As always I want to thank SF for educating me.

What moron designed a vehicle that the intake manifold has to be removed to replace spark plugs? Probably the same someone who designed a truck you have to remove the front clip to service the diesel engine or take out half the stuff next to the radiator to change a headlamp.

Since I keep my vehicles north of 300k miles, I'd have to go through that at least twice. Good grief.

quote:

What moron designed a vehicle that the intake manifold has to be removed to replace spark plugs?

Everyone but Honda.

I doubt dealerships will service fluids for only 60k miles. Do cars need it ? Yes they do. Will they do it ? Doubt it, since the service manual lists some fluids as lifetime, which is pure bullshit. All those "inspections" an experienced mechanic can finish in what, 30 mins or less, and that's doing a real inspection not just a look around and kick the tires bullshit. And besides, for $799 no dealership will drain and refill all fluids including cooling system, brake hydraulic, tranny, front/rear diffs, power steering, etc. All that at a dealership might exceed the value of the car considering how expensive dealerships can be for less quality work for more dollars compared to more reputable professional independent shops.

I'm so glad I'm a Heavy Equipment Mechanic and can/do ALL my own work.
I did the 60K on my FJ Cruiser and am getting ready to do my 120K in the next month.
It will cost time and $, but waaaay cheaper.

They are called stealerships for a reason. They are thieves. I’m so glad I can do most of my own service. My last Toyota Matrix went 200k. Never needed a thing but oil changes, brakes and an exhaust manifold. The stealership once gave me a bogus $2000 estimate and every single item was a complete lie.

A couple of years back I heard a story from a guy that when he took his Mercedes in for warranty work, the dealer told him he was on the hook for payment because he refused having the recommended service interval performed. They claim they would of caught the issue during one of those inspections sooner.

quote:

Originally posted by MoosehornMan:

If you look at the 60k recommended service, it basicly is, oil and filters and an inspection.
Check Installation Of Driver's Floor Mat Inspect Steering Linkage And Boots
Rotate Tires Inspect Brake Linings/Drums And Brake Pads/Discs2
Inspect Automatic Transmission Fluid Inspect Exhaust Pipes And Mountings
Inspect Radiator, Condenser and/or Intercooler (If Applicable) Inspect Steering Gear Box/Rack And Pinion
Inspect Transfer Case Oil (4WD/AWD, If Applicable) Inspect Drive Belts
Inspect Front Differential Oil (4WD/AWD, If Applicable) Inspect Fuel Lines And Connections, Fuel Tank Band And Fuel Tank Vapor Vent System Hoses
Inspect Drive Shaft Boots (4WD/AWD, If Applicable) Inspect Fuel Tank Cap Gasket
Inspect Rear Differential Oil, Including Limited Slip (4WD/AWD, If Applicable) Replace Engine Oil And Oil Filter3
Inspect /Adjust All Fluid Levels1 Replace Engine Air Filter
Inspect Ball Joints And Dust Covers Replace Cabin Air Filter (If Equipped)
Inspect Brake Lines And Hoses Torque Propeller Shaft Bolt (4WD/AWD, If Applicable)
Inspect Engine Coolant

So mostly $800 to look for things to charge you even more for.

I recently had the same service completed on our new Porsche…$1100!

quote:

Inspect __

All these things are a quick visual to be sure nothing is falling off (or something about to fall off).

"Check installation of drivers floor mat"
Is this something you should pay for?
Just because it got blamed for the sudden acceleration lawsuit in the Camry, CYA

Makes perfect sense to me. Was the Service Manager previously in charge of Hospital Billing??
Check driver floor mat? How about adjust seat belt length to factory setting?

It's just a way for them to up sell. That's what the inspecting is.

Rotate the air in the tires, and don't forget a couple days of sunshine treatments.

if its not listed on the maintenance schedule in the manual...it doesn't get done

all else if pure profit for the dealer

Almost all those inspections could be done in 30 minutes, or less. Stealership trying to make up for not selling many cars.

Just this week performed the 120,000mi service on my wife's 2015 Highlander. Drained and refilled the rear diff and transfer case oil, ATF fluid, Engine oil and filter, Engine and cabin air filters, and the spark plugs. The ATF is a PITA as you have to drain, refill, and then bring up to 104-112 degrees to set the level properly - which requires a scan tool capable of reading the trans temp. I had bought this for prior services (change every 30k). The rear three plugs are also a pain requiring lifting and shifting the intake. Gaskets for that likely can be re-used, but I replaced since I'd bought them ahead of time. The proper plugs cost $18 each. Proper crush washers are about $2 each at the dealer. 2 quarts of differential oil, 4 quarts ATF, and 6.5 quarts of synthetic oil, plus the engine filter. I think I spent about $215 for all of it. Also rotated the tires. Add in tools and time (I think 4 hours labor for all that, though it took me significantly longer, is probably reasonable.) If they're changing the plugs, that's not that far out of line with their pricing on labor. If they're not changing the plugs, its way high as that would take at least 90 minutes less labor and over $100 in parts off the bill.

Stealership will stealership.

Was just at mine for a recall. They were like hey your front pads are low, $637.

I laughed and said you guys just changed them in March before my new car free maintenance ran out. They measured 5mm, I have time. Pads are $60 and it should take less than an hour. Take your $637 and shove it and finish the recall.

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:
Stealership will stealership.

Was just at mine for a recall. They were like hey your front pads are low, $637.

Please tell me that included rotors at least.

Chevy dealer wanted $1000 for the 100k service on the wife's Astro van and a couple extras. That included coolant flush, diff and trans filter/fluid drain and refill and replacing the transmission rear seal that was just barely seeping and a plugs/wires etc tuneup and AC system check, I forget what else.

We had the free tires for life deal on the van contingent on having all scheduled maintenance done there so it was either do it or lose the free tires for life.

I was able to talk them down a few hundred bucks, partly by leaving off the trans seal replacement that wasn't "scheduled" maintaince and still retained the free tire deal. So we got the next set a tires and then I dropped the deal.

So we ended up getting two sets of tires for "free" and I guess we came out OK but I probably wouldn't do that deal again.

I always thought if you had your dealer do an oil change, checking all fluids and tire pressure was part of the package. Stupid me!