Lawmakers debating "right to repair" bill - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Lawmakers could eventually decide on a vehicle "Right to Repair" bill. It would give Hoosiers the right to choose any mechanic - even for a "dealership only" repair.

Indianapolis mother Shamecka Collins just spent more than $1,000 to repair her SUV. Her mechanic had to dig deep to diagnose engine problems.

"They went through the computer and everything to see how much everything would cost. I had the transmission and the wheel bearings and everything done," Collins said.

Independent car repair shops, like Pete's Service Center located at 49th and Pennsylvania Street in Indianapolis, try to stay "technology savvy" to compete for business. The 2011 Right to Repair Act could help by requiring all dealerships to share information like repair codes.

Most of the repairs at Pete's are easy to diagnose. But occasionally, what may be considered a dealership-only type of repair comes through.

"When we set out to diagnose problems, it could be a bad valve, could be a bad hose. We just need to find out what is going on and this is what we mainly do with codes," said Pete's general manager Eric Grabovsky.

The Right to Repair Act allows consumers to choose a service provider for the diagnosis, service, and repairs. Plus, it forces dealerships to make repair information available to independent mechanics. Dealerships must also make info on repair tools available under the bill.

In the service center at Dreyer and Reinbold BMW in Indianapolis, mechanics access computer-generated repair information. It turns out that any consumer and independent repair shops can already access the same info online.

"They basically have access to everything we have access to: codes, repairs, bulletins, stuff like that," said dealership service manager Mark Lazaro.

The information is not free. User's fees range from $30 and up. Lazaro stressed although they want to remain competitive, when it comes to sharing repair information, it's about the customer driving away happy.

The Right to Repair Act is in committee right now. The bill surfaced in April 2011 and immediately went into committee for further consideration. Massachusetts lawmakers are already in the process of passing their own version of the bill. Other states, like Indiana, could eventually take up the same issue.