy an expensive tool he will only use occassionally. I guess that's why we have AutoZone.
Thanks.

They are not worried about the owner using a tool. They want you to take it to the Dealer for repairs. What year and model Dodge do you have?

You just have to understand, GMs not happy being bankrupt all by themselves, they want you to be bankrupt, also. That's why they built their cars this way.

I tend to agree that it shouldn't be that hard for the user to at least be able read the codes via DIC button, people that are less able to do simple diagnostics are going to be less likely to attempt to repair it and a and in turn less likely to maintain it leading to more issues....
make it easier to diagnose and fix and people are more likely to buy your replacements parts...

Which still doesn't explain why they hooked up ALL THOSE MONITORS to ONE idiot light...