Recommended Maintenance

[rage2021]

Hey,

Just wondering if you guys stick to the 'recommended' maintenance that Mazda outlines? For example things like Spark Plugs,Cabin Air Filters,power steering fluid...stuff like that doesnt really need to be maintained does it?

[kaval]

Hey,

Just wondering if you guys stick to the 'recommended' maintenance that Mazda outlines? For example things like Spark Plugs,Cabin Air Filters,power steering fluid...stuff like that doesnt really need to be maintained does it?

Cars are not maintenance free. There is a reason that these things have to be changed. Going into why means typing out A LOT. All of the things mentioned above plus whatever is in the regular maintenance schedule are KEY to making sure your car is operating in the way it was designed, for performance, safety, resale value, expenditures, etc. Ignoring small things (and obviously big things) can lead to some serious problems down the road and you will kick yourself for not regularly maintaining your car when issues start to creep up.

One of the reasons you bought your car is because you like the way it performs. If you don't maintain it, your car won't perform in the way that made you like the car in the first place.

Kind of funny in a sense that this is being asked.

[Go_Habs_Go]

I agree with Kaval, you HAVE to follow the recommended maintenance as outlined by Mazda if only for the fact that if you don't, you may not be able to get warranty work done by Mazda.

Say you go in to the Mazda dealer and tell them you have a problem with a certain component that is still under warranty. They will check to see if you have followed the scheduled maintenance on your vehicle (either with the dealership or done privately but they will ask for receipts as proof the work was done privately). If you can't prove that the work has been done, they may not cover the component! So be very careful about that.

And if your car happens to be out of warranty then it's still important to do the regular scheduled maintenance since this is what will keep your car running smoothly!!!! :)

Treat your baby right and she will treat you right too. LOL!

[Flagrum_3]

I would suggest sticking to the schedule, but not necessarily to all the Dealer recommendations.Schedule is Every 8k-oil/filter change, rotate tires.Every 24k-add brake slider lube....Other then that there is nothing to really worry about...Go by the maintenance schedule in your owners manual, not by what people tell you!

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[ICEBOX]

I agree with Kaval, you HAVE to follow the recommended maintenance as outlined by Mazda if only for the fact that if you don't, you may not be able to get warranty work done by Mazda.

Say you go in to the Mazda dealer and tell them you have a problem with a certain component that is still under warranty. They will check to see if you have followed the scheduled maintenance on your vehicle (either with the dealership or done privately but they will ask for receipts as proof the work was done privately). If you can't prove that the work has been done, they may not cover the component! So be very careful about that.

And if your car happens to be out of warranty then it's still important to do the regular scheduled maintenance since this is what will keep your car running smoothly!!!! :)

Treat your baby right and she will treat you right too. LOL!

well said! I would take my car in for the big jobs but little jobs I would do myself, like oil changes and spark plugs, probably even brakes.

[Go_Habs_Go]

well said! I would take my car in for the big jobs but little jobs I would do myself, like oil changes and spark plugs, probably even brakes.

If you are doing the oil changes yourself, just make sure you have receipts for the oil and filter that you purchase. Remember that Mazda may ask you for proof that you are following the recommended maintenance if you ever need warranty work done. (Same thing applies for any job you do at home or at an independent garage, always make sure you have some receipts as proof! It's tempting to pay cash/no receipt but that may end up costing you more later).

If you just tell them 'I did the work myself' with no receipts for any of the parts...that may not fly with the dealer and it will give them a reason to not cover you under warranty!!

Forewarned is forearmed!

This has been a message from Smokey Bear LOL! :)

[Flagrum_3]

To further G_H_G's statement; This mught be nit-picking but remember they might not be satisfied with just 'Part' receipts, they have the right to not only pass on doing warranty work but Terminate your Warranty if work was not performed by a Licensed Technician or Garage!! Now personally I've never seen this happen but I've heard stories, this may not be the case for simple things such as oil changes but for changing plugs, brakes etc it could very well apply and they would be in the right!


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[ICEBOX]

If you are doing the oil changes yourself, just make sure you have receipts for the oil and filter that you purchase. Remember that Mazda may ask you for proof that you are following the recommended maintenance if you ever need warranty work done. (Same thing applies for any job you do at home or at an independent garage, always make sure you have some receipts as proof! It's tempting to pay cash/no receipt but that may end up costing you more later).

If you just tell them 'I did the work myself' with no receipts for any of the parts...that may not fly with the dealer and it will give them a reason to not cover you under warranty!!

Forewarned is forearmed!

This has been a message from Smokey Bear LOL! :)

Ya I've kept all my reciepts for oil, filter, pads, etc. I just didn't want to bore you guys with the details!

[Brammer]

I would suggest sticking to the schedule, but not necessarily to all the Dealer recommendations.Schedule is Every 8k-oil/filter change, rotate tires.Every 24k-add brake slider lube....Other then that there is nothing to really worry about...Go by the maintenance schedule in your owners manual, not by what people tell you!

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Yeah, that has always been a big beef of mine. One dealer (not Mazda) told my wife that the engine on her minivan had to be washed (wtf?). Unfortunately that was the last time she set foot in a dealer for maintenance.

I recently had the oil changed on my M3 (50,000km) at a Mazda dealer that will remain unnamed - they wanted to replace the disc brakes because they were "rusty" :loco

Flagrun has good advice, stick to the manual.

[kidflash]

As a former service advisor for Honda...let me mention something here....

The job of the service advisor is to RECOMMEND any servicing above and beyond the regular service maintenance that your vehicle requires. So if for example you go in for say a 56km service and your tranny fluid, brake fluid, brakes, or tires need changing...IT IS THE ADVISORS JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM YOU OF SUCH. Whether you choose to do any of the recommended items is completely your choice.

Ultimately the goal is to insure your vehicle does not break down at the most inopportune time (snowstorm anyone?) and provide you with worry-free driving!!!!

[Flagrum_3]

As a former service advisor for Honda...let me mention something here....

The job of the service advisor is to RECOMMEND any servicing above and beyond the regular service maintenance that your vehicle requires. So if for example you go in for say a 56km service and your tranny fluid, brake fluid, brakes, or tires need changing...IT IS THE ADVISORS JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM YOU OF SUCH. Whether you choose to do any of the recommended items is completely your choice.

Ultimately the goal is to insure your vehicle does not break down at the most inopportune time (snowstorm anyone?) and provide you with worry-free driving!!!!

Hey that's all fine and dandy, but come on!! What to you take us for?...the service advisor's main job is to SELL and to Improve the dealers profits.I have heard from members on this site and seen for myself way too many advisors selling unnecessary services to customers, to believe that hogwash your spewwing!


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[QEWmazdaPrez]

I'll give you the perspective of maintenance from the dealership perspective and you can make your decision as to how you want to handle it.

All of the advice given so far is true. The purpose of performing regular maintenance is to reduce your overall costs and headaches. Preventative maintenance is usually significantly less expensive than repairs. eg. A transmission flush might sound expensive, but when you only have to perform one every 2 years, it is a LOT less expensive than replacing the transmission. Spending a few dollars to change your engine filter will improve your fuel economy, and improve engine response. Preventative maintenance doesn't eliminate all problems, but certainly reduces the risk of expensive repairs.
You can perform your own maintenance, but make sure to keep your receipts. Also, just doing oil changes is not considered regular maintenance. You should follow the schedule that Mazda publishes. It contains a list of the services you should perform and the detailed list is available from any Mazda dealer.
Technicians and Advisors are much like doctors and nurses. Everybody has a different skill level, and some diagnose things differently than others. A service advisor that recommends replacing rusty rotors may not have a "brake service" available in the dealership or may have other reasons for their recommendations.
Much like every other business out there, some are focused on selling, some are focused on customer service, and some are focused on their own objectives.
Lastly, when an owner has an issue with a repair, and there is a possibility that Mazda Canada may help with repairs, they take many factors into consideration. Probably the biggest factor is whether the owner has performed the regular maintenance and upkeep on their vehicle, and who serviced it. For example, if an owner had their regular maintenance performed at the dealership, including transmission flushes, and the transmission failed a couple of months after warranty, or due to a customer related problem, Mazda Canada would definitely look more favourably at helping that owner out. In my experience, Mazda Canada has been great at helping out owners that look after their vehicles. (Please don't take this as: Mazda Canada will cover me for anything....)
The reason Mazda looks at dealer service differently than you doing it yourself, or taking your vehicle somewhere else, is because the dealership has specific tools (over $30,000) designed for your vehicle, they check bulletins, recalls, and updates, and use quality parts.
Anyway, the decision is yours whether you want to maintain your vehicle at home, or have the dealership do the work. But at a minimum, make sure you look after your car. It will also help you when you want to sell it and can show the buyer all the receipts.
Hope that helps :)
J

[ptfire]

Maintaining your car is of utmost importance, just be sure you take your car to a place where they are not going to damage your car in anyway. Your car should be returned to you the way (if not better) you brought it in.
You don't have to take the car to the dealer in order to maintain your warranty but you most be able to prove (in the event of a warranty issue) that you have had your car serviced by a licensed mechanic using genuine Mazda parts. Also remember that many items are not covered under warranty, wear items such as brakes are something you could takle yourself if you know how. Brake service is one of the big ticket items for a dealership, that is why there are specialty brake shops.

[06Touring3]

Hey that's all fine and dandy, but come on!! What to you take us for?...the service advisor's main job is to SELL and to Improve the dealers profits.I have heard from members on this site and seen for myself way too many advisors selling unnecessary services to customers, to believe that hogwash your spewwing!


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First I want to thank Jason for his resposne that was exactly what I was waiting to hear.

Anyway, I agree with Ron here. EVERY time I take my car to Whitby Mazda they tell me i need to have the same $200 inspection done that I got the LAST time I was there. Which is why I personally was confused about why i needed the inspection done so frequently.

[rage2021]

I got killed on the brake service last time..just for the rear ones too..like $500with labour..pads and rotors...calipers.anyone know any good shops that can do it for relatively cheap?

[kaval]

calipers? what did they do to your calipers? new ones?

[Cardinal Fang]

For example, if an owner had their regular maintenance performed at the dealership, including transmission flushes, and the transmission failed a couple of months after warranty, or due to a customer related problem, Mazda Canada would definitely look more favourably at helping that owner out.


This is so true and not just of Mazda.

My Integra GT's transmission went 10,000 km past the warranty. The dealership recommended to Honda to cover the new transmission under warranty because of our loyalty to the dealership. The same thing happened last year to my wife's TSX. Electronics issue in the dashboard that happened after the warranty expired. Again, the dealership went to bat for us and Honda covered it with no questions.

[kaval]

Fang, you got some great service!!!

Which dealership was this?

[mazdas3sporte]

ive had my car for 6 months and actually driven it for maybe 3.5 months, the km on it is around 2700, do I have to go in for the 8k or 4 month service now or do should i wait?
i dident think about going in cause the km on the car is so low..

[kevcol74]

Yes, still go in. Your oil will have built up acid in it, and the acids are what you want to get rid of. I know the kms aren't there, but time is a factor too. Put it this way, when I store my 66 Mustang, it will get an oil change before it goes to the "barn", then in the spring, I will change it again when I pull it out. Technically I'll have little to no kms on the oil and filter, but I will change it anyways. I have a buddy who has a 1987 Grand National, only 35,000kms on it. They bought it new. He would drain the oil from it and then use that oil in his Dodge Colt...lol No reccomended, but it was only a dodge!

[mazdas3sporte]

dang.... I'll call 2moro then, anyone know whats done at the 8k/4 month maintenence , i cant find my my manual righ now

[Flagrum_3]

dang.... I'll call 2moro then, anyone know whats done at the 8k/4 month maintenence , i cant find my my manual righ now

Just oil filter change, rotate tires, check levels and squirt the Lithium grease on the hinges.


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