ilocke

iTrader: (11)

I searched and found this topic, so forgive the slight ressurection, but is no one concerned about voiding warranty on not taking the car to a dealer for these types of maintenance items?

I spoke to the service manager who stated I'm welcome to do it myself, but if they find a problem they determine is a result of my "screw up" on the oil change they will not cover it. I know I know, how can you really screw up an oil change, but my concern would be the dealer trying to give me the shaft saying I overtorqued the filter, or the problem was the result of lack of oil change, since I can't "prove" when I changed it.

Any concerns on this?

IS-SV

I won't offer to do it for you since my billing rate is minimum of $100/hour.

My local dealer will come to your office in mobile service van and will do it for $69, plus top off other fluids, etc.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Why can't you prove it? Do you not keep the dated sales receipt when you buy the oil and filter?

Regardless of which, in order to legally deny a warranty claim, THEY have to prove that you did NOT. (or that you DID do something that -caused- the problem.

09 LEX 250

redline 5-20 ftw

silvaIS

iTrader: (2)

i just paid $85 for mobil 1 and free full serv car wash....

ilocke

iTrader: (11)

Well, since buying oil does not equal changing oil, I figured there might be concern with the legitimacy of proof.

Interesting opinion on the warranty claim, but I wonder what constitutes proof on their end. I wonder if they really do have to prove I didn't change the oil, or if they only need to point out I have no proof that I did.

Oh well - just wondering if anyone else was concerned. I'll probably end up just doing it myself.

Janizary

Sounds to me like your dealer is (surprise) trying to intimidate you into using their services.

llamaboiz

i've been going thru this thread and warranty issues aside here are some of my thoughts:

DIY vs taking it somewhere:
Look guys, yes DIY is very easy but not everyone is mechanicly inclined like others so they pay for it, nothing wrong with that.

example: Look were all using computers here to chat on this board, so how many of you are on a 'build your own' rig vs teir 1 (dell/hp/sony)? So for those of you not on a DIY rig why dont you make one yourself its EASY, all you need besides the hardware is a #2 philipshead screwdriver, arctic silver, an old business card for the arctic silver and a pair of tweezers for the jumpers, how hard is that?

So... if you 'look down' on some guy for not being able to change his own oil, i'll 'look down' on you for not being able to build your own puter...


Taking oil to a shop:
How do you know that the guy is putting in your 'higher grade' oil? It would be so easy for them to put the case of the good stuff in their trunk and fill you up with their house oil... course if you sit there and watch them the whole time~ no problem.

being lazy:
well... theres a reason why most americans are overweight and its NOT cuz of our genes...

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

BTW, I build my OWN PC !

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

The Mangunson Moss act, a federal law, requires that the dealer -prove- that the failure is -caused- by something you did (or failed to do). The burden of proof is 100% on him. Without doing so, he can not legally deny your warranty claim.

If you wanna be uberparanoid you can also keep a logbook when you do your own stuff... dated logbooks and diarys are generally admissible unless they can provide some evidence as to them being falsified.

(disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, just somebody who has never had a warranty claim on anything denied, but HAS had to quote the MM act to accomplish it)

Big Mack

iTrader: (1)

I agree with Kurtz. I change my own oil in every vehicle I own, and have never had a warranty issue be denied. I refuse to pay what dealers or service centers want for a quality oil change (Mobil 1 for me) when I know I can do it in less than a half hour for 1/3 the price or better.

Oh, and I too build my own PC's.

Big Mack

ilocke

iTrader: (11)

Thanks for the info. I think that is sufficient to make me comfortable, haha. I've got my first oil change coming up, so it looks like I'll be doing it myself. Thanks again.

UCLAJimmy

iTrader: (2)

EZ-LUBE is a cheap place to change oil. It cost 25 dollars to change oil with a coupon. They use mobil oil.

Hollings

For reference: Mobil 1 5w30 is $26.00 for a 5-quart jug at Wal-Mart in Arkansas. I also bought 4 filters and 4 oil plug gaskets (seriously, for 60 cents or whatever they cost you might as well) from Sewell Online. I got enough for 4 changes so the shipping doesn't eat your savings.

That's impressive!

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Build my own PCs, my own network, secure networks for Fortune 2000 companies...yeah, computers are easy.

Change my own oil, build my own engines, and port my own heads (and some select customers). It's pretty easy too, but tiring for sure. I also subscribe to TIS so I can be sure at least the Scion/Toyota/Lexus cars I own and work on are done right by the book (anybody else dodge the price increase on May 5th? Up to $400 a year now, but still cheaper than any other manufacturer by a factor of at least 5).