Fellow ATV'ers,

Be careful of any dealer who threatens to void the warranty on your ATV if you change your own oil. Any dealer who makes such a statement should be reported to the manufacturer and your local Better Business Bureau. It is a common ploy of unethical establishments to take advanatage of you. Federal courts have upheld the rights of owners to provide their own preventive maintenance with no impact on the manufacturer's warranty. All you must do is keep a written record of the work having been done at the specified intervals. This also applies to those situations where repairs become necessary during the warranty period. Many a dealer has bluffed owners into paying for expensive repairs only to turn around an apply for additional warranty reimbursement from the manufacturer.

Thats just like the kn thing bout a dealer cant void the warrenty if they add one unless the dealer gives them away

My post refers to warranties that originate from the manufacturer, not the dealer. Some dealers might offer third-party, extended warranties to increase profits and cover for more unreliable models where the manufacturer does not offer one. But truthfully, why would you want to buy such an ATV when even the manufacturer does not believe that it will last beyond the initial warranty period.

Most consumer groups wil tell you that extended warranties (when available) generate significant profits for the retailer. In most cases it is best to refuse them and take confidence in the fact that the manufacturer is expressing confidence in the projected reliability of the product.

There is a federal law which states that a manufacturer must prove that modifications made by the purchaser caused the problem in question. That doesn't mean that you won't get hassled by the dealer. For something as easy to change as a filter, you are better off putting the stock one back in when taking it in to the dealer. I have a '99 F250 4x4 that had 30" All-Season tires on it. I run 33" Mudders and a K&N. I will put the stock stuff back on if I have to take it in, just to save the hassle. I'll wait until the warranty is up (less than 5000 miles to go) before I make any other changes.