Rep Power: 307

Hello,

Ok I know your allowed to go anywhere you want for your repairs and it won't void your warranty. But what about Changing your own oil, brakes, sparkplugs, valve cover gaskets, pulleys, stuff like that. Can they void your warranty? Does anyone know any laws related to this, I read the law about aftermarket parts, but what about who does the work, does it have to be a certified mechanic?

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 307

bump

 
Rep Power: 367

It doesn't necessarily void your warranty, but let's say you had to take your car in for an engine problem, and Honda didn't have any record of you bringing your car in to them for maintenance or service. First thing they will then ask you is "OK, so who's been checking your oil the last couple of years?" If you don't have proof that a "certified" tech or garage has been changing your oil (ie receipts from a shop) then they will try to NOT honour your warranty. I'm sure there's a way around it but meh. I change my own oil, check and maintain everything except the brakes.

 
Rep Power: 423

The burden of proof is on them. They'd have to prove that whatever you did or didn't do caused the problem. They give you a couple blank pages in the back of the owners manual... its a good place to keep dated records of what you do.

 
Rep Power: 307

Brakes are easy!
Here's a DIY I wrote for a Pad install..
http://members.fortunecity.com/4jacks/brakes.html

I will also be bleeding the lines, and having the rotors shaved (this weekend hopefully) I will be writing up another DIY.

Thanks for the responses guys, the reason I ask is because I help out at a Car Care Ministry for Single women and the elderly at our Church. We've gotten to the point where we are starting to help other Churches organize a similiar ministry, and these questions are coming up.

So Basicly If we keep records of doing the maintene and receipts for the Products we use, they cars should be ok???
We have one Certified Mechanic on staff... if worse comes to worse, He can account that everything was done properly, right ??

 
Rep Power: 367

Nice DIY. When I get my new rotors and pads I think I may give this a go.

 
Rep Power: 307

Great, I love to hear that.

I'll post up my new DIY when I get it, but basically to get at the rotors, just unscrew those Two shiny screws stickin into them, and bang on em a little.

 
Rep Power: 423

Well, regardless of who does it, that party is the one who will be liable for anything going wrong. Certified or not. Anything under warranty by a dealer and I guarantee you they'll put up the arguement that the person who did it wasn't Factory Certified. But its all crap as long as its done right. Basic maintainence outlined in the owners manual is public info that they feel a compitent individual can do. Otherwise they wouldn't tell you what to do. So... I think with proper records... I would devise an official reciept sheet, with a logo of some sort, that specifies what was done, parts used, date, odometer milage, etc.... and you should have your butts covered about as good as you can get them.