How do you handle maintenance for your Kia? Do you do it yourself, take it to a mechanic, or go to the dealership?
Is it better to do your own maintenance to save money over time?
I make sure to upload all my car’s maintenance records to Carfax.
It really depends on whether your car is still under warranty. As long as the required maintenance is done, it doesn’t matter where you do it.
If it’s under warranty, though, you need to have documentation to back it up for any warranty claims. It’s easier to get this proof from a dealer or professional shop. If you do it yourself, you’ll need to keep all receipts, logs, and maybe even upload photos to apps as evidence.
I like giving my dealer some business because it helps build a relationship. I also enjoy chatting with the mechanics and having a better experience overall. My local mechanic is good but their waiting area isn’t the best.
@Amal
Yeah, you’re right about needing proof for warranty work. I keep all my receipts, whether I do the work myself or take it to a shop.
I agree about local mechanics—they can be hit or miss sometimes.
I do most of the work myself except for things like transmission fluid changes. For recalls, I go to the dealer.
One time, I took my Telluride to the dealer for a recall and decided to get an oil change too. Two hours later, they said my car was ready, but they brought me the wrong vehicle. When they finally found mine, it hadn’t even been touched. They refunded the oil change and offered me free car washes. This was at Kia of Wesley Chapel.
@Evren
Wow, that’s ridiculous.
I always do my own maintenance.
Bela said:
I always do my own maintenance.
Same here. Changing your own oil, tires, and fluids feels more satisfying than paying someone else to do it.
Bela said:
I always do my own maintenance.
Same here. Changing your own oil, tires, and fluids feels more satisfying than paying someone else to do it.
I handle most repairs myself, but I skip oil changes because disposing of used oil is a hassle. I just replaced the coils on my car after getting a misfire code (P0303).
@Ellison
You can dispose of used oil at Advance Auto for free. Other fluids like coolant are harder to deal with, though. My city has only one drop-off facility, and it’s open during my work hours.
I’ve also tried taking used parts to a dealer, but they just throw them away. Now I take everything to a recycling center that handles scrap metal.
@Bennie
The reason places accept used oil is because they sell it back to companies that process it. Oil can be reused, so there’s money in it. That’s why they don’t take non-oil fluids.
Bela said:
I always do my own maintenance.
Happy anniversary on the forum!
I go to the dealership. I’m not good with tools and don’t drive enough to save much by going to an independent mechanic. My dealer is close by, usually on time, and they even pay for my Uber if I need it. They wash my car too, so it’s worth it for routine things like oil changes. For major repairs, though, I’d go elsewhere because of the cost.
@Arley
Same here. I’ve got the tools and experience, but working in freezing weather or a wet driveway isn’t for me anymore.
The dealer has free Wi-Fi, snacks, coffee, and a clean waiting area. It’s worth paying a little more for the convenience and getting recalls done at the same time.
I do both depending on the situation.
I go to the dealership.
I used to take my car to the dealer while it was under warranty. After that, I started doing things like fluid and filter changes myself.
I’ve also done brake jobs and even replaced a water pump, which was about the limit of what I can handle. Dealer prices were way too high for that job, so I saved a lot doing it myself.
I’ll keep doing my own work as long as I can, but it’s definitely getting harder as I get older.
I handle regular maintenance and minor repairs myself. For things like alignments that need special tools, I go to a mechanic.
I split it up. I take my car to the dealer for oil changes and big jobs, but I handle smaller stuff like wipers and filters myself.
If I can find a good tutorial online, I’ll do it myself. For jobs that need special tools or a lot of work, like replacing a head gasket, I take it to a shop.
Doing it myself saves money. For example, when my back latch broke, I fixed it at home and didn’t have to spend hundreds at a shop.