Service A done - Now showing Service C due?

[giffie]

I got my Service A done @9900 miles on my 2011 BlueTEC couple of days ago. Upon checking the instrument panel, it is now showing that Service "C" is due in another 10000 miles. So, I called up the dealership and enquired why it is showing that my next service is showing up as "C" instead of "B", the service person replied that when I do service "A", the next service indicator "usually fluctuates" and shows next service as "C" or "B", depending on "how I drive the vehicle"!! Something tells me that this is not true... Do you guys think that they screwed up and 'reset' the Service indicator TWICE and that is why it is showing next service as :"C": instead of "B"?

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[MomsBenz]

Nope, that 's correct. Service C is less than a service B. Basically the car tells you what service it needs depending on how you drive and what needs servicing. My GL forever said Service C due, but as it got closer (within 200 miles of the service) it starting showing Service B due. Needed more as time went on. So your all good

[giffie]

Originally Posted by MomsBenz

Nope, that 's correct. Service C is less than a service B. Basically the car tells you what service it needs depending on how you drive and what needs servicing. My GL forever said Service C due, but as it got closer (within 200 miles of the service) it starting showing Service B due. Needed more as time went on. So your all good

Cool! Thank you for the detailed reply...appreciate it.

[MomsBenz]

Your welcome!

[aggst1]

Keep in mind that no matter what the car says the mechanic will perform the correct service due based on mileage and time interval since the last service. In fact there is no such thing as service A,B, C etc. in the owners or service manuals. It lists the services performed for each mileage marker etc. The A,B,C are just indicators for the driver.

[cab2u]

The dealer will alternate between A and B. If A was done 10k before, B will be done, even if the computer says C.

[alx]

A mix of true and false so far

In a nutshell -

Service a is an oil change
Service b is oil change and cabin filter
Service c Is oil/ cabin/ air filter. On cdi the fuel filter is changed too

However the confusion stems from the fact that those are guidances. For example a c might not require a cabin filter- but most of the time it does. The real work required is performed based on service items as required by the on board computer. They are service items from 1 to ... 45 (the number escapes me- it is in your service manual). Depending on the combination of service items required th driver is asked for a,b,c,d and f services. It is widely assumed that the service indication (a,b,c, etc) is based on time required to accomplish a service, not necessary it's complexity. A is 1 hour, b is 2, c - 3 and so on.

Services are required based on mileage, time and driving style. It is very common after an a service a c to be requested. Later the on onboard can modify it to b or can bump it to d or an f depending on mileage. D and f are variations on c plus tranny flush/ brake flush and diff oils. Thus you might have just done a d and think that you are done for a while with the expensive ones just to be informed that the next one is an f (you are coming up on mileage for tranny flush for example).

In addition next service is influenced by any additional work that has been performed (and recorded in the onboard) when it was not due. For example a tranny flush was not due, but was performed for some reason (repair). The flush can be recorded so when the maintenance one is due it will be skipped thus making the next f service a c.