Vehicle Mileage Maintainence Service

[kulit17]

Just curious in people opinions on dealer provided mileage maintenance services. They typically charge an arm and a leg, so i wanted opinions to see what everyone thinks. Reason I ask is because I have a 2009 TriBeCa and it's supposedly due for a 30k maintenance and it costs $590. They supposedly change out and do alot of stuff but didn't think it was worth it.

[()smoke()]

I don't know what a TriBeCa is, but i can't imagine what would cost $590 at a 30k routine maintenance and be of value

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

What does the dealer service do for that amount, and what does your car's maintenance documentation recommend for 30K?

[fdeck]

Ask an independent shop what they'd do the work for. Also, see if there are any of the maintenances that you can do yourself, such as replacing the air filter or rotating the tires.

[Jay Ralston]

Here is what they will do. Check almost everything on the car but replace nothing. This is simple stuff you can do yourself.

Every 3k, oil change.

At every other oil change, tire rotation and balance. You should be able to at least rotate your own tires but if not, this is a cheap thing to have done.

After your vehicle has 10k on it, start checking the belts and hoses and inspect them at least at every oil change. Also at every oil change, check for leaks on your engine, transmission, front and/or rear differential and transfer case if you have one.

At 30k, do an engine flush of your coolant. Also depending on your vehicle, you may need to replace spark plugs. Also check your spark plug wires, cap and rotor if you have those.

Check your brakes every oil change too.

At every oil change, also check your air filter and cabin filter if you have one. They typically last around 10k. Less if you drive a lot on dirt roads.

After 10k, check your shocks and/or struts for leaking.

At every oil change also check your brake fluid and your power steering fluid. You should never need to add those. If your power steering fluid is low, you have a leak. If your brake fluid is getting low, you either have a leak or it is getting down due to your brakes wearing and your brake calipers being pressed in which in turn lowers the fluid level. When you replace your brake pads and push the calipers back in place, to fit the new brake pads over the calipers, the fluid should fill back up on it's own.

[Funky Ghost]

OK, a few things. If you wait till 30k to do a coolant service, chances are it will involve a radiator replacement. The fluid that goes into radiators is caustic and when old it's broken down. This will eat at the copper inside a radiator. 12k is typical for that service. 24k is typical of a tranny service and is recommended as it involves a filter replacement that can make a nice difference on your gas mileage. A clogged filter and old fluid can lead to slippage which, in turn, leads to lower gas mileage. A timing belt adjustment and/or replacement might be involved too depending on the year and model of course.

Just ask them what it entails and if it's too big a chunk go for the most important first and save the rest for later.

[pedroims]

Your car is 2009 so probably the only thing you need to do is change the oil and rotate the tires, maybe change air filter, depending on how many miles the engine have on, ask the dealer what they are doing for such amount of money, forget about change spark plugs and antifreezer you probably wont need to change them until 100,000. Check the warranty and maintenance booklet, it should tell you what the manufacturer recommend.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

There is a lot in a typical 30k and a pro would look at your car with different eyes. If you haven't done it before I would recommend one. Or have somebody look at your work. Doing it yourself may be the cheapest way but not always the best. Nothing beats putting your car on a lift and checking it out. You can get a menu from a dealer to find out what they do and how much. It may be with your owners manual too.

One good reason for using a dealer is warranty. In or out. They are also trained to look at your car.

A good reason to use a good technician you can trust. It will be as good of a job only cheaper. It may be harder to get your car under warranty but it can be done. Out of warranty and your SOL.

[hover]

TriBecA is a Subaru, and those horizontally opposed fours (or maybe 6 in this case?) are finicky at times. You'd do well to at least get a rundown of what they intend to perform (and in honesty, it should all be laid out right in your owner's manual, so have a look).

I would suspect there's a coolant service and flush, an engine check involving head seals (which can and will go bad, maybe not at this mileage, but it doesn't hurt to look), a tranny check and flush, brake rotor check (could be due) caliper check, exhaust system check and onboard diagnostics check, front strut and alignment check, etc. etc.

You may not think it's worth it for 590 bucks, if you could find a service center that is qualified under Subaru warranty to do the service and you may save some coin, but if they aren't certified to do the work, you will pooch your warranty.

Good luck either way.

[duff beer]

Before listening to those who suggest doing the work yourself, check what is required to keep the warranty valid. Many manufacturers have mandatory scheduled maintenance at certain intervals that must be performed...miss one of them and that could be grounds for denying something that should be fixed under the warranty.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Hover reminded me of recalls and bulletins.
most of them are free. The first thing a deader does is run your VIN to check these. This will keep your car up to date and safe. Something a aftermarket tech may or may not have.

Dealers also have the correct tools to do the job.

[Quickie]

Dealers are overpriced and overrated. My wife's 2007 cobalt needed front struts and rear shocks plus alignment. Dealer cost about 1100. Had the same work done with brand name struts/shocks, (Monroe) for 550. Half the cost with full warranty. She did have a coupon which saved her 35.00 from the shop we took it to.

I have owned plenty of cars in my life. I was a dealer fan until I researched other shops. Most shops offer the same service and parts at lower prices and the car retains it warranty.

Originally Posted by duff beer

Before listening to those who suggest doing the work yourself, check what is required to keep the warranty valid. Many manufacturers have mandatory scheduled maintenance at certain intervals that must be performed...miss one of them and that could be grounds for denying something that should be fixed under the warranty.

This point can not be made any better. Dealers will deny you a warranty repair if they can find ANY fault with your keeping to the warranty requirements.

Most reputable shops today meet or exceed dealer qualifications when it comes to warranted maintenance.

[Stu L.]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Dealers also have the correct tools to do the job.

I just bought a used '06 Ford F150 with the 5.4L 3 valve V8. These trucks are notorious for breaking spark plugs due to a bad design initially. My local mechanic told me before I bought the truck that he would not change the plugs due to this. I had the dealer do the job as part of the purchase price, and sure enough a couple broke. But the dealer had the right tap set to get out the broken plugs, and had it done a day earlier than expected too. Although pricey, there are some jobs that make a dealer worth it.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Quickie

This point can not be made any better. Dealers will deny you a warranty repair if they can find ANY fault with your keeping to the warranty requirements.

Most reputable shops today meet or exceed dealer qualifications when it comes to warranted maintenance.

Not exactly true.

Free is free and if work can be done it will get done. Dealerships are more stringent and aftermarket has a better warranty. Both because they have to be.

Something you may have not known. Aftermarket will cover the part under warranty. Dealers will do parts and labor.

I know this because I have worked both.

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Not exactly true.

Free is free and if work can be done it will get done. Dealerships are more stringent and aftermarket has a better warranty. Both because they have to be.

Something you may have not known. Aftermarket will cover the part under warranty. Dealers will do parts and labor.

I know this because I have worked both.

Usually there is a "limited mileage/months" warranty offered with outside shops for labor.

For instance, some years ago I had the radiator replaced in a 89 cadi. The dealer wanted a huge amount for the job. The shop I brought it to was much lower. I remember the warranty. It was 90 days labor and 12 months/12,000 miles parts.

Dealers are just so ridiculous. Where does a dealership make its MAIN revenue from?

Service shop.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Quickie

Usually there is a "limited mileage/months" warranty offered with outside shops for labor.

For instance, some years ago I had the radiator replaced in a 89 cadi. The dealer wanted a huge amount for the job. The shop I brought it to was much lower. I remember the warranty. It was 90 days labor and 12 months/12,000 miles parts.

Dealers are just so ridiculous. Where does a dealership make its MAIN revenue from?

Service shop.

Radiators at the dealer are outrageous and have a limited warranty. Aftermarket are much cheaper, only a faction of the cost and the warranty is better. Big difference between the two radiators. We (a dealership) will offer both and hardly ever sell the dealer one. I think when it comes to radiators they are there as a crash item for new cars. A dealer should be checked. Some times we are cheaper and the better solution. An experienced tech will know this. I can bring up some examples too.

[Quickie]

My other example with a dealer was,

1997 Cobalt. Wife bought it from a Chevy dealer used with 36,00 miles on it. At the time she bought it, there were signification problems with that model. She was never told this however when she bought the car. These problems were on the internet and well documented, and still the dealer(salesman) said that is was one of Chevy's most reliable cars. Engine head warping, power steering failures. I had no idea until she started having "smoking" at start-up after the car sat for some time.

Thus the nightmare begins. We brought the car to Chevy twice. They denied that anything was wrong. At this point, I videotaped the rear of the car during start up and we brought it back for the third time.

Now, they called in another "specialist" to review the video and he asked how did they know that it was her car? Really? Read the rear license plate maybe?

So, they took in the car for "evaluation" and would call us later. We get the call with a laundry list of what it could be and what caused the problem.

Yep. My wife was accused of "hot roding" the car and they would not cover it under warranty. Their reason for this was their crackpot, "blown head gasket" theory, but they would not know for sure until they got into the motor.

We were presented with a 2800.00 estimate.

So, I went on the internet. Found all sorts of complaints about the model. Guess what? Complaints of "warping heads" right next to the power steering complaints.

I downloaded this information and went back and demanded the repairs. I had also written a letter of complaint with the threat of going on TV with the situation. (We had a local station who would help consumers)

The car was repaired free of charge. It received a new head. it received a new timing chain and tensioner (another common complaint I found out) Some kind of cam adjustment? and all the labor and parts to go with it. We have the bill, but no prices are showing, just all the work. It took four days as they had to order the head.

The car runs perfect now. Has ever since the repair. We recently had a recall notice for the steering box replacement and it was done in a couple of hours.


The lesson here.....dealers WILL do anything they can to deny a repair. Had it not been for the internet and a pissed off husband with a video, my wife would have had paid for the repair. She is not a fighter.

We never got an apology for the hot roding accusation.

Don't even start me on a 96 vette that had leaking oil issues when we bought it. Same dealer. NEVER again.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Okay, you win. we are no longer helping kulit17.

Sometimes the problem is bigger than you and I.

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Okay, you win. we are no longer helping kulit17.

Sometimes the problem is bigger than you and I.

Yeah....sorry OP for going off topic.

[kulit17]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Okay, you win. we are no longer helping kulit17.

Sometimes the problem is bigger than you and I.

??? What happened!???..... I was just reading all the replies and its been all great.

After reading all the responses I may lean on dishing out the $590. By doing the contrary, would cancel out the contract "tires for life" since they would need to do an alignment and also "battery for life". These are programs that the dealer provides when you buy it through them and they require to get service there.

The service provided include ls oil change, tire rotation, alignment, flushing out fluids and topping it off and a 120 point checks.

Anyhu, thanks guys! All your responses were insightful.

Thanks ChunkOFunk too!!!!!