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So, go out to start the car a couple of days ago, frozen solid, lights come on, but it won't start.

Finally get it started, but it stalls out after a minute. Figure it's the battery.

Call the auto club. Tow truck shows up, booster pack, test the battery, battery is good, something else is wrong, it needs to go to the shop. Not the battery, not the starter, maybe the alternator, maybe the computer is punched... something serious is going on.

Next day, shop is open, time for a tow, Two tow trucks with three guys show up, boost the hell out of the battery, try every other conceivable thing to get it running. No joy. Two hours later they tow it away.

Mechanic calls, he already has my name and number from the tow truck guys, they'll see what they can do, maybe call back later today.

Five o'clock, mechanic calls, tells me everything they did, full diagnostics of electrical system, tracked it down to three components, found a loose wire, corrosion, fixed it, test drove the car, good as new, two hours labor plus taxes = $250.

Could have been $3000.

Honest mechanics, honest tow truck drivers... found the problem and fixed it cheap, same day. Five man team effort.

I felt bad the job was so cheap, I ordered extra work to make the effort more profitable.

Pick it up in a couple of hours. Getting a free ride over to the shop.

White people.

Post Script: The Old Guy was in there this morning, had to be 65 years easily, door lock was sticking a bit, he put a little WD 40 in there, got it working too:)

Damn I love this town.

I threw in the new car battery anyways just because that other one was looking kind of suspect you know? Total Job $430, Canadian. Paid cash in full as I do. He gave me the corroded plug too:)

The locals all say he's the best in town.

So, go out to start the car a couple of days ago, frozen solid, lights come on, but it won't start. Finally get it started, but it stalls out after a minute. Figure it's the battery. Call the auto club. Tow truck shows up, booster pack, test the battery, battery is good, something else is wrong, it needs to go to the shop. Not the battery, not the starter, maybe the alternator, maybe the computer is punched... something serious is going on. Next day, shop is open, time for a tow, Two tow trucks with three guys show up, boost the hell out of the battery, try every other conceivable thing to get it running. No joy. Two hours later they tow it away. Mechanic calls, he already has my name and number from the tow truck guys, they'll see what they can do, maybe call back later today. Five o'clock, mechanic calls, tells me everything they did, full diagnostics of electrical system, tracked it down to three components, found a loose wire, corrosion, fixed it, test drove the car, good as new, two hours labor plus taxes = $250. Could have been $3000. Honest mechanics, honest tow truck drivers... found the problem and fixed it cheap, same day. Five man team effort. I felt bad the job was so cheap, I ordered extra work to make the effort more profitable. Pick it up in a couple of hours. Getting a free ride over to the shop. White people. Post Script: The Old Guy was in there this morning, had to be 65 years easily, door lock was sticking a bit, he put a little WD 40 in there, got it working too:) Damn I love this town. I threw in the new car battery anyways just because that other one was looking kind of suspect you know? Total Job $430, Canadian. Paid cash in full as I do. He gave me the corroded plug too:) The locals all say he's the best in town.

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[–] • 1 pt

You're being pedantic. No, OBD2 can't tell you exactly which wire is corroded or shorted, but it can tell you exactly which subsystem is throwing errors or non-standard codes, which tells you where to look for issues.

It's the same as saying eventvwr can't tell you which piece of hardware is failing. Of course it can't, but it will tell you what piece of hardware to look at and test, rather than running every single diagnostic possible in the hopes of finding the fault via the scattergun approach.

[–] • 0 pt

In the end there's no substitute for a set of hands and a pair of eyes yes?

[–] • 0 pt

Of course not, but diagnostic tools greatly shorten the amount of effort and time required to solve any given problem. Without OBD2 OP's repair may have cost three grand or more.