GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

gumby · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 12:07 AM

I agree that the maintenance 'minder will tell you - most things.
And that the traditional x service at y miles thing is not-so-much with this car (and many of the newer cars).
There ARE some exceptions. If you drive very little, you should get the oil changed once a year, max. The maintenance 'minder probably will not tell you this.
And I've heard that if you drive very little, some of the calculations the maintenance 'minder does may not be as accurate.

Also, there are some rules-of-thumb.
For example, if the service code for changing transmission fluid does NOT appear before 30,000 miles - get it done anyway! I plan to have mine done every 25K (or sooner, if it tells me to. That's the important one I can think of at this moment.

One more thing: it will not alert you to simple, every-week (or so) tasks.
Like checking tire pressure, oil level, etc. And, use common sense. If you HEAR the brakes squeaking or grinding, get it checked out. Don't wait, expecting the car to "magically" figure it out (and display a code). It may not check this particular item - and can't check every item (or the system would cost more than the car!).
There are often many, many thousand miles between the scheduled services (ones that the maintenance 'minder tells you about). Many things *could* happen between them.