Smart Car "A" and "B" Service

[Prospero]

I asked this in passing in another thread, but let me bring it forward.

Let's assume that I want to keep my warranty valid. I know I'm supposed to (and have) done the "A" Service in 1 year or 10k Miles and the "B" Service in 2 years or 20k miles.

What exactly is the "A" and "B" service. If (next year) I want to go to an independent garage, what should I ask them to do.

Maybe I've just lost the description (every other car I've had, gives you a Service Schedule) but I can't find mine for the Smart.

[SmartTech]

not to be rude but check your owners manual packet. there is a service guide pamphlet that lists each service in detail on what is done and what is inspected ect.

[Old smart]

There is no formal "A Service" and "B Service" in the U.S. (a Euro thing, maybe Canada). There are service cycles at succeding yearly/10K mile intervals. Each includes some aspect of the former(s). I don't have my maintenance gouge at hand, but I think the cycle goes through either 30K miles or 60K miles (or 1 to 6 years) before repeating. So, we may have the equivalent of an "A," "B," "C," "D," "E" and "F" service. Like most cars.

In any case, the service is due at the first occurrence of time or of mileage since the car's delivery or last service.

[fortow]

This issue about warranty really needs to be clarified and understood.

Warranties are mandated by government, however the length of time is arbitrary. Warranties are intended to protect consumers. They are to cover components that fail due to faulty material, design, or workmanship including the labour to re and re the component. The manufacturer is obliged to cover the warranty provided that the consumer does not abuse the vehicle or component that failed, and that if any maintenance has been prescribed to maintain the integrity of the component it must be performed. Each individual part of the automobile is warranteed for a period of 1 year and specific parts warrenteed longer. General mainenance is not required to maintain a warranty of a specific part - only the maintenance that is required for that part. Also, suggested warranty procedures by dealerships have nothing to do with maintaining warranties. Only official written documents by the manufacturer apply.

Dealerships do not need to perform maintenance to keep the warranties intact. Anyone can perform that service. Also, for many components, the so called A and B service does not even have to be performed. For instance, if the top delaminates within the warranty period, then even if no service had been done on the vehicle the warranty on that part must be honoured, oil changes have nothing to do with electronic failures, a faulty gearbox is not related to changing engine oil or filter etc etc.

There is no such thing as keeping "a" warranty valid. The car is covered by separate warrantees on separate parts. If the engine develops an oil burning situation, then that may or may not be related to not changing oil, or other abusive behaviour of the owner and in that case the warranty on the part that is faulty in the engine part would be invalid. This however has nothing to do with any part that is unrelated to changing oil and filter.

Dealerships love to pressure owners to return to them for service and threaten loss of "warranty" if their service is not done. They really need to be confronted with the logic of these threats. Ignorance of consumers allows them to get away with this tactic. They put the onus of warrantees on the heads of owners whereas it is actually a mandated function for manufacturers. More profit is made from service than from sales.

[Prospero]

Originally Posted by SmartTech

not to be rude but check your owners manual packet. there is a service guide pamphlet that lists each service in detail on what is done and what is inspected ect.

As I noted in my original post, I suspected that I lost something that I was given when I bought the car. Is there any place on line I can find the information that was provided in this pamphlet.

[The Rigger]

Originally Posted by Prospero

As I noted in my original post, I suspected that I lost something that I was given when I bought the car. Is there any place on line I can find the information that was provided in this pamphlet.

Yup...

Right over there <-----, in the left column, you will find a link to get a PDF copy of the 451 Owner's manual.

[John_H]

pssst... the service guide pamphlet, not the owner's manual.