Hi Peter,

I never give a diagnosis without looking at the car and I never(or rarely) have a "quick look" I tell them I have not time to do a positive diagnosis so there is no point as I would be guessing. I tell them it could be a hundred different things causing their problem so best book it in.

Some will book it in but then not show up cos the garage down the road "scanned it and fitted a lambda sensor" on demand. Some wont book at all and keep going to local garages till one will do it on demand and the sensible ones book it in and turn up at the agreed time. AND they are usually more than happy to pay whatever it costs and generally leave you to get on with it.