Tegger wrote:
> "A. Nonimus" <pdsnickles@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1178330454.588324.232540
> @e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:
>
>
>> Basically, what you seem to be saying is that the local Honda dealer
>> is trying to pull a fast one and convince me that I need to do
>> maintenance that I do not need to do, according to American Honda
>> Manufacturing.
>> So according to American Honda Manufacturing I do not need to do the
>> maintenance until it comes up on my dashboard?
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> That is correct.
>
> However, you may want to peruse the Warranty booklet that came with your
> shiny new car. This booklet (published by American Honda) will tell you
> what exactly you need to do to the car in order to keep your warranty
> valid,

to clarify, it specifies the service schedule, and to keep the warranty
valid, the service schedule needs to be observed correctly. but
legally, the work doesn't need to be done by the dealer - you can even
do it yourself. simply keep records of the work done, the mileages at
which it was done, and keep receipts. if you change the oil yourself
for instance, keep receipts for its purchase and make a note in the
service schedule accordingly.

> this being entirely independent of what the franchised dealer wants
> you to do.
>
> The dealer, of course (being an independent company from Honda), would like
> you to give them more money than you might otherwise bestow. What they want
> you to spend will certainly do the car good and not harm, but is it really
> necessary? Not if Honda doesn't say it's necessary. Clear as mud?

the warranty booklet kinda sorta dances the tightrope of saying the work
should be done by the dealer, without actually saying it in a way that
breaks the law, the law being that warranty /is/ legally maintained if
the schedule is properly observed. there are benefits of having the
work done by the dealer of course, but economy isn't one of them, and in
the case of san francisco honda [for example], they'll try and rip you
for spectacular amounts of unnecessary work.

to the average driver, the cost benefit of taking an evening course in
basic car tech, is HUGE. even if they never intend to pick up a wrench
ever again, they can thereafter walk into a shop and have some knowledge
of what's going on and often avoid substantial expense because of it.