DIY Maintenance?
 

I know you guys are all car freaks, so I'm curious to know how much of the Protégé's routine maintenance (oil change, tune-up, etc.) you guys do by yourselves.

Is it easy to do, do it require any special tools, are the parts expensive?

Thanks in advance.

Oil Changes are easy to do them all you need is new oil (3.5 quarts if you are changing the filter as well), new oil filter (can be changed every other time), If Im remembering correctly its a 11mm bolt on the oil pan, if the oil filter sticks "gently" poke a screw driver throuh it to unscrew it. Put ya its pretty easy. Theres a lot of rambling up there sorry ;).

YEP.....sure do....and NORMAL maintenance is pretty basic on cars now a days....change oil....change spark plugs once in a blue moon.....new air filter once in a while.....

if you look in the back of the cars manual it has a maintenance schedule and what should be done or is RECOMMENDED to be done and how often.....

as for changing the oil....well I don't know EXACTLY what size it is...but the drain plut is bigger than 11 mm.....its more like 15 or 17mm....but anyway.....

Oil filters are cheep.....change them EVERY oil change...its cheep insurance......if you search the forum you will find a lot of debate on what kinds of filters are the best....Persoanlly....I stick with OEM filters from mazda.....

a piece of normal maintenance that a lot of people totally forget about ..... rotating their tires to ensure you get the longest life out of them.....if you have a P5/MP3/MSP.....rotate the tires from back to front and front to back EVERY oil change.....as in every 3000 miles.....the manual actually says like every 3750 miles for tire rotation for those models but every oil change is easy to remember....and since I have done this....the milage I am getting from my tires is a lot more than what most of the people here are getting out of them....

cost.....oil is NOT that expensive....certainly cheaper for you to buy it yourself than what you will pay a mechanic for it.....and if you buy it by the case you can sometimes get a cheaper rate per quart......not to mention if you buy a case....and like 4 filters....you don't have to make a trip to the store just to change the oil when you realize its time....its just a matter of getting your tools and doing the job.

Warrenty inquiry.
 

Hello Fellow MP5 drivers. :) Im a newbie, have owned my P5 since Sept 2002, and love my new car, tho i have found myself drooling recently over the new Mazda6 and MSP hehe :P None the less im still a proud owner :) I am postin to inquire about a warrenty issue. Recently I brougth my car in for its first oil change to the dealer, it was my first 8000 kms so following the maintenance sched i brought it in. They had my car for 20 mins and when i received my bill was appalled at the price.. 64 dollars!!!!. they had apparently done some 8000 kms inspection as well, they said it was like a second PDI. I, being not so knowledgable about carsand warrenties, etc etc figured it was mandatory to keep my warrently void. Upon arriving back home i had spoken with my brother-in-law and he said it didnt seem right. and that no it shouldnt effect my warrenty if i dont get this lil inspection thing done. I had asked the dealer am i to expect a bill like this everytime?? and they said yes.. i think that is rediculous.. i looked over the sheet they filled out for the "inspection" and found that everything they "checked" (tires, belts, fluids, lights...) is all stuff that i would normally get checked for an oil change say if i brought my car to someone like canadian tire. Can someone here pls tell me that if i want to save myself some money would bringing my car to someone like Canadian Tire for an oil change would it void my warrenty??
Thanx for ur inputs.
Jasper

That is really unusually for them to charge you to check your fluids and air pressure. Usually that comes pretty standard anytime you change your oil at my dealership. Maybe it is time for you to go to another dealership for your oil change or find another shop. I do not know much about how the warranty is up in Canada, but your warranty can not be voided due to you bring it to another shop. Just remember to keep the receipts so that you can prove that you changed the oil following their guidelines. My dealership charges me around 20 bucks to change my oil and check my fluids and tire pressure.

Amen to that. I let the dealership take care of mine, not much space around here for do it yourselfing (plus I already got griped at by the apt. once for working on a vehicle). But every 3750, or half the recommended mileage from the manual, I take it in and have them do an oil change and tire rotation. Every 15k I have the tires balanced. Keeps everything running nice and smooth. I also run Mobil1 with the OEM filters.

Re: Warrenty inquiry.
 

Hello Jasper and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have.

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

To answer your question....for you to keep your warranty valid for the length of its term....you do NOT have to have your dealer do ANY of the prescribed maintenance......in fact you don't have to do any of it....it would be kind of stupid....seeing as how those things are there to keep your car running and lasting as long as possible...but you do NOT have to have a dealer perform them....in fact...you NEVER have to have a dealer do any of the maintenance and it has NO BEARING on your warranty at all. Do all the simple stuff yourself....or take it where you like.....you will ALWAYS pay the highest price at the dealer.....

$16.95 for an oil change plus car wash at Jeff Haas. I don't think thats too bad. They only charge like 7 or 8 if you bring your own oil.