Does doing your own maintenance void warranty?

[Terrymo]

Are you thinking a dealership will say "Oh, you have an Excel spreadsheet that you obviously didn't just make up on the spot, so we'll cover that warranty issue for you!"?

Over time I could buy products specific to my Jeep on Amazon and create false entries in the Jeep App as well.

The engine in my wife’s Infiniti left the chat just outside of the warranty with lots of metal chunks in places they didn’t belong. Upon inspection, the service advisor paperwork concluded it was due to not following the proper service intervals, When I pointed out that they were the dealership that did all the maintenance at proper intervals and he actually verified it on his computer, the reasons changed.

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[Price1961]

You can absolutely do your own services or have an independent shop do them without voiding your warranty. Keep all receipts and records.

This is what I have done and had no issues. I was a mechanic for an independent for years then a Mazda tech before covid changed things. I had an 08 jk with the " lifetime warranty" 200k and 17 years before it started to rot out. The dealer rebuilt the rear diff and front u joints and 2 sets of seals they messed up at no cost to me. Thay was 170k miles I had a binder with anything I did for maitnace reciepts with dates and mileage written on them. Plus a exel sheet for tracking. They never asked to see it. Only prbelm I ran into was when found the head gasket was starting to go( random miss and coolant smell at start up) no external leak not overheating. Drivers side manifold cracked and could smell coolant at start up. Bore scope could see coolant drip in cylinder. They gave me the "we have to tear down to confirm if it would be covered". $2300 estimate I said bs. $300 later New gasket bolts and a manifold. Put 500 on it before my new 24 jlu willys came in. Running great but had to let it go due to rear tub and frame getting bad. 2k or more to get the body work done if I could find someone who would do it. But it was getting iffy
Year to year at best.

 

[AskBin]

Had my rear diff/axle replaced at a dealership under warranty not too long ago and I'm having issues again so I took it back

And while checking my Jeep in, the service advisor says I'm also due for a coolant service, front diff service, and transfer case service (no record of it at 30K)

The diff and transfer case I was going to take to a trusted mechanic or do on my own. But he tells me that this could void any future warranty on those components if there's no record of it from an authorized store

Is this true?

Also, is a coolant flush/service needed already?

It's a 2021 2.0L turbo 8 speed automatic with 40,000 miles

tech could deny you. read up on the service manual for actual factory reccomended service intervals.

usually warrentys denied if like you forget to put an oil filter on and blow up your motor, or you do your own trans service and just use any ol ATF. but if i had to make an educated guess hes trying to scare tactic you into some gravy work.

 

[rickinAZ]

Are you thinking a dealership will say "Oh, you have an Excel spreadsheet that you obviously didn't just make up on the spot, so we'll cover that warranty issue for you!"?

Point taken but, what my actual response to them is: "I didn't buy EcoDiesel-specific fuel filters every six months for the hell of it. What do you think I'm doing with them?"

That's what the Amazon online order history is for - hard to fake that. The Excel spread sheet is for my own use in keeping track of when (date/mileage) I changed oil, drained the fuel filter, replaced batteries, etc... I also pass it along to the next owner.

 

[Ratbert]

Over time I could buy products specific to my Jeep on Amazon and create false entries in the Jeep App as well.

The engine in my wife’s Infiniti left the chat just outside of the warranty with lots of metal chunks in places they didn’t belong. Upon inspection, the service advisor paperwork concluded it was due to not following the proper service intervals, When I pointed out that they were the dealership that did all the maintenance at proper intervals and he actually verified it on his computer, the reasons changed.

Yep, recording it in the Jeep app would be the thing to do. Not putting something into an Excel spreadsheet.

 

[natzuen]

If your in the USA the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act should protect you. The dealer would have to prove that an independent shop or you did the job improperly, so save receipts of everything you buy, and invoices from independent shops.

 

[Deen]

If your in the USA the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act should protect you. The dealer would have to prove that an independent shop or you did the job improperly, so save receipts of everything you buy, and invoices from independent shops.

Absolutely correct! You can do all the work you want on your vehicle. However, you have to keep all receipts and use only approved lubricants.
I just had my '21 JLUR diesel at the dealers for a CEL and the service writer verbally told me that warranty wouldn't cover anything because I had made so many modifications but didn't specify anything I did as the cause. This is illegal but I haven't written a complaint letter yet as this was just last week.

 

[Terrymo]

Yep, recording it in the Jeep app would be the thing to do. Not putting something into an Excel spreadsheet.

Just curious, because I’m tech challenged, Is there a way to digitally date Excel entries so they can’t be changed? Not sure why I’m curious, despite taking an Excel class I’m pretty inept.

 

[Deen]

Just curious, because I’m tech challenged, Is there a way to digitally date Excel entries so they can’t be changed? Not sure why I’m curious, despite taking an Excel class I’m pretty inept.

Used to teach classes in Excel, but that was 25 years ago. Yes, you could lock cells then password protect the sheet.

 

[GW’s JL]

If your in the USA the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act should protect you. The dealer would have to prove that an independent shop or you did the job improperly, so save receipts of everything you buy, and invoices from independent shops.

Yes! Here is the exact verbiage from the MMWA. It doesn’t prevent the dealer from trying to scare people unfortunately. They know most people don’t know their rights.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Technically, yes, it could be a warranty issue. That is why I have my oil changed by them for the 1st 5 years, 60K miles. If you have a 2021, when is your 5 year mark? Unless you have the extended warranty, beyond the 5 year mark it doesn't matter since you are past your warranty anyway. During the 0 to 5 year mark, for the dif and transfer case, do it yourself. The odds of a diff or transfer case going bad in the 1st 5 years is less than your engine going bad and changing the fluid in those at home is very easy to do. As far as the coolant, it is not required at 40K.

 

[Deen]

Yes! Here is the exact verbiage from the MMWA. It doesn’t prevent the dealer from trying to scare people unfortunately. They know most people don’t know their rights.

The problem is it's a Federal Law. To fight it requires taking it to Federal Court and that used to be a minimum of $25,000. So usually too expensive and time consuming to fight over.

 

[GW’s JL]

The problem is it's a Federal Law. To fight it requires taking it to Federal Court and that used to be a minimum of $25,000. So usually too expensive and time consuming to fight over.

Actually MMWA also covers that, the consumer has the right to arbitration at no cost. No lawyers involved. The arbitration process is outlined in the warranty booklet. 99% of consumers don’t even know about it. I was a tech at a dealer for 12 years and was part of two arbitrations as the diagnosing tech. The process is heavily weighted in the customer’s favor. We lost both cases that were obvious customer abuse.

I do understand many are uncomfortable standing up to a dealer/OEM. In those cases it’s probably better to do everything at the dealer.

“The automotive warranty arbitration programs are free of charge for Consumers as required by the Magnuson-Moss Federal Warranty Act. As also required by the Magnuson-Moss Federal Warranty Act, funding for the automotive warranty arbitration programs comes from the Automakers.”

 

[bcupton]

I don’t believe doing your own maintenance would void the warranty. But they will try anything to get out of paying.
Im about to to the rear diff (@6,500miles) to get build debris dust out. Had the tranny flushed at 5K. Just me.

 

[Ratbert]

Just curious, because I’m tech challenged, Is there a way to digitally date Excel entries so they can’t be changed? Not sure why I’m curious, despite taking an Excel class I’m pretty inept.

You can lock the cells and password protect the sheet (as noted by @Deen), but that doesn't do anything to stop you (the person that has the password) from creatively entering fake details hours before taking it to the dealership.

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