really simple questions

[blueladybug]

Hello,

I just joined the forums, and have a few really random, probably stupid questions about my Versa.

Mine is a 2007 Versa SL with CVT. Sapphire blue, if you're wondering.

Really dumb question alert: Is it okay to get the oil changed at a quick-lube (10 minute place)? I'm usually okay with going to the dealership, since they've treated me well so far, but for some reason this month, they don't have any deals on oil changes there. I'm not okay with paying $50 for an oil change. The reason I ask, is most quick-lube places will check/fill the transmission fluid, but I know that they won't have the proper fluid. I can just tell them to not touch the transmission fluid, and it will be okay, right?

Possible dumb question: Every so often I get a random beeping noise. Its a random quick beep. It doesn't have any sort of frequency, it just comes up at really weird times. The last time it happened I was going through a car wash, with it in park (like the facility instructed), and when the washing thing (don't know the technical term) passed the driver's door, I got the rapid beep. It went away when I hit the window lock button twice, but it was weird nonetheless. Have any of you experienced this?

Okay, enough with my dumb questions. All input is greatly appreciated

[Versagirlie]

I go to ezlube, havent had a problem I just hate them washing my windows...haha

and for the beep if you have the key fob maybe the washer thing hit the button to lock/unlock but because the fob was inside with you it would beep.

[Ever Victorious]

Really dumb question alert: Is it okay to get the oil changed at a quick-lube (10 minute place)? I'm usually okay with going to the dealership, since they've treated me well so far, but for some reason this month, they don't have any deals on oil changes there. I'm not okay with paying $50 for an oil change. The reason I ask, is most quick-lube places will check/fill the transmission fluid, but I know that they won't have the proper fluid. I can just tell them to not touch the transmission fluid, and it will be okay, right?

You can do this, but I wouldn't trust most quick lube places not to do something really stupid. The last one told me that my license plate bulbs were burned out, and wanted to charge me to replace them. Told them "no, i'll do it myself"... they grumbled but didn't change them. Drove around the block to the parts store and found that the lights actually worked perfectly fine.

$50 for an oil change is excessive unless you're getting a full synthetic service. Here's some food for thought, though.

I personally take mine to a GM Goodwrench quicklane at my local Chevy dealership. They stock filters for all kinds of cars there, and the filters are the same quality as OEM (heck, there's a chance that they were even made in the same factory as "Nissan" OEM filters), their service is much MUCH faster than my Nissan dealer, they do EXACTLY what I do or do not want them to do, they wash my car for free when done, and they're only a hair more expensive than a chain quick lube store.

Quote »Possible dumb question: Every so often I get a random beeping noise. Its a random quick beep. It doesn't have any sort of frequency, it just comes up at really weird times. The last time it happened I was going through a car wash, with it in park (like the facility instructed), and when the washing thing (don't know the technical term) passed the driver's door, I got the rapid beep. It went away when I hit the window lock button twice, but it was weird nonetheless. Have any of you experienced this?[/quote]The facility instructed you to put it in park? odd... normally they want it in neutral..

In any case, I'm guessing you have the Convenience package with the iKey?

If so, what's happening is the request button(s) are being depressed by the car wash itself. Since you're sitting inside the vehicle, it's reading your key and trying to process the request. However, since the car has positional sensors and can tell that the key is INSIDE the car, not outside, the beeping is warning you that you're trying to lock your keys in the car, and not allowing the doors to do so.

washing my first Versa, which had the iKey, drove me a little nuts. I had to leave my keys in the house, as far away from the car as I could, because it would lock and unlock every time I passed the washing mitt over the request buttons.

[blueladybug]

I go to ezlube, havent had a problem I just hate them washing my windows...haha

and for the beep if you have the key fob maybe the washer thing hit the button to lock/unlock but because the fob was inside with you it would beep.

Ah, that makes sense for the beeping thing! I knew it was a stupid question

BTW, love your icon!

[blueladybug]

$50 for an oil change is excessive unless you're getting a full synthetic service. Here's some food for thought, though.

I personally take mine to a GM Goodwrench quicklane at my local Chevy dealership. They stock filters for all kinds of cars there, and the filters are the same quality as OEM (heck, there's a chance that they were even made in the same factory as "Nissan" OEM filters), their service is much MUCH faster than my Nissan dealer, they do EXACTLY what I do or do not want them to do, they wash my car for free when done, and they're only a hair more expensive than a chain quick lube store.

That $50 is what my Nissan dealer wants when they don't run a sale, but they have always had an e-coupon for me to use, which brings it to $20/25 depending on the month. I will have the check and see if my the chevy dealers around here have that quicklane. Do you need an appointment for that?

[Ever Victorious]

That $50 is what my Nissan dealer wants when they don't run a sale, but they have always had an e-coupon for me to use, which brings it to $20/25 depending on the month. I will have the check and see if my the chevy dealers around here have that quicklane. Do you need an appointment for that?

Nope. Quicklanes operate like quick lube places. Get in, get out, get going. Usually takes a little over a half hour for me, including the car wash.

You can also check to see if they have coupons available as well at goodwrench.com ... though right now it doesn't look like they have any.

[shakoz]

not dumb questions at all, blueladybug. i was wondering about oil changes myself.

[keanucosmo]

I use a local tire store that I've been doing business with for a couple of years to do my oil changes. If you bought your tires from them, they rotate & re-balance for free when you get an oil change. The main reason I use them is they have all the service information in their computer system, and I have access to it. If you use a quik lube place, check to see if they do this. If not make sure to keep the receipt in case you need to prove maintenance for a warranty claim.

[IMHungry]

The only point that I would make about having service done elsewhere is simply if the filter doesn't say "Nissan" on it, it gives Nissan the right to refuse a warranty claim if they believe that the filter was the cause of the problem.

Case in point. We had a customer come into our dealership with a blown mass air flow sensor. The reason the sensor failed was because the customer had an oil change done at a generic quick lube place. He was upsold a new air filter (not oem) that didn't seal the air box properly. Some dirt got past the filter seal and through the screen and fried the sensor. As soon as Nissan knew that there was an aftermarket filter on it (and they did ask because it's very unusual to have this sort of problem) they refused the claim and the customer was forced to pay for the repair.

I keep the old air flow sensor in my office as a reminder so that when a customer asks me if it's okay to service the vehicle elsewhere I always suggest that it's fine as long as they use genuine Nissan filters and I relate the above story.

I certainly don't want to get into a huge debate about our rights as Nissan owners, I'm just relating an actual story that happened to one of my customers. YMMV

[blindsnyper]

i dont trust people so i change my own oil and hand wash my V

[Rand0m0sityxX]

The only point that I would make about having service done elsewhere is simply if the filter doesn't say "Nissan" on it, it gives Nissan the right to refuse a warranty claim if they believe that the filter was the cause of the problem.

=

they shouldn't have done that. Its ok to use an oil filter from somewhere else as long as you keep the log of the changes being done on time. I do mine myself with a synthetic filter and oil. And I keep all the log down and all to show its been done properly, then you warranty doesn't void if something goes wrong.

[blueladybug]

In the spirit of not causing a huge debate (at your request)....

The case you sited is somebody getting upsold on the air filter, not getting an oil change done. So in your story, the off-site oil change was not the problem, it was the consumer that didn't know how to say no. Just having a non-Nissan labeled oil filter under the hood is not enough of a reason to refuse any and all further warranty claims.

However, I will say that at least in Maryland, it is illegal to refuse a warranty claim based on not getting the service done at the dealership (which is the only way to get a "nissan" labeled oil filter in the car). Just warning you that if you get somebody who knows the consumer protection laws of his/her state , you could have to department of consumer protection breathing down your neck.

[kc5f]

...getting the service done at the dealership (which is the only way to get a "nissan" labeled oil filter in the car)...

I buy oil and air filters from my Nissan dealer's parts department and provide them to whoever does the service. Then there's no question!

[DejaWiz]

Most express service places are okay.

Just ask 2 questions: - Do the filters meet or exceed OEM specifications?- Is the oil new and not recycled? (yes, some places still use recycled oil and it's a very, very bad thing)

[KimberKenobi]

i dont trust people so i change my own oil and hand wash my V

See, I always take the Camel to the dealership and get my oil changed, stuff checked, and my Camel washed for $26... Too bad they're now 100 miles away...

[KimberKenobi]

Dude... your sig is ridiculously huge... Go on photobucket and edit that puppy down... 600 pixels is the max width... you'll need to clip out some background ... i think 2 or 300 is the max height...

[frankoV]

See, I always take the Camel to the dealership and get my oil changed, stuff checked, and my Camel washed for $26... Too bad they're now 100 miles away...

Why did they move?

[Ever Victorious]

Why did they move?

because the world is Kimbercentric and she stayed still.

(Kimber moved a couple months ago, from Berea to Louisville)

[KimberKenobi]

because the world is Kimbercentric and she stayed still.

Damn straight!!

(guess I can change my hometown on here too huhn?)

(random: I saw one of the peoples on my "theme cars" group on CarDomain because I moved... we've passed eachother twice now while going to work... /random)