TD2K
Senior Associate
Once you kill a cow, you gotta make a burger
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 1:19:25 GMT -5
Posts: 10,931
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Post by TD2K on Mar 28, 2011 22:55:04 GMT -5
Also, always replace the timing belt or chain based off the manufacturers suggestion. If a belt or chain breaks, you're looking at thousands of dollars in damage as it will likely bend a lot of valves in the head or worse.
If your engine is an interference type this is true. If it's a non-interference engine then the engine just stops working if the belt breaks (a chain is going to cause more damage). Which in itself is a pain to say the least and I would want to avoid that.
Different manufacturers have different recommendations for oil changes so check your manual. For example, Subaru now recommends full synthetic oil for their turbo charged vehicles and oil changes at 3750 miles, no 'severe service or regular driving intervals'.
I get a major servicing at a Subaru specialist shop every 30,000 miles and I just had the timing belt replaced (and I have an interference engine so I wasn't about to push it). Other than a couple of times when I've left a door ajar and ran the battery done, the car has started everytime when I've needed it.
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olderburgher
Established Member
Joined: Jan 9, 2011 9:55:17 GMT -5
Posts: 347
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Post by olderburgher on Mar 29, 2011 8:33:16 GMT -5
Pay for the maintenance now, pay for the repair on what broke later or pay by getting less when you sell it because of the lack of maintenance. This is not rocket science.
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Deleted
Joined: May 2, 2024 14:08:03 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2011 9:04:44 GMT -5
I however don't recommend replacing shocks/struts, engine mounts, or bushings unless you feel your car is not driving normal. These parts can be expensive and are easy for the dealer to try and upsell the work order. DH and I were discussing this thread this AM and I still can't recall the time I was "upsold" into replacing all 4 struts at a Goodyear franchise without getting angry. They saw me coming- an ignorant pregnant woman with a credit card. DH made the additional point that good mechanics aren't cheap on the basic stuff. We know we pay more than the franchises charge for an oil change or a tune-up but they're being done by an experienced mechanic. If they suggest something else that needs to be fixed, we know it really needs to be fixed. In the long run we save money.
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whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Mar 29, 2011 10:53:45 GMT -5
First, thank you all for info and useful advice.
Now - for anyone who was as stupid as me and reading this thread - question EVERYTHING when you call dealerships.
I called back today to ask why in the world I need a fuel injector cleaning at 7500 miles on my Outback and got a different guy on the phone who told me that I really don't and when I asked for the new price it went from $100 to $54.90 - just for an oil change and tire rotation.
I am begging to think that I should have never said that words "7500 miles service" and just ask for pricing for oil change and tire rotation (which is what manufacturer manual recommends).
Who knew that those words were as toxic as "wedding" and "baby" - where the prices double just for kicks and gigles
So, thank you all
Lena
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 29, 2011 12:15:01 GMT -5
I will suggest one thing when you go in for a tire rotation....make sure that you see them tighten the lug nuts.
Last time I got my tires rotated at the dealer, I drove off home. Next day, I drove a coworker and myself to lunch and he mentioned that I had lost 2 lug nuts on my right front wheel. Dealer was about 2 miles down the road, so immediately drove there only to find out that they had only hand tightened the lug nuts, but hadn't tightened them any further. The dealer replaced the lost lug nuts and made sure that the rest of them were tightened.
That was the last time I got my car serviced at the dealer. If they forgot something so simple, what else could they possibly forget?
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azphx1972
Familiar Member
Joined: Mar 2, 2011 22:08:36 GMT -5
Posts: 809
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Post by azphx1972 on Mar 29, 2011 13:20:17 GMT -5
I buy my tires at Costco and they rotate it for free as well as fix flats for free. Never had a single problem with them. It's the only thing I usually go outside of my dealer for. I have also used the local AAA repair shop (actually owned and ran by AAA), but they're a bit inconvenient for me, so I usually go to my dealer for routine service.
I used to do my own oil changes, but my time is more valuable to me than saving a few dollars a couple of times a year at this point in my life. Plus the dealer does an 18 point inspection that I wouldn't be able to do because I don't have a lift or all the necessary tools.
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