dealer maintenance

[PEDALS]

i've been going to my dealer for all my reqular oil changes and maintenance, my 04 vibes at 12000 km's and 5 months, i had the oil changed at 6500 km's and oil and tire rotation at 12000 km's. My dealer is now saying that at my next oil change around 17000km's it's gonna cost me over $120 to do a semi-annual inspection of the vehicle break check, hose check, battery check and such and oil change. They tried to explain that it was something new GM was doing and that inorder to keep warranty i needed to have it done. in my old car a 2002 sunfire i went to a different dealer and they did all the things included in this new semi-annual check up included when i did my tire rotation. Just asking if anyone out there has had this semi-annual check up and if i need to be doing it to keep my warranty??

[Mavrik]

Well a Semi Annual Inspection with an Oil Change is only $69.95 at the dealership I work at. Big city price for you I guess. And no as long as the regular stuff is done, your warranty is all good. Semi Annual is like a complete vehicle inspection that is reccommended to be done every six months. In my opinion its really only required on vehicles equiped with the oil life monitor system and the owners follow it. Mainly since those can go like 6 months before coming into the shop.I think your dealership is taking you for a ride... a proper LOF and tire rotarion inspects everything including battery, brakes, hoses. The Semi does have other advantages but again, only if your really only getting service every 6 months. If your in every 3mo/5000km. Its all good.

[Mavrik]

Thats why I said his dealership is taking him for a ride. It will not void your warranty.

[scherry2]

I've never heard of such a thing. your dealer is smooth talking you.

[AKLGT]

i don't think i've ever had a semi-annual check done on any of the 6 NEW vehicles i've owned, nor has anyone in my family. sorry, but that sounds like they are trying to feed you a line (no pun intended) and take you for a ride!

[AKLGT]

yes, and i never had one of them done. infact the 30K check up was $400! so i said, hell no! i can have the local mechanic do a check for free!

[Mavrik]

Semi Annual inspections probably were not around with 5 of those 6 new cars you bought Hope. It started with GM in 2003 to push the oil life monitor system and give the car a complete inspection when ever we saw it.Take tha average driving... every 3 months for an oil change is $29.95 x 4 = $120 approx per year. Now include 2 tire rotations that get done usually at extra cost in that same year. We'll say another $24 for two tire rotations... $12 each.Now if my calculations are correct, your looking at about $144 in the basic regular service per year on your vehicle. Now PEDALS you say they wanna charge you $120 for one inspection? I believe thats big city price for GM allowed us dealers to decide on our own prices. For example as I stated earlier, we charge $69.95 or $89.95 for the Annual inspection.If you own an 03 and have an oil life monitor system, that means you come in twice a year and end up spending about the same... $120-$140 a year on service...Import dealers will void your warranty if you miss the regular service...

[AKLGT]

mm. very true, phil. most all our vehicles are scheduled for regular maintenance... 3000-5000 miles for oil changes.

[ArcsVibe]

That's bull bro pure and simple....I never did those "semi-annual or annual" inspections a la 150.00$ let me tell you the car is fine oh here is a free oil change LOL As long as you do your regular oil changes it doesn't void the warranty.

[Mavrik]

Oh $150 big city mtl price ouch... My Vibe is 6 months old this may 29th and its not getting its semi inspection. Infact for the past 6 months it has not even had any warranty work done to it either. I wrote an order myself and did my own oil change on it in the shop back in April. I know if she broke down, I'm singing the warranty tune.

[ArcsVibe]

Why should I pay GM/Toyota whoever that kind of money for them to tell me the car is fine or maybe you have a problem blah blah blah fix it its under warranty. I shouldn't have to pay for that!

[Mavrik]

Funny thing is the inspection is there for you to pay for so that any warranty probs discovered are repaired... oh really? Funny GM gives us (service) the impression we can't repair anything unless you complain about it first.

[PEDALS]

yeah i USE to go to meadowmills mississauga and now after there pulling this crap i won't be going there again, infact i noticed as i picked my car up that all 3 mechanics were rated in the 40-50% customer service satisfation. I called my old dealer John logan and they said it was $69.95 as mavarik stated and they said that on the usual tire rotation they check things like break checks and such something this meadowmills didn't do last week when i had my car in and and tires rotated. GM really needs to get all the dealers together doing the same things with the same prices. each dealer has his own way of screwing you i've even been asked at dealers to clean my brake pads for 129.95 and i guess they do some other work and they wanted that done on every tire rotation. Something really needs to be done by GM about these guys trying to screw people

[Mavrik]

Take your car to the better place is my suggestion if you can. Some places respect you better then others who just like your bank account.

[PieBoy]

I have an 03 vibe GT with 43000 km on it. I have taken it to the dealer twice, just so they don't forget about me. All other maintenance has been done with my local mechanic. I keep all receipts. I have done this with two other new cars. The only time I was challenged, I produced the receipts and that was the end of the discussion. The only time I was challenged was with my wife's New Beetle. The warrantee on it is one of those graduated things...bumper to bumer for first 60,000km, then some stuff covered up to 100,000km, then fewer stuff up to 120,000km. As far as I can tell, the actual components covered are not listed anywhere (oweners manual, or instructional video...) The dealer swore up and down that a speed sensor was not covered after 60,000km, but was unable to provide me with a comprehensive list of components that were covered. In the end he replaced it under warrantee, but not without copies of all my maintenance receipts.

[kep427]

Sorry for my ignorance. Can you please tell me what is the "oil life monitor system"?

[Mavrik]

Certain GM products have what is called an oil life monitor system. It regulates how long the engine is running and the load on the engine and does a % countdown from 100. At 15% life left the light comes on saying Change Oil Soon or has a picture of an oil can with a wrench.It is not regulated by how many km is on the car and based on driving habits can come on anywhere between 4000-12,000KM (obviously different in miles) Short distance driving causes the light to come on sooner then long distance driving.The Pontiac Vibe does not have this system.