One of the local stealerships wants that much just to hook up the computer and turn my dam foglights on! I mean, cmon. I wasn't looking for something for nothing, but DAM. And he said that they "might run into something, and then it would be $86". I literally had to laugh it off.

So, I take it that the stealerships would be the only place with the Starscan computer? I already have $190 tied up in these lights, including the HIDs. What problem could they run into that would double the already-outragous initial cost?

Shoulda just went with a kit that I could hardwire to a switch, but I guess this is what I get for trying to go the "easy" route.

 

go to a different dealer, or go at a different time and ask a different guy. or walk into the shop and slip a tech a $20

 

Yep thats what you get.. Sorry man.. Start calling around all the shops in your area, even the small ones.. Its a long shot but you never know.. My brother found this one really small diesel shop up here that can flash his computer on his 05 F350 with all the new updates cause they accuired the "illegal in canada" (so you are stuck going to the dealership) program from the states somewhere illegally.. So its possible to find that ****, its a computer program they use, look at the crap you can find on the internet that ppl pirate! Not every dodge employee is a straight arrow!!

 

Yeah, I just called around. Another one, 20+ miles away, said it would take an hour to do, and charge me $79.99! I mean, wtf. Now the $42.50 sounds good, lol. IDK, the directions for the lights also had directions for the Starscan. They are either very vague, or incomplete, 'cause it didn't look like an hours worth of work.

Sorry for the rants, just didn't expect all of this (money wise)

 

well you can buy http://www.automotive-diagnostic-too.../ch9400-am.htm

Then you can ask dodge to become a dealer so they can give you access to the flash modules on their website.


If that doesnt work then....you're out another $50-$100. Hope you use those fog lights everyday LOL

 

That's actually at the lower end of what I've heard from guys taking it to the dealer to be done. Although I've seen posts by a few who have had the dealer do it for free, most often guys have said $75-$90 to have it done.
You can always call around, if the dealer you bought from won't do it for free, you may want to let them know that if you find one who will, it will be the next place you buy a truck from and send all your friends, might be worth a shot...

 

Just noticed you are in Lynchburg...didnt they close down the dodge dealership there? I lived in the burg for a few years. There arent a lot of choices in the area. Could try calling places in like Richmond and Greensboro...larger cities have more competition so you might get a better price.

 

Billy Craft (Honda) built a Chrysler dealership on 221 (forest). Thats where I went first. They shut down John P Hughes across the river (madison heights). Theres one in Altivista, but the whoever I needed to talk to wasn't there. The one in Bedford is who told me $80. Roanoke is an hr away, to far for this.

Hammer- I wish I could use that tactic, but I bought my truck used, from a mazda dealership, of all places. I kinda showed my *** a little in there today, it just went through me like fire. But, oh well, what the hell can I do? Got my hands tied really, kinda like in 'Hold em, Im basically pot-comitted now.....

Im gonna call the ol' man, see if he's in cahoots with anyone at any of these dealers..... time to start dropping names now!

 

Lol, that site says the whole computer is $4850. The first service guy told me they charge so much to pay for the "$40,000" machine.

 

First off, any mechanic that has been approved for use on the Starscan tool should know exactly where to go and turn that feature on. There's even written instructions in the computer database as well as a menu to search from i'd imagine??

I'd just pony up the $42.50 so your not hacking into wires just to go around the issue. I would actually talk to a mechanic personally and see what the deal is. There are book times on how long it would take including boot up time of the machine..etc This...Ohh it may take longer if they run into issue's is nonsense. What possible issue's other than them not knowing WTF to do could be of a problem? I wouldn't pay for their stupidity...
The whole reason Chrysler created this set-up...$$$$ for the dealers. All dealers around my area won't go below 1 hour diagnostics regardless if it's a 10minute job. And all the diagnostic labor charges are at or most are above the labor wage. Average around here is $85-$105/hr