Question about Car - 30,000 mile maintenance

[fuzzwonder]

to the person who said manuals don't have tranny fluid isn't correct. they still use the lubricant, and the norm for my car would be to change it out for redline. as for the OP, i don't plan on doing anything till 100k. i had a honda that went to 300k before i donated it (still running) on just a clutch, belt, and mobile 1 oil changes every 10k.

[West]

[ QUOTE ]
Pulled this off a Canadian Mazda dealer website:
This is the 48,000 Km maintenance schedule. I think your dealer is trying to screw you.

Schedule 3

Replace engine oil
Replace oil filter
Inspect function of all lights
Inspect brake and clutch fluid, power steering fluid, washer fluid and coolant level
Inspect tire inflation and tire wear
Lubricate all locks and hinges
Inspect disc brakes (front and rear) and lubricate caliper slide pins/rails
Inspect A/C operation
Inspect cooling system, pressure test cap and system for leaks
Inspect fuel lines and hoses
Inspect brake lines, hoses and connections
Inspect steering operation and linkage
Inspect suspension components front and rear including ball joints and driveshafts
Inspect driveshaft dust boots

Schedule 4

Replace engine oil
Replace oil filter
Inspect function of all lights
Inspect brake and clutch fluid, power steering fluid, washer fluid and coolant level
Inspect tire inflation and tire wear
Lubricate all locks and hinges
Inspect disc brakes (front and rear) and lubricate caliper slide pins/rails
Inspect A/C operation
Inspect cooling system, pressure test cap and system for leaks
Inspect fuel lines and hoses
Inspect brake lines, hoses and connections
Inspect steering operation and linkage
Inspect suspension components front and rear including ball joints and driveshafts
Inspect driveshaft dust boots
Inspect emission hoses and tubes

Additional operations

Every 56,000 km: Inspect drive belts tension
Every 56,000 km: Replace air cleaner element
Every 60 months / 72,000 km: Inspect exhaust system and heat shields
48 months / 96,000 km then every 24 months thereafter: Replace engine coolant
Every 120,000 km: Inspect valve clearance audibly, adjust if noisy

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks I was able to find a manual online that had similarly different schedules - the non North American schedule suggests replacing the brake fluid, but the North American schedule "1" that would seem most applicable to me doesn't even list it. Schedule 2 has it listed for inspecting the level.

I wound up telling the dealer to go ahead with the transmission fluid exchange but to skip the brake fluid.

[chitwood]

I really recommend finding a non-dealer mechanic you can trust. I've got a great one in Austin, and they don't work by rote, i.e. "30K miles we have to do all these things". They check it out and only work on what needs to be worked on. Much better deal.

[Osprey]

Won't they void your warranty if you don't come into the dealer?

[TobDog]

[ QUOTE ]
Won't they void your warranty if you don't come into the dealer?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, unless things have changed in the past few years, as long as yo have documentation of the service from an authorized(licensed) repair facility, you should be fine, they like to give you crap about seeing the dealer. I have a repair guy that does all3 of my cars, and he inspects everything(except oil changes) then calls me tells me what needs replacing and we do it, he said following the manual is fine if you dont want to check wear(here in California, if you goto a "oil change" place, you will leave with a new air filter every time if you let them) justa small example of items getting done that dont need it. This also assumes you take your car in regularly.

tobdog

[bkholdem]

FYI all the 'inspect' stuff is bs until the miles get up there. It's a way to manufacture a higher bill.

What I do is follow the owners manual and ask specifically for the things scheduled to be 'replaced'. I do not do the 5k maintenance, 10k maintenance... I read what the manufacturer recommends be 'replaced' at those intervals and request those services.

When the miles start getting up there a bit doing an inspect breaks (make sure you do it when they are rotating tires already) and things like that.

basically the 'inspect' is a bunch of bs and they mostly don't do it anyway on cars with low miles.

[JasonK]

I thought they had to prove you didn't have the service performed to void the warranty? Not that you had to prove you did have it done. Either way, I've never provided a single piece of paper showing I had any maintenance done when I took a vehicle in for a warranty repair.