Noticed how many newer cars are coming without dipsticks now

I was reading through a service bulletin last week and it said something like 40% of 2024 models don't have a transmission dipstick anymore. You have to hook up a scanner just to check the level. Is that going to make things harder for us independents down the road?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.grace6d ago

Right because NOTHING says "progress" like making you buy a thousand dollar scanner just to check if you have enough transmission fluid. Pretty soon they'll seal the hood shut and just tell you to drive until the car screams at you. Bet the engineers who designed this also think buttondowns are a good substitute for actual buttons.

patricia_king236d ago

Got a buddy who works at a chain shop, and last month a newer Honda rolled in with transmission issues. Took him over an hour just to find the right procedure to check the fluid on their scanner. Turns out the car had a leak but the computer didn't flag it because the temp wasn't in the right range. He said back in the day you'd just pop the hood, wipe the stick, and know in thirty seconds. Now you're chasing down software updates just to do basic diagnostics. It's not even about the cost of the scanner, it's about how they're gatekeeping basic maintenance behind a paywall and a laptop.