I went to the dealer and they wanted $159.99 for the check. After lookign at m warranty book it looks like oil change, tire rotation and other minor things are involved. Anyone have any opinion on going to a buddys garage if he is a mechanic? Also, I need my warranty booklet to get stamped. Can my buddy do that at his shop?

You think Acura Dealerships would stamp the book after the 20k mile check has been done even if you did not go to a dealer?

Thanks for any insight!!!!

 

Its OK to go to a mechanic other than the dealer. I would hope you choose a qualified mechanic, buddy or not. If he's a buddy, so much the better.

I've had my car in to the local dealer for service several times now and not once did they stamp my booklet. I seriously doubt that the dealer will want to stamp it if they didn't perform the service (i.e. if you buddy did it instead). I think the most important thing is that you have some proof that the service was performed by a qualified mechanic at the specified interval (or sooner). I rely on receipts for my proof. Some folks change their own oil so there is no service receipt to show. In that case I would at least keep a receipt from when you purchased the oil & filter.

 

I concur with jlukja. The dealership has never stamped my book. I also keep every receipt for the car no matter what the service. Luckily, I have a certified mechanic right by my house so I go there for the smaller, unwarrantied items.

 

Agreed. As long as you go to a decent shop and keep the receipts, you shouldn't have a problem. I also log all my services in Owner Link. They have a nifty maintenance log you can use to keep track of everything.

 

Those service booklets are one of the greatest scare tactics the dealers give you to ensure that you always pay the overpriced fees for routine inspections.

Your dealer does have a small pamphlet you can get for free that has the recommended inspection and service items at every major service interval. The info is also in the manual, but I like having the pamphlet as an easy guide. My recommendation is to throw out the booklet and pick up the pamphlet.

 

Yeah the shop is a Ford Dealer actually and my buddy said he has a good mechanic that would do the 20,000 check for a case of beer and dinner or something which is perfect- (and incidentally, a lot cheaper than $170)... the only thing is I want to be crystal clear that the receipt that he gives me with the items that were checked (each of the 8-10 things that needs to be completely with the 20,000 mile check) is valid to keep my warranty up to date-

 

Do it yourself and drink the beer............

 

You think though if I take it to Acura Dealer AFTER the fact they will restart that annoying 'MAINT REQ'D' blinking warning light?

 

or you can reset it yourself. Read this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ntenance+reset

 

is that for 05 TSX MAINT REQD? It appears like that is for oil check or something on 06' models... is this process the same?

 

OK, this is reposted from another thread, works for 04/05:
follow this procedure and your blinking "maintenance required" light should reset.

 

you are the man- thanks jlukja