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sparkto

Spark Member
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  1. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from Bobby MSME in Tire rotation and oil change for 2017 spark.   
    I have a '17 Spark, owned it for 2 and a half years now. I exhausted my freebie oil changes for the first 4 changes, but I finally bit the bullet and started changing my own oil. Since I'm an amateur, it takes me longer since I have to figure out how to properly jack the car up without the best tools to do it. As it stands, I think your best bet is just to regularly look at the oil and check the basics: is it low? Does the color look good? If it looks good and isn't low, there's no reason to change it before the indicator goes off. The Sparks' 5W-20 blend is super thin and lasts longer than older, thicker oil blends.
     
    In so far as rotating tires, I have now switch out winter tires every November, so I end up rotating them when I do the seasonal switch.
     
    One thing I think is that oil change shops are seriously overbilling for the 5W-20 blend, I spent nearly $80 before I decided to do my own oil changes. Now I grab a 5L bottle of SuperTech 5W-20 at Walmart for well under $20, buy a FRAM filter under $5 and bam, I have a sub-$30 oil change. I'm not sure why it takes $80 for an oil shop to do the change (takes all of 10 mins labour), and I see no need to waste the cash any longer at an oil shop where they over-torque the oil drain plug/screw.
  2. Like
    sparkto reacted to Bobby MSME in Tires cupping and trashed at 22,000 miles?!   
    I sort of realized it, but the subject matter never gets old! 
  3. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from LittleBlue! in Dealer doesn’t carry parts   
    As mentioned, dealers can order parts that aren't in stock. But if its something you can install, just head to an online shop and order it direct to your home. I've found it the easiest way to replace parts (I had the plastic piece fall out of my back liftgate/door, for example). If you get a dealer to do anything, they'll gladly charge you an $80 installation fee for 5 minutes of work on a part that might be $5-10.
  4. Like
    sparkto reacted to Jim2029 in Dealer doesn’t carry parts   
    Any dealer can order the parts. The Spark isn't a high profit car to sell, so not many dealers sell them. If they are not sold, then they don't come in for service and parts are not billed out. This leads to the GM computer that handles inventory for dealerships to not ship out parts for stock in dealerships.

    I'm a Parts Manager at a GM dealership....
  5. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from LittleBlue! in Passenger Air Bag Light   
    I know this is an old topic, but on my visits to the US I noticed the difference between the light in the Canadian model and the US model of the Spark.
     
    My comments apply exclusively to the 2016 and later Spark models. If you are tired of seeing the blaring lit "PASSENGER AIRBAG" light and the words "ON" and "OFF" in bold, full led lighting, you do have one option. Order a module from Canada. The Canadian models have symbols that are less distracting at night. There are three symbols: one showing airbag on, one showing airbag disabled, and an unrelated symbol indicating the seatbelt is not connected in the passenger seat.
     
    Assembly is simple, you take off the dome light cover as if you're changing the light, there are two screws that take the entire assembly down, you pop it off and pop in the plastic part. For $20 you can switch it out and not have this US mandated light pollution in your eye while you drive, yet you still have a fully functional device that shows when the airbag is enabled on the passenger side.
     
    Its a brilliant solution for anyone who hasn't thought of it.
  6. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from Bobby MSME in does anyone like the cvt?   
    Its slightly more noticeable on a very cold start, but then again any transmission would probably need some warm up time when it gets below certain temps. This past winter wasn't particularly bitter cold here, but it has certainly lingered around until April.
     
    I'm just glad its a feature and not a bug, I haven't had any problems with the transmission what-so-ever, it just takes getting used to two step CVT, it is an experience I never had with any other vehicle.
     
    P.S. the only thing I don't like about Ontario is how much salt they pour down. When I lived in Manitoba, it could certainly get a grade colder there than here, but they used sand. Vehicles never really rust there. I wished more locations would use sand, salt just corrodes everything.
  7. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from Retired old Gearhead in Spark myths   
    I'm not a mechanic, I've never even changed my own oil (which I would like to change if I ever figure out where to take the oil or a way to get the car up off the ground comfortably to do it myself). But anyway, what I do for oil maintenance is just wait for the light to tell me, and I periodically check the oil to ensure its not low or doesn't look super dirty. I've found the gauge tends to go off every 12,000km (7400 miles for my American friends), which seems reasonable to me. The new types of oil that are being produced and the type of engine this runs in tends to work well on this schedule.
     
    So far I've only had two oil changes, and I'm at 30k right now, next change will likely happen at 36k on schedule. No problems to report, the oil didn't look ridiculously dirty during any of my last oil changes. I've not even had my Spark for a year yet (took delivery last July), so at this rate I estimate I'll probably have around 40k in my first year of driving come summer.
  8. Like
    sparkto got a reaction from Retired old Gearhead in Tires cupping and trashed at 22,000 miles?!   
    Dealer maintenance shops are no better or worse than other shops, you get good or bad service anywhere depending on who is doing the work. But, the main reason I don't depend on dealership maintenance after a warranty period is purely price and convenience. Dealership service for things like oil changes or tires tends to be slower and less convenient, and they tend to be on the pricier side. That's not to say you can't get good service, but the hour or two hour wait oil change at a dealer has happened more than once in my life, and I don't have the time to wait on something that takes all of 10 minutes to do, and then pay a premium price for it.
     
    In summary, yes: do your warranty maintenance at the dealer, but find a non-dealership shop for all other items you need service with. You'll save money and time in the long run. And often you can build a relationship with an independent shop you won't have with a dealer.
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