Scheduled car maintenance question

[hadiz]

Well, I went into the dealership to have an oil change on my car, and they told me it's almost time for my 30,000 mile maintenance. They gave me a brochure of what all they do, along with the price. To my disbelief, it is $379.95+tax to have it done :blink:

Some of this crap sounds altogether useless, just a way for them to slap on more labor charges for 2 minutes worth of work. Here's what they say they do:

Recommended Services:

Change Engine Oil

Change Oil Filter

Top Off All Fluid Levels

Check and adjust tires to proper inflation

Lubricate as needed

Rotate Tires

Inspect disc brake pads for wear

Replace air filter

Replace standard spark plugs (4 cyl.)

Inspect rear drum brake linings

Inspect Steering Linkage

Check brake hoses for leaks

Inspect drive shaft boots for leaks

Check drive belts

Change Automatic Transmission Fluid

Replace fuel filter

Clean Throttle body

Service battery

Clean and adjust rear brakes

Inspect drive belts

Replace coolant

Inspect for fluid leaks

Check for unusual tire wear

Inspect Horn, Brake Lights and Tail Lights

Inspect Turn Signals and Headlamps

Check for factory recalls

Stuff in italics are "additional services this dealership recommends be performed for local driving conditions" (Keep in mind this is Florida)

And what gets me is this costs almost $400, and the stuff they check/inspect I'm sure they're going to call me up about and say I need to have fixed (at least on some of them) and slap on some more ridiculous charges. And inspecting the horn, brake lights, tail lights, turn signals and headlamps? C'mon :rolleyes:

My question is, how much of this crap actually needs to be done? If I get an idea, I can take it to a local mechanic that my family has gone to for some time, and get honest prices for the work. I just wanted to see what you folks thought.

[oik]

everything is good for safety. if you just want to save the money, all you really need to do is have them change the oil and filter and check fluid levels. depending on how much you drive (and how recklessly you drive), you may want to opt for extras like tire rotation and checking brakes and belts. one screwed up belt will cost you well over $400, so... pay now, maybe save later.

[Soviet]

Your air filter too... clean = car runs better. hehe most of that you can do yourself with minual cost at a autopart store. What kinda car do you have?

Change Engine Oil - easy depending on the car.. takes under 20 minutes

Change Oil Filter - depends on what you know

Top Off All Fluid Levels - super easy

Check and adjust tires to proper inflation - just need a pressure gage. Proper levels for tires are in your owners manaul

Lubricate as needed

Rotate Tires - 20$

Inspect disc brake pads for wear - a visual check should sufice.

Replace air filter - easy to do.. air filters are like 5-10$

Replace standard spark plugs (4 cyl.) - pop it out, pop a new one in

Inspect rear drum brake linings - take it in

Inspect Steering Linkage - take it in

Check brake hoses for leaks. get in pump the breaks.. look under the car.. any puddles, you got problems, dry = good.

Inspect drive shaft boots for leaks

Check drive belts - take it in

Change Automatic Transmission Fluid - easy

Replace fuel filter - if you know what you're doing. I'd take it in for that.

Clean Throttle body

Service battery - test to see if it can carry the load.. if it can, you're good, if not, replace.

Clean and adjust rear brakes -take it in

Inspect drive belts

Replace coolant - do it yourself

Inspect for fluid leaks - do it yourself

Check for unusual tire wear - look at the tires.. hehe and they charge you for that

Inspect Horn, Brake Lights and Tail Lights - do it yourself

Inspect Turn Signals and Headlamps - do it yourself

Check for factory recalls - check the internet or dealer of that make.

[hadiz]

Your air filter too... clean = car runs better.

Yeah, I just replaced that myself recently with a nice Fram air filter.

[aem4162]

i paid my mechanic over $400 to have that and more done to my car in april. it's worth it.

i :wub: my mechanic

[blinkinpark]

Recommended Services:

Change Engine Oil - if u dont know what ur doing have a technician do it

Change Oil Filter - same thing

Top Off All Fluid Levels - mostly bs unless there is a leak

Check and adjust tires to proper inflation - they dont even check

Lubricate as needed - right......

Rotate Tires - depending on the tire wear u might need to have rotated

Inspect disc brake pads for wear - if the inner pad is smaller than the outer pad change them

Replace air filter - u just did it

Replace standard spark plugs (4 cyl.) - if u over torque these u can ruin ur engine block

Inspect rear drum brake linings - visual check

Inspect Steering Linkage - visual check

Check brake hoses for leaks - visual check

Inspect drive shaft boots for leaks - if belt looks cracked replace it (u might need to play around with it)

Check drive belts - same deal

Change Automatic Transmission Fluid - i dont know about ur car but most cars are never supossed to have them changed unless u drive hard

Replace fuel filter - usually requires removal of fuel tank depending on the car

Clean Throttle body - bs

Service battery - bs

Clean and adjust rear brakes - bs

Inspect drive belts - already mentioned

Replace coolant - bs unless it is a different color than it should be

Inspect for fluid leaks - look under ur car

Check for unusual tire wear - rotation

Inspect Horn, Brake Lights and Tail Lights - u can do that

Inspect Turn Signals and Headlamps - repetition

Check for factory recalls http://alldata.com/recalls/index.html

usually dealership technicians cut corners or lie to you.....last time i went to the dealer the told me that i needed new brake pads, when in reality i had about 70% left......thats bs

[Hum]

:huh: I'd want a back massage and a free lunch while I'm waiting.

Seriously, I'd look for some place cheaper than 400 bucks -- Midas, Mineke ?

[mAcOdIn Veteran]

I just bought the book to my car.

You can do almost all of that yourself and for less than 100 bucks. Now it is needed and beneficial.

However whether the high cost of labor is worth you not having to do it yourself is entirely up to you.

[mick0142]

as far as the tires go, if you see a wire mesh wearing through, you have about 25,000 more miles before you need tires... that is why they puth that metal mesh in, and an indicator

[Neb]

Get a Haynes manual and do it yourself... (well, most things)

[bdsams Veteran]

is that needed: yes

can you do it yourself: yes

it is important that you do check those things if you let them go you could end up paying for a repair thats well over 400$, if your not comfortable doing it, have a friend help you who is knowledgeable, can easily be done all in an afternoon

[parimal_kumar]

as far as the tires go, if you see a wire mesh wearing through, you have about 25,000 more miles before you need tires... that is why they puth that metal mesh in, and an indicator

Most tyres last about 25000 miles!

[mick0142]

lol... i was obviously joking.. although i have worn to the wire mesh on one of my old cars... after about 40,000 miles