I keep hearing "I wouldn't buy any car without up to date service records" Just exactly what records are they talking about? My car hasn't been to a dealer in quite a few years & God willing won't be anytime soon. All routine maintenance is done by me, i.e. oil change, brakes, rotors, tune-up, etc, etc. For the last 6 years, I've been the service mgr & mechanic. If the car has had no major repair & just routine maintenance by you, what records are we talking about? Just curious.

tracer1

 

A lot of people would never let a dealer tech work on their own car but wouldnt buy a car unless it had dealer work done because they dont trust the original owner to have done it correctly. Others must have every single receipt ever spent on oil, brakes, etc. I have even talked to some guys that wanted mileage records on the receipts so they can verify the mileage between oil changes.

 

People want to look at the service records just to see if the car has had any major problems.

 

Oh, I agree......This is what I was thinking when I said "service records". I thought maybe they were talking about every oil change from a dealer, not just a receipt. Anybody that thinks a receipt is a service record can't be serious. A receipt doesn't mean it was performed correctly nor does it mean it was done that day nor does it mean it was done at all. I can go to wally world, buy 5 qts of mobil 1 & filter. Does this prove i did the oil change @ 3000 ,3500, 0r 4000 or if I did it at all. Same thing with coolant, brake pads, anything. If I write the mileage down, how does anyone know if that was the correct mileage. Maybe get it notarized & 2 witnesses. Again, I agree with you baxsom. I just can't understand how someone could interpret these as "service records". That's like saying people don't lie about their income tax returns either.

tracer1

 

Yea, that's what I was talking about in the OP. What if there has been no major repairs or if there has but no "service record" produced. How would you know? Unless you know the dealer or shop that works on the car, you wouldn't. Afterall, the guy didn't have a receipt for it & you're sure he's honest, LOL. You do realize there are some unscrupulous & dishonest people out there, right? For example...Was a guy on the forum a few days back, just bought his vette, a Z I think. Wanted to know what this plug was on his LS6 intake. Turns out, it was a f-body intake. Not a big deal, it can be changed back, unless the engine was a f-body also. Really felt bad for him.
Yea, "service records aka receipts" would really ease my mind, LOL

tracer1

 

Some people don't think through what they think is the appropiate demand for a service record. They just "parrot" what they hear from others. Yes, there are service records, but it's nothing set in stone nor do people maintain a mileage log/maintenance log and if they did I would question their mental state. I'm a product of decades in the Army and Marines using log books for so long It made me hate taking the damn things and writing in them.

The true state of a vehicle is determined by the test drive and visual inspections.

 

:QUOTE=sfc rick;1578158768]Some people don't think through what they think is the appropiate demand for a service record. They just "parrot" what they hear from others. Yes, there are service records, but it's nothing set in stone nor do people maintain a mileage log/maintenance log and if they did I would question their mental state. I'm a product of decades in the Army and Marines using log books for so long It made me hate taking the damn things and writing in them.

The true state of a vehicle is determined by the test drive and visual inspections.[/QUOTE]


That's what I was saying.....You said it better.

tracer1

 

I had a member pull up the service records on a 01 I was looking to buy back in 2009. Helpful info. to know, I tried to contact him on the z I have now but no reply.

 

Here's what I do - In a three ring binder, I keep an Excel spreadsheet that lists date, mileage, service performed (even if just by me such as oil changes), cost, and a receipt/invoice number for parts/labor/etc. Then I also keep the receipt/invoice in the file with a cross reference to the spreadsheet and in date order.

When I sold my '00 three years ago, I was able to hand the new owner the binder with all the maintenance records, mods purchased, etc so they could see what had been done to the car during my ownership. I personally think this puts the buyer at ease knowing what has been done.

Is what I do overkill - perhaps to some and does it prove I really did the work on the car - in some people's eyes, no. But for my own satisfaction I know my records on the car are complete and that proper maintenance has been documented. It also gave the buyer the cost of what mods were done on the car, where I got them and who did the install. Just extra info I guess and did not take that long to document things once the spreadsheet was developed.

 

Like Vetteman Jack,I have an excel sheet on all my cars from the day I got it till now with service entries by date,mileage,parts used and who did the work.

I don't keep paper,sine 99% of the work is routine maint work done by me.

I rarely sell anything,but when I have I got my asking price due to the service log.

\db2
carolina

 

I keep a small maintenance book in the car for oil changes and other work done. I also have a spread sheet for all of my cars and keep the records cross referenced. I keep track of anything that I add or work done on the car. Some people don't care that I have done that, but others think it is great. I do it just the same.

 

I really chuckle when I look at my 2001's service log.... on the one hand, I think to myself, "I wouldn't buy this thing, every possible thing that could go wrong on a C5, has (some, multiple times)." On the other hand, I think, "gee, everything that ever goes wrong on a C5 has been fixed!"

 

Do I think it's overkill.......no, of course not. I commend all you guys for your fine record keeping. I know who to see to buy a car from. I (and probably a lot of guys) have just never been that diligent in doing it. There's absolutely nothing wrong in doing that. I always thought, when I heard the term "service record", people were talking about work/service that had been documented from a dealer. And that's probably just me. I was just curious as to what the term service record meant to others. Now I know.
Again, keep up the good work, that's great.

tracer1

 

How about some of you guys who use excel spread sheets to keep your records on show us a blank copy of one. I would be interested to see what all you include in your records. I'm not much with the computer but my wife could make one up for me if she knew what to put on it.

 

Auto Service Record & Checklist

Vehicle : ____________________

Date : ____________________

Mileage : ___________________


OIL CHANGE SERVICE (every 7,500 miles or annually) COMPLETED

Change Oil and Oil Filter with: _____________________________________/ __________
Check Transmission Fluid Level and add as necessary _________________ / __________ Check Brake Fluid Level and add as necessary________________________/ _________
Check Power Steering Fluid Level and add as necessary ________________/_________ Check Coolant Level and add as necessary___________________________ / _________
Check Engine Coolant Hoses & Clamps for Leaks & correct if necessary ____/_________ Check Windshield Washer Fluid and add as necessary __________________/_________
Check Windshield Wiper Condition and change if necessary______________/ _________
Check Tires for proper inflation and wear and adjust as necessary ________/__________
Check Engine Accessory Drive Belt Condition and change if necessary_____/__________
Check Battery Terminals and Electrolyte Level and correct if necessary___ / _________
________________________________________ __________________________________
________________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________________ ___________________________________


30,000 MILE SERVICE (or every 24 months) COMPLETED

Complete all steps included in the OIL CHANGE SERVICE listed above plus the following: Change Air Filter__________________________________ ________________/ _________
Flush Engine Cooling System & replace with fresh coolant________________/ _________
Change Transmission Fluid & Filter__________________________________ _ / __________
Flush Brake System & replace with new fluid___________________________/ _________
Rotate Tires and Check balance_________________________________ ____/ _________
________________________________________ __________________________________ ________________________________________ __________________________________ ________________________________________ __________________________________

60,000 MILE SERVICE (or every 48 months) COMPLETED

Complete all steps included in the OIL CHANGE SERVICE and 30,000 MILE SERVICE listed
Above plus the following:

Change Engine Spark Plugs ________________________________________ _/_________
Change Rear Axle Fluid ________________________________________ _____/_________
Change Fuel Filter ________________________________________ _________/_________
________________________________________ __________________________________ ________________________________________ __________________________________ ________________________________________ __________________________________


This is a "universal" form or checklist I use when working on any of my cars. I attach receipts for parts I bought and work performed by others at the appropriate date. How valuable is this, I don't know? I have spent a lot of time and money doing work that had already been done before I bought the car so it has some value. The dates of births, deaths and weddings hand written in a "family" Bible have been used to decide court cases.

OBD

 

i dont keep any records. i plan on driving it until its not worth fixing, so no need to keep them. I use the OLM for oil changes.

 

Years ago a friend of mine bought a C3 big block car from the original owner. That guy was a fanatic about everything mechanical on the car. He had all the paperwork from day one on the car of everything that was ever done. He had the used spark plugs in the individual boxes of the replacement plugs with date, mileage and cylinder position marked on each box. I am surprised he didn't include the used oil and oil filters. He did include the used air filters in boxes marked like the plugs. There IS such a thing as overkill.

That overkill can be seen in the fact that when he sold the car it had been sitting in his garage with krap piled all over it for over 14 years. So much for service records in that case.

 

Thanks for the service recordand checklist. I will have my wife make them up for me. That is just what I was looking for.