I just purchased an 05 Accord V6. This is my first new car, and I am used to doing my own maintenance on my 4th generation civic which is running like a top (oil changes, axle replacements, valve adjustments, etc). So I have a couple questions:

With the new accord, I rejected the dealer's extended warranty and decided to wing it and do my own maintenance on this car - does this expose me in any way that I should be worried about? Is the warranty void if I do this? Should I reconsider their extended warranties? Looking through the blank Service History book the car came with, it does not look like much needs to be done which I can't do until perhaps the timing belt at 110k which I have never done myself on my civic. The extended was about $ 1k, and they made it sound like it really was something I should get. I think I made the right decision, but I just want some other's opinions as well. Thanks!

Any opinions?

 

if you do your own maintanence then honda will probably reject any claim that is put in under warranty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by edd001 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you do your own maintanence then honda will probably reject any claim that is put in under warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>
BULLSHIT!!! If you keep it properly maintained Honda cant refuse warranty repairs.

 

Does anyone have any experience with non-dealer third party extended warranties like 1 Source Warranty? My neigbor bought it for his car but has never had to use it. Here is what they cover. It is 10 year /100k for $1199 no deductible. Thanks again for any feedback.
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The 'Diamond/Diamond 100' is the most comprehensive plan available covering well over 4000 component parts (the only difference between the two is the term length). This coverage provides for the repair or replacement of factory-installed mechanical and electrical operating parts. Virtually every component on your vehicle is protected. The only exclusions are periodic maintenance and those items listed in our agreement under “What is not covered by this VSA.”

Whether you buy or lease your vehicle, our Diamond plans can provide a term that matches your driving and lifestyle needs.

Full coverage for:

* Engine
* Automatic/Standard Transmission
* Drive Axle Assembly (Front or Rear Wheel Drive)
* Electrical System
* Fuel Delivery System
* Braking System (Including ABS)
* Front/Rear Suspension
* Steering System
* Heating/Cooling Systems
* Air Conditioning System
* Power Window/Locks
* Power Seats
* Digital Instrument Cluster
* Sunroof
* GPS Navigational Systems
* Audio System
* Convertible Top Motor
* Seals & Gaskets (Stand-Alone)
* Wear & Tear
* Emission System Coverage (Optional)


NOTE: If you would like to review the complete Vehicle Service Agreement terms and conditions, please contact one of our Internet Warranty Specialists at 888-905-5700.

View Exclusions

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chiovnidca &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
BULLSHIT!!! If you keep it properly maintained Honda cant refuse warranty repairs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok may be it is diffrent were you are but in the uk unless the car is maintained by a garage and can be proved so they will not do anything under warranty. I work for honda so i know.
if this is not the case were you are then i appolagise

 

I also work for Honda. And it is difficult to get Honda warranty concideration if you maintain your own car.
First you NEED to keep all recipts for parts and fluids along with a log book of exactly what you did and the milage and date you performed the service.
Now Honda WILL be scrutinising ALL of your records and most likely not offer any "good will" repairs in the future. I know the Dealerships WILL NOT offer any good will repairs.
So there it is in a nut shell.

Yes you can maintain your own car.....Yes Honda will cover your warranty, but under a microscope!!
(BTW I've been a Master Honda tech for 22 years.)

 

Thanks for the info. Then I will probably bring it to Honda (most likely an independent shop) for maintenance.
BTW, I am considering the Honda Care 7 year plan for this new car. If there are any opinons on that I am interested to hear them.

 

You don't need an extended warranty on your Honda, just put the money you would have spent on this and put it towards your car's loan (or if you paid cash, put it into savings for a future major repair or your next car). Remember that, a a whole, insurance companies will always pay out less than they take in, that's how they make money. Make the money work for you, not for the insurance company.

As for doing the work by yourself, while admirable, I highly recommend that you take the car to a certified mechanic* for all maintenance work until the warranty is over (still 3 years / 36,000 miles?). Make sure to keep all receipts, and for the inspection items have the mechanic list all of these items on the receipt as having been checked.

* doesn't have to be the dealer, and you will be able to get the work done much cheaper by spreading out the work (having a tire shop with certified mechanics rotate the tires and inspect the brakes, having another mechanic doing the inspections as well as the fluid changes, etc). If you do want to go the dealer, call around to all dealers in driving distance, prices will vary. And again, keep all receipts.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Heat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
As for doing the work by yourself, while admirable, I highly recommend that you take the car to a certified mechanic* for all maintenance work until the warranty is over (still 3 years / 36,000 miles?). Make sure to keep all receipts, and for the inspection items have the mechanic list all of these items on the receipt as having been checked.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you are right about the warranty being 36000 miles then that is bad compared to the uk. here in the uk it is 3 years or 90000 miles.

 

Thank you for the help everyone. As this is my first new car, and don't know the "consumer-repair-warranty" ropes, your advice was very helpful.
Thanks again!

 

By the way, I will probably do what Heat suggested- forgo extended and find good certified mechanics to do the maintenance for the first three years.

 

One other thing you might consider - check with some tire dealers in your area, see if you can buy a road hazard warranty package with lifetime rotations for your tires. I know Wal-Mart charges something like $9 or $12 per tire for this, but I'd check for other places. The reason why this is a good idea is that it will pay for itself by 30,000 miles, since a basic rotation and brake inspection will cost ~ $15 each. Doing this every 7,500 miles adds up quick. And if they toss in a road hazard warranty, it's even better.

Another option would be to replace two of your tires at this time (keeping the good tires in your garage for future use). The places I've dealt with (Sam's Warehouse and Discount Tires) both give free tire rotations for all four tires if they put two of the tires on. You will have lifetime warranty on the two new tires, and you still have the two good OEM tires (probably Michellin MXV4 plus') in your garage to have installed at a later date (~ $13 each to reinstall them).

I don't know how much snow and ice North Carolina gets in the winter, but I can say that I wasn't impressed with the Michelin MXV4 plus' on snow and ice, I tended to slide much more than I thought I should be (and using other tires I don't slide as much anymore). It's not a lot of sliding on ice and snow with the MXV4plus', but any sliding is not good. Just two days ago I put on some Michellin Destiny's from Discount Tire (their Michellin brand, so far so good, cost ~ $225 for two). Replaced two OEM MXV4 plus', those tires lasted almost 70,000 miles.

One other thing to note: Tire places love to switch tires on the same side for some reason (drivers' front to driver's rear, driver's rear to driver's front, etc). Note your owner's manual, which I believe is having the fronts moved straight back and the rears being crossed to the front (it might be the other way around). Be sure to tell the tire place that this is how you want your tires rotated, and watch to make sure they do it. I've had problems with Wal-Mart saying "sure, we'll rotate them that way" and not do it (at first, they redo it after I have a talk with them).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by edd001 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok may be it is diffrent were you are but in the uk unless the car is maintained by a garage and can be proved so they will not do anything under warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>You're in England. Under USA federal law, Honda can't deny warranty coverage if you simply go elsewhere for maintenance. I don't know the law in England.

Before they can deny warranty they're supposed to 'prove'(?) that it was damaged by something specific. Changing your own oil isn't supposed to allow them to deny anything. (At least that's how it's supposed to work...)

 

far enough. over here you can go elsewere but it has to be a garage, if you do it yourself they are likely to throw it out. also if honda think you have driven the car unfairly they will throw it out.
we had one with a civic type r were the customer had been thrashing it (top revs he done was 9500rpm) the car was only one year old and honda would not pay for warranty so customer had to pay £6000 for new engine.

 

Cross rotating tires IS NOT RECOMMENDED!!!
Front to rear on the same side IS STANDARD PROCEEDURE.
Crossrotating tires tends to cause a pull(here comes the alignment debate!) and tires have been known to seperate.
I've worked Honda dealers in California, Oregon and Michigan, for over 22 years. None have recomended cross rotating tires with normal rotations.

 

Yes I have heard about the WalMart tire protection plan. If I get new tires I would go with a national chain since I don't know where I will be in five years. BTW, I did not see Michelin Destiny on the Discount Tire site. Is that an in store special?

 

Driving the new Accord at night, I am surprised to find that the center rear view mirror is really blurry when flipped. It t is like looking through a coke bottle. I am going to complain to the dealer. My 4th gen rear center is very clear when flipped.
I suspect it is just cheaply made but I will complain anyway.

If I install the autodimming mirror with compass myself I suppose it only void the warranty on that part, correct?

 

The dealer showed me problem. The mirror is fine, but it was flipped the wrong way!!

 

I just got mine looked at and they charged me $78 to look at it becaue of the intake...PS dont accelerate hard up hill...u will regret it..(2misfired cylinders, bent valves, bad coils,bad plugs, mispositioned crankshaft ) i regret the purchase of the car...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Namikuz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cross rotating tires IS NOT RECOMMENDED!!!
Front to rear on the same side IS STANDARD PROCEEDURE.
Crossrotating tires tends to cause a pull(here comes the alignment debate!) and tires have been known to seperate.
I've worked Honda dealers in California, Oregon and Michigan, for over 22 years. None have recomended cross rotating tires with normal rotations. </TD></TR></TABLE>Well, I can say that my owner's manual for my '99 Accord says to rotate the tires this way: Front tires straight back (same sides), back tires crossed to the front (driver's rear to passenger front, passenger rear to driver's front). For non-directional tires of course, for directional tires keep them on the same side. Page 244.

This is the way I rotate my tires and I must say to anybody who asks - follow your owner's manual. It has caused me problems in the past, even though I draw a diagram prior to tire rotations and am assured that they will be rotated this way, it's happened before that they rotate them on the same side. Of course I bring this up with the manager and get the tires re-rotated the correct way. If you can't personally watch them rotate your tires, mark them with chalk so you know how they actually rotate them.

As for the Michellin Destiny, that's the name of my tires that I bought earlier this week from Discount Tires. Treadware 740, Temperature B, Traction A, cost ~ $235 for two with old tire disposal, warranty, lifetime rotation, etc etc. Maybe this tire isn't sold all over the US which is why it doesn't show up on their website.