Remember to keep the receipts!

[sbergman27]

OK. So I hear a lot about how you have to keep your documentation in order to prove that you've done proper maintenance (i.e. oil changes) in case you make a warranty claim. But... has anyone in history who has done proper maintenance been called upon to cough up years worth of oil receipts? Can the manufacturer legally require that they do so? If the *manufacturer's* engine fails the buyer of a car with that engine... who is saddled with the burden of proof? Does the manufacturer have to prove that the owner didn't take care of it... or does the owner have to prove that he did take good care of it.

I strongly suspect the former.

Sure... if the manufacturer drops the pan on the failed engine and finds that the oil has the consistency of roofing tar, some questioning is in order.

But it seem to me that if you are doing anything close to a reasonable job of maintenance, you out to be able to file all those receipts in the round file and be done with it.

Comments?

-Steve

 

[Boomer01]

I would imagine the warranty requirements will vary from state to state. It will vary from dealer to dealer. Most likely vary as well according to which person you even speak to at the same dealer.

No big deal to save a receipt and keep a simple log. As long as you meet or exceed what the owners manual requires.

 

[meangreen01]

No receipts here. At least not beyond the 6 mo I keep all CC receipts in case of a billing descrepancy.

Just had to draw the line somewhere as my file drawers are overflowing. I keep the bigger receipts(shock, struts, springs, wheel bearings, tires, etc).

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: sbergman27
If the *manufacturer's* engine fails the buyer of a car with that engine... who is saddled with the burden of proof? Does the manufacturer have to prove that the owner didn't take care of it... or does the owner have to prove that he did take good care of it.

I strongly suspect the former.

As far as I know, you are correct.

 

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted By: Boomer01
I would imagine the warranty requirements will vary from state to state. It will vary from dealer to dealer. Most likely vary as well according to which person you even speak to at the same dealer.

Seems to me that it would vary from country to country. Remember the "Great Ford Owner Exodus" from Oklahoma to Missouri? When Ford owners in Oklahoma were driven into Missouri to avoid persecution by Ford Motor Company?

Me neither, since it never happened. ;-)

Interesting thought, though. Each person at each dealership getting to be their own little tin god...

 

[Bluestream]

I had trouble with the transmission in my Grand Am. Dealer fixed the problem, and then billed me for the work, said the transmission oil should have been changed at x miles. I paid the bill, then checked my owners manual when I got home, and there was no reference to having to change the fluid ever. I took the manual back to the dealer and showed the service manager and they refunded my money. Be carefull with them; they will rip you off any chance they get. No loyalty to customers any more, just short term money making...

 

[CharlieJ]

If anyone questions my oil change intervals, I'll tell them to take a look under my valvecover.

 

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Be carefull with them; they will rip you off any chance they get. No loyalty to customers any more, just short term money making...

Yeah. I don't have all that much experience with the dealership that I bought my car from. But just based upon the experiences I have had, I say a little prayer every night that their building will be struck by lightning... at about 2pm when the entire cast of characters is present and ready to be fried.

I'm atheist, BTW. But I say the prayer anyway. I figure it can't hurt. ;-)

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I had trouble with the transmission in my Grand Am. Dealer fixed the problem, and then billed me for the work, said the transmission oil should have been changed at x miles. I paid the bill, then checked my owners manual when I got home, and there was no reference to having to change the fluid ever. I took the manual back to the dealer and showed the service manager and they refunded my money. Be carefull with them; they will rip you off any chance they get. No loyalty to customers any more, just short term money making...


The manual Grand Am?

 

[Bluestream]

Yes, the 2001

 

[EricF]

a friend of mine had a 97 prelude si with the autostik.
at 74k, the transmission baked itself. He got it towed to the dealer, he had the extended warranty on it too.
ALL work under the warranty he had done over at the dealerships. be it in one town or another. So he's back at the dealer where he bought the car from. they diagnose it.. the ATF in it is jet black and thicker than molasses.
Well they give him a huge price of $4500 to put a new transmission in. he remembered the warranty and the service writer looked it up and yep..powertrain was covered!
They said he didn't have all of his "required" maintenance done on the car, so there's no warranty.
he had his receipts, including the worthless 60k check.
of course work was done at other honda dealerships, BUT he did have the maintenance done, and pretty much followed the owner's manual to the letter.
the service writer looked at the receipts then pulled them all up on his terminal. (what a jerk!) Then said, he owed $500 for the deductable and he got his car 3 weeks later. They had to order a transmission from japan.
they didn't offer a loaner car or offer to help pay for a rental.
jerks.
So he had another 120k super service done. I looked at the service checks.. oil change, cooling system flush.
No mention of transmission oil change OR p/s change.
I expected them to do that this time.. but no.. they ignored that too..
oops on them!

 

[sciphi]

I write down the date, mileage, and OLM % in the back of the manual on my fiancee's 2009 Honda when changing the oil. Also what grade (5w-20), and how much (4.2 quarts). Then if they want to complain, look, it's all written down. Receipts are a bit of a hassle since I get the oil on sale, not when I need it.

Major things like dealer warranty things and tires/brakes/whatnot we do keep the receipts for.

My 11-year-old Buick worth about $3000 with a full tank of gas I don't bother anymore, except for the big things listed above.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

If anyone questions my oil change intervals, I'll tell them to take a look under my valvecover.


+1.

 

[Nick R]

I think it's funny how they will "invalidate" your warranty for lack of oil change documentation or whatever, for something completely unrelated, like a ignition coil, or something.

 

[Tom NJ]

My understanding is that the dealer will ask for the oil and filter receipts if you have engine problems, and if you cannot produce them will often use this as an excuse to deny warranty coverage. That doesn't mean they are right or will win if challenged, just that they try to push off the responsibility onto you with the knowledge that most people will not go through the trouble of fighting it. If challenged, however, I believe the dealer/manufacturer must prove that the warranty problem was oil related and caused by your failure to maintain per the manual.

I find it easier to just save the receipts rather than have a legal fight should something go wrong, even though I would likely win the case.

Tom NJ

 

[robd]

Requirements depend on the manufacturer and dealer. I do my own maint and always ask (For what it's worth) "What do I need to do to show proof of maint on a vehicle?" The dealers I deal with always say just to keep a log, but I also keep the receipts anyway. I also found that the Toyota and Honda dealers in this area try to do anything they can to not honor some warranty claims. Just to be safe always keep a log and receipts.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
My understanding is that the dealer will ask for the oil and filter receipts if you have engine problems, and if you cannot produce them will often use this as an excuse to deny warranty coverage. That doesn't mean they are right or will win if challenged, just that they try to push off the responsibility onto you with the knowledge that most people will not go through the trouble of fighting it. If challenged, however, I believe the dealer/manufacturer must prove that the warranty problem was oil related and caused by your failure to maintain per the manual.

I find it easier to just save the receipts rather than have a legal fight should something go wrong, even though I would likely win the case.

Tom NJ


+1

 

[bundy]

My local Nissan dealer required proof of at least one rear diff fluid change when my 2004 Titan's diff went out last year at 57K miles(ate it's own spider gears). He made copies and sent them off to the regional warranty rep for Nissan. I change the fluid every 20K and keep a detailed service log with all my receipts so it was replaced at no cost to me.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: bundy
My local Nissan dealer required proof of at least one rear diff fluid change when my 2004 Titan's diff went out last year at 57K miles(ate it's own spider gears). He made copies and sent them off to the regional warranty rep for Nissan. I change the fluid every 20K and keep a detailed service log with all my receipts so it was replaced at no cost to me.


What were the warranty requirements for differential oil changes?

 

[M1Accord]

This is why I don't buy new cars. You pay big bucks for the warranty, which isn't worth much unless you have those thieves at the dealership do your maintenance. They probably will do the minimum just to get you pass warranty and you'll be stuck with a piece of junk right after warranty.

I prefer to buy used and bargain it down to the earthly, roll the dice price.