After three days of typical questions and responses I have decided to create a new television show:
Are you smarter than a Service Writer?
Typical questions:
"If I don't change my oil in 37,152 miles is my warranty still valid?"
"How much engine oil should I have to put in my brakes?"
"The red light with the squiggly lines and the thermometer on it has been on since last week, did I hurt anything?"
Who wants to help sell this?
Never work, too high brow. Most people would never understand the answers
oh i do, i do!!!
JmfnB wrote: "If I don't change my oil in 37,152 miles is my warranty still valid?"
I think the answer to this one is yes, it is still under warranty. I seem to remember reading that if oil change was a condition of warranty that the manufacturer had to provide the oil changes for free.
My answer of yes assumes that oil changes are not free and the car has a warranty period greater than 36k miles.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
"My truck is making a funny noise."
jrw1621 wrote:JmfnB wrote: "If I don't change my oil in 37,152 miles is my warranty still valid?"I think the answer to this one is yes, it is still under warranty. I seem to remember reading that if oil change was a condition of warranty that the manufacturer had to provide the oil changes for free. My answer of yes assumes that oil changes are not free and the car has a warranty period greater than 36k miles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Actually, the Magnuson-Moss warranty act specifies that if a particular component (oil filter or similar) is required to keep the warranty in effect then the manufacturer has to provide that item for free during the warranty period. Otherwise, the owner is free to use a part or service center of his/her choosing and it will not void the warranty UNLESS! a particular failure can be traced to that component or service. Then the manufacturer has the right to deny that claim. It does NOT void the warranty on the whole car to go aftermarket with anything (common misconception).
Such as: customer buys a car, has Wal Mart change the oil. The aftermarket filter they used fails and clogs the internal oil passages. The manufacturer of the car is not responsible. Flip side: customer has Wal Mart change the oil, the parts they use did not fail and a part inside the engine seizes. The manufacturer is responsible. BTDT. Or, the radio barfs. Not related to routine maintenance no matter where it's done, manufacturer is responsible.
Had a customer with a Citation , I know, years ago, who never changed or checked the oil. Blew the two center rods out the block. Chevrolet replaced the short block but she had to pay the rest.
I knew the head service engineer for a large marine diesel outfit....
Rich folks don't do maintenance, but then like to sue when their $50,000 engine blows up because noone checked the oil in 300 hours of offshore pounding...
Rich folks don't do maint... but they do do lawyers.... 
Long story short, the company found out it was cheaper to just give engines away than to fight, even obviously bogus, claims.
Correct, Magnuson-Moss states that replacement parts can come from qualified sources, but I think you will find that your vehicle maintenance schedule never dictates when you MUST change the oil.
I have always seen the words "should, recommended", etc. I can not comment for all cars but my Volvo manual reads:
"The maintenance services outlined in this book should be performed every 10,000 miles* (16,000 km). The extended maintenance service intervals make it even more advisable to follow this program. Inspection and service should also be performed any time a malfunction is observed or suspected."
http://apps.volvocars.us/ownersdocs/1995/1995_850/95850_8_1.html#pg8.3
jrw1621 wrote:JmfnB wrote: "If I don't change my oil in 37,152 miles is my warranty still valid?"I think the answer to this one is yes, it is still under warranty. I seem to remember reading that if oil change was a condition of warranty that the manufacturer had to provide the oil changes for free. My answer of yes assumes that oil changes are not free and the car has a warranty period greater than 36k miles. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The oils changes may be required to be free, but it's the owner's responsibility to bring it in.
I'd watch it. 
Why does this light come on? i don't even like tea
Parts counters are just as bad. I need a 24 OZ waterpump.
I think this show would be as successful as Top Gear. Because the same people would "get it".
Actual conversation between my wife and a mechanic at a shop.
Mechanic: "Ma'am, your engine has seized. I see no oil in it all all. When was the last time you changed your oil?"
My Wife: "Is that something they do when they pump your gas?"
That was her first car when she was 16.
As I've been driving around, I've come to the conclusion that there is an easy way to tell if you're following or parking near someone who cares about their car and therefore their driving.
Basically, it is this: If they still have the dealer installed license plate surrounds or something incredibly cutesy and stupid, they're generally sheeple. If the surrounds are simple or look cool then they typically aren't bad people to follow or park near. I've seen some that are old and weather beaten advertising for car lots that don't exist anymore! Why advertise for a company that likely brow-beat you for hours just to take your money? F-ing sheeple piss me off sometimes.
I think for someone in the service industry, this would be a good way to tell who the customer might be before they open their mouths and remove all doubt.
I have a dealership surround.... the one I work for. Does that make me a sheeple?
Of course :)
No, it wouldn't but that would be discovered fairly quickly by noticing that you actually know how to drive and conduct yourself on the road.
The majority of the ones with dealer or cutesy surrounds I generally give a larger cushion because I expect them to go all shiny on me and put me into a poo-flinging rage. I mean, I'm driving a damned Highlander while it isn't a bad ride, a sports car it isn't!
Dumbass: "Can I turn my daytime running lights off?"
Service writer: "Not really, but I will check"
Service writer: "No"
Dumbass: "That's Stoopid"
Service writer: "I agree"
Dumbass returns a week later with his car in tow: "My car will not start"
Service writer: "Okay, what happened?"
Dumbass: "I got on VWVortex and someone told me about a patch"
Service writer after vehicle is inspected: "It will be three hours of labor to reprogram your computer About $300.00"
Dumbass: "Why isn't it under warranty?"
Service writer: "Ask VWVortex"
While I agree that Dumbass is a complete dumbass, 3 hours to reflash the stock programming seems ridiculous. Punitive damages?
1 hour diag (trying to figure out WHY we can't access anything) two hours flash and drive.
I agree on the cutsey and dealer plate surrounds. When I owned a new car, everytime it went in for something, it came back with one of those surrounds.
One time it went in while I had one of those smoked covers on.. it still came back with the dealer surround.. they just put the smoked cover in the trunk.
I'm sure that you could give back the pile of dealer plate surrounds, covered in gasoline and aflame... Sorry, stuff like that irks me something aweful.
The manly-est men need nothing to surround their plates.
What if that old surround of a dealer that doesn't exist any more said "Yenko?"
fiat22turbo wrote: ... If they still have the dealer installed license plate surrounds or something incredibly cutesy and stupid, they're generally sheeple.
I have a GRM license frame
Would that make me a "cheaple"?
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