Scheduled Maintenance
 

My sister is a ditz and didn't follow the scheduled maintenance plan with her new car...she had the oil changed every 3000 miles, but not at the dealership. Well now her vehicle is acting strange, at 29,000 miles. I read in another post that they can't void the warranty, only deny claims...but what good is a warranty if you can't use it? In other words, what should she do? Thanks!

oh, and here's something from mazda usa:

According to state and federal regulations, failiure to perform maintenance on these items (referring to heavy driving conditions maintenance schedule) will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance service be performed at the recommended time or mileage period to ensure long-term reliability.

So the only warranty they can't void is the emissions warranty? Yea...that's useful.

You don't have to have scheduled maintenance performed by a dealer. If there's a problem where lack of scheduled maintenance could be a cause, however, then they can ask for documented proof that the maintenance was actually performed. Receipts from Jiffy Lube etc., or even receipts for the purchase of appropriate oil and filters if you're a DIY type, are acceptable proof.

Before worrying about whether they'll deny something, why not just get the car in to the dealer and have it looked at?

Regards,
Gordon

She's going to call today, but the nearest dealer is 1.5 hours away, so bringing it in requires taking a day off work (she lives out in the sticks: population 516). Thanks for the help Gord. I'm hoping she paid for the lube services on credit card...because my sister isn't the type to save receipts (like I said, she's a ditz when it comes to vehicles).

29K miles already?! Wow, I'm guessing she's a traveling salesperson with a lot of distance between clients in addition to being out in the sticks.

Since so many folks have said that the MPG gets better as the miles on the car increase, has she noticed a substantial increase as compared to when she first got it?

Oops...sorry for the confusion. My sister doesn't own an RX8, I do =) She's driving a hyundai accent, 2002 I believe. But yea, she gets incredible gas mileage compared to my RX8, har har.

Well theres her problem right there!!! I will never buy another hyundai ever, my college car was a used Sonata, The CV Joint fell broke leaving pieces in the street, the steering went out, both the front inside door handles broke and had to be fixed. Suprisingly the engine always worked well, but stupid stuff was breaking!!

if nothing else, the place she got her oil change ought to have records.

Re: Scheduled Maintenance
 

Define strange. what is it doing?

Well good news is that she had the oil changed at the wal-mart automotive center, and they keep a record. so she's covered. but the problem with the car was when she went over 70 MPH, and then idled, the engine would race up without her pressing the gas pedal. she said if she pressed the gas, and revved it a little, it would stop racing and return to normal RPMs. Kind of dangerous...she's had to stomp on the brakes a few times. For now, she's just keeping it under 70.