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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. I recently purchased a 2000 Honda Accord. The salesman at the dealership where I bought my car told me that in order to keep my warranty valid, that I would need to bring the car back to them for service. I was told that only genuine Honda parts were to be used during the warranty period. Is this true?
A. I've heard this same type of statement from other car manufactures and it is very misleading to the consumer.
Under the Magunson-Moss Warranty Act and general principle of the Federal Trade Commission Act, a manufacturer may not require the use of any brand of filter or any other part, unless the manufacturer
provides the item free of charge under the terms of the warranty. An equipment manufacturer can obtain a waiver if it proves to the FTC that the equipment would function properly only if certain brands of filters or
other parts are used. The FTC must be satisfied that this is in the public interest, and this waiver must be published in the Federal Register. This is a "waiver" of the prohibitions on conditions of written warranty.
Since you have been told that you must bring it back to them for service, the you can demand that the brand name replacement parts be provided free of charge. Should such a demand be rejected, then you can demand that the dealership provide you with a copy of the warrantor's approved FTC application for a waiver. You should also be aware that you may have additional rights under applicable state warranty law which vary from state to state.
Q. I recently had my 1994 Buick Le Sabre at another garage in Green Valley for service and the mechanic told me that I needed to have my radiator flushed and new coolant installed. I didn't have it done because my brother in law said that I only need to do it if I plan on driving in a cold climate. Is it necessary or is my brother in law right? P.S. my car has 94,000 miles on the odometer.
A. Your brother in law must never have been stranded by the side of the road with an overheated vehicle before or he wouldn't have given you that bit of advice. Regardless of whether you drive in a cold climate or a hot climate, cooling systems need to be cleaned periodically. Coolant breaks down over time and they lose there ability
to protect against corrosion and rust as well as there ability to lubricate parts like the water pump. For your particular vehicle I would definately recommend a cooling system flush and fill. You didn't mention whether the radiator hoses and heater hoses are the original ones. If they are, the by all means replace all of the hoses and the thermostat, because with 94, 000 miles on the car, they are well past there prime.
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