Jim Grant's Tech Tips
Scheduled Maintenance
Q:
In a MSN article they
mentioned that a service should be done on the manufacturer's schedule,
not the dealer's. Is the manufacturer's schedule what is listed in the
car manual? This also shows major service at 30k miles. On the Ford Web
Site it just refers you to the dealer for the maintenance schedule. How
do you find the correct "manufacturer's" recommendation?
A:
I suggest using the
maintenance schedule in the Owner's Manual as a guide. The Owner's Manual
provides the guidelines for required maintenance for warranty purposes
and suggested maintenance to keep your vehicle operating safely and reliably.
When a customer comes into our shop and asks what type of service their
vehicle needs we'll refer to the Owner's Manual as a guide. The manual
is clear on defining service intervals and maintenance that is often overlooked.
As a consumer you should maintain records in the event a warranty issue
should arise and be on the watch for redundant type service. For example
in New Hampshire the annual state safety inspection program covers much
that is suggested for safety and service inspections on the Owner's Manual.
Asking a repair shop or dealer to perform that work again is redundant
and adds needlessly to the cost of keeping your vehicle in good operating
condition. The Owner's Manual is a good guide, but like most things in
life a little salt and common sense can get you a long way.
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