Do I have to go to the auto dealership for my maintenance / oil changes if my vehicle is under warranty ?
Originally published in The 380 News…
by Marta and Frank Dudowicz
Do I have to go to the auto dealership for my maintenance / oil changes if my vehicle is under warranty ?
So let’s be clear – Federal Law – under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (1975) Title 15, Chapter 50, Section 2301-3312, US Federal Code, — a vehicle manufacturer or its authorized dealerships may not make a vehicle warranty conditional upon the use of its service (alone), or the use of any brand of product, unless that manufacturer provides the product or service free of charge or that the Federal Trade Commission has specifically stated and published that the vehicle manufacturer’s product or service is the only product or service available to comply to satisfy relief of warranty claims.
– though, I might add, it is not all dealerships or their service departments that do this. In more cases it is the auto manufacturers themselves that tend to mislead consumers in thinking that buyers must bring their vehicles into their dealerships for repair and normal maintenance to protect the vehicle’s warranty. – Yes, that would be The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act enacted by Congress in 1975. The Act encompasses and governs warranties on all consumer products and has been particularly abused in the automotive or car dealership industry. – Sure. This is one of the most prevalent misconceptions that people assume or have been told is true. In fact it is not true and is protected by federal law.– This question and many like it have been a growing concern with a number of inquiries we have received over the years. Can you enlighten us on this issue?
Further, Federal law prohibits new car manufacturers or dealers from even “implying” that you must use certain parts, oil or filters or you need to bring your vehicle to them in order to protect your vehicle’s warranty.
What you may see in your vehicle owner’s manual and under the hood is the wording “we recommend” — a vehicle manufactures’ brand. While this is their recommendation it is not a specific requirement. So be cautious not to be misled in thinking that you must use their products.
The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM’s) can require that parts and fluids meet their performance specifications, but they cannot void any warranties just because you used some other brand or service. Most, if not all, aftermarket parts and fluids do meet OEM specifications for the specific application they are assigned for; otherwise they would not be purchased and used in today’s market place by the vast majority of parts and service stores. And yes, all of the fluids and parts we use in our shops meet OEM specifications.
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Marta and Frank Dudowicz are the local owners and operators of four Kwik Kar Lube and Auto Service Centers in the area (three on Rt.380). They have 10 years experience in running their businesses. Frank prior to opening his business was a senior executive with Pennzoil/Quaker State (Motor Oil). www.kwikkardenton.com E-mail your questions to md@kwikkardenton.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
– OK then, until next time – it’s a date –! – Good point! I can’t say anymore – until next time… –This is in essence about consumer rights. In this case, the right to know that you have options that are in your favor. You have the right to decide who can provide the best service on a price value basis for your vehicle and not be told that you “have to use our dealership service” at their price. So to answer today’s question with an honest answer – NO! NO! NO!
Your Car’s Air Conditioning
Republished from “The 380 News” - originally published August 4, 2011.
Marta and Frank Dudowicz are the local owners and operators of four Kwik Kar Lube and Auto Service Centers in the area (three on Rt.380). They have 10 years experience in running their businesses. Frank prior to opening his business was a senior executive with Pennzoil/Quaker State (Motor Oil). http://www.kwikkardenton.com E-mail your questions to md@kwikkardenton.com
Kwik Kar Gal and Kwik Kar Guy – Marta and Frank answer your questions with honest answers
Marta
– Every year about this time many people are asking about their vehicle’s air conditioning not performing properly. Now even more so that we are seeing temperatures at or above 100 degrees. So enlighten us on what to be aware of with our car’s air conditioning system.
Frank
– Yes, we do find that there are mechanical issues and we then will start a diagnosis process to find the exact problem. Not blowing is an obvious malfunction of the blower motor or related system. All of which can be fixed. – That seems to be obvious but, we do get some people who will complain that their AC system isn’t working right. When we measure the temperature at the air vent we find that the temperature is in the acceptable range – below 60 degrees. Although we do see situations where when the AC is turned on, it just doesn’t blow. – Sure, first, know that with these very hot temperatures, your vehicle’s air conditioning system is going to be working under a serious strain. It is going to take a lot longer for the air to feel cold so you may believe that your system is not working properly but, in fact it may be. You just don’t feel that cold air the same way. The inside air being hotter than normal will take longer for the cold air to penetrate and cool your vehicle’s cabin.
But if the AC is just not blowing cold air we will begin with testing the pressure and recharging the system’s refrigerant. Now, it is important to know that the refrigerant cannot be used up, it lasts forever. What usually happens is there is not enough refrigerant or pressure in the system – it has leaked out causing a low pressure situation which then does not allow for the proper cooling function. So when we recharge an AC system we will put in a tracer chemical dye to help us find where the leak is coming from — gaskets, lines or what components. Once detected, we then can evaluate what course of action to take. Worn lines and gaskets are usually simple and inexpensive to fix. But when it comes to components, these can become more costly to repair.
Most often we find that the compressor is the problem and needs to be replaced. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant. Just as if there is not enough refrigerant (due to a leak) to provide the optimum pressure so does the compressor need to provide this level of pressure to get cold air. Other components that can raise their ugly heads are the condenser, the evaporator or the heater core. Any one of these can contribute to a problem with the AC system not working properly.
So, if you are going to have a AC breakdown usually it will happen when you least want it to happen — when its summer and over 100 degrees and your AC is on overdrive.
