I get it done at autozone so it may depend on the store. You can buy scanners for pretty cheap and they are good to have so you may want to look into it. But if you're not looking to spend any money then I would find a forum for the type of car you have and ask local people if they can do you a favor.
I have my own scanner... they are worth having. You may want to call another Auto Zone and ask if they will scan it. If not try Advance Auto parts. They are direct competition. They may do it for you.
This one is pretty cheap in price. I would buy it:
autozone i worked there. as long as your car is 96 or newer no problemo. if it is older than 96 and American made autozone can also do free diagnostic. if it is 95 and older and foreign you are out of luck. hope this helps.
It depends. AutoZone's policy at EVERY store is to give a free diagnostic reading on any car 1996 and newer. if your car is pre 1996 then your kinda screwed, although since you didn't tell us what kind of car you drive it defeats the purpose of trying to tell you how to read your own diagnostic code without a scanner. Diagnostic scanners are even part of AutoZones FREE Loan-A-Tool program.
it must vary from sore to store because all of the auto zones around this area(indiana) do have this service for free.....advance auto parts also has this service free of charge