20k Service Cost

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

For $400 I'd want my but waxed too.

ha ha ha ha....from what I've heard, $400 to wax YOURS wouldn't be any where near enough....

[Alchemy R]

Big Panda- I think it is the cabin filter... not sure if I need one since my top is rarely closed.

[doWorK.]

Originally Posted by Alchemy R

Big Panda- I think it is the cabin filter... not sure if I need one since my top is rarely closed.

Air still travels through it whether its open or closed. If your curious on how it looks the filter is located to the right of the gas pedal, you'll see a flap with tabs on it.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by doWorK.

Air still travels through it whether its open or closed. If your curious on how it looks the filter is located to the right of the gas pedal, you'll see a flap with tabs on it.

This is correct. The air that travels through your HEVAC system passed through this filter, to remove some of the dust and pollen that may be in your car.

Not sure what smart recommends, but I would replace it at least once a year!

[Terry Stibal]

Our Scion xB also has one of these (as did the car that we sold when we got the smart), and I recently replaced the filter myself before taking the xB in for some service work.

I half anticipated that I would be approached, midway through the wait for the alignment to be completed, and be told that the cabin air filter needed replacement. (This is a $50.00 job (part and labor), one that takes me less than five minutes to accomplish - how I wish I could somehow recover the money for the half hour of labor that the dealership would bill me for doing the same thing.) Nope. Apparently, the "courtesy inspection" during the service was actually that.

[forestacademy]

Do check your cabin filter even if you think you have not used it. Depending on your part of the country, some have found mold in the filter.

[doWorK.]

Smart says every 10k for the cabin filter. That seems a little too soon (depending on where your driving) expecially with the new charcoal one installed. The filter that comes from the factory I would definately replace at 20k though, its usually pretty dirty by then. Its only a cheap little paper one, the new one is a charcoal activated filter (aka a hepa filter).

[xrayguy32]

Can you change your own oil and with out voiding the warranty?

[Alchemy R]

I'll take a look at my filter... I suppose that rather than having less in there I might find more because of the top mostly being down...

You can change your own oil, etc... just keep all documentation.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by xrayguy32

Can you change your own oil and with out voiding the warranty?

Of course. I'm surprised that people still think this is an issue.

You, or any one else, can do all maintenance on the car, never go to a dealership, and the warranty will still be in effect.
The onus regarding the warranty is on the part of the manufacturer. Warranty is required by law. The time a warranty must be in effect is variable though and mostly at the discretion of the manufacturer. We all pay for these parts and manufacturing defect warranties, by the way, in the purchase prices of the vehicles. The dealership has nothing to do with warranty issues except to exact repairs when necessary. As long as you do not abuse your car, maintain it properly (it would be obvious if engine part failure was due to an oil issue which is rare unless oil is never changed), there will be no warranty issues. It's important that failure of a part be due to defects in material or manufacturing, and not due to misuse and abuse of the owner. In fact, if you never changed the oil, and a repair was required that had nothing to do with oil changes (the alternator for example), then the part at fault will have to be replaced under warranty.

Dealerships are fond of using scare tactics related to warranties because that influences owners to take the cars back for service. Obviously, with the exhorbitant prices being charged for simple and quick service, these maintenance services are very profitable for dealerships. Of course they have to turn a profit to stay in business but they are price gouging here, particularly for an inexpensive car such as the smart. One rationale for charging such high prices is that service is required only once a year or at long mileage intervals.

The dealership we bought the car from recently mailed out a flyer advertising what they do and their rate for routine service. They had a list of 42 items and a cost of about $200. That list was for a basic oil change and everything else was just a check list. A competent owner would be aware of almost everything listed anyway. A reasonable cost for that service should have been about $80-90. An owner could do the same service for a little more than half that figure.