1,100 Doller Tune - Up

[vara4]

I just called the chevy dealer to see what they got for a tune - up
on a 2002 chevy suburban. 1,100 dollers!!!
I already own it, I don't want to buy it again!
The thing runs great it's just comming up 100,000 miles and it's about time.
What could they do that cost 1,100 dollers when the thing runs good.
I guess they want me to pay for all thier problems. Kurt

[DA34GUY]

Don't feel bad- Took my 2006 Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton Diesel into the local dealer (where I bought it) for an oil change. 12 qts + the filter, got a bill for $285 and change.
New service manager almost sh*t his pants when I pulled out my "lifetime FREE oil change" voucher. Then he tried to tell me my rear main was leaking and the charge to fix that would be over $600. Right then and there I slid under the truck and inspected it myself. Dry as a bone. Climbed out left the truck in the service island, went in and found the owner, who I've bought 4 new vehicles from in the last 5 years, and told him how his "new service mgr" was tryin to rip me off.
Well he sure didn't like that too much, grabbed the phone and had him, the service mgr, report to his office immediatly.
I said my good bye's to Fred and walked out.
I think the local Chrysler/ Dodge dealership is lookin for a "NEW SERVICE MANAGER"

[vara4]

Wow they try anything to get your money.
I asked what they replaced when they did a tune up?
He said normaly just the plugs and the wires.
Man the prices must have gone up since last year when
I did a tune up on my pick up.
I think the wires were 45 bucks and the plugs were under 20.
1100 hundred for plugs and wires, HUH wonder what they are made of?

[glennsexton]

What's up lately with service departments? My wife has a 2004 Mountaineer and we have had the local Ford dealer do the oil changes as I just don't want to do it and 6 quarts of oil, filter, top off the fluids and wash the car for $29.00 is okay by me..

Last time in, they indicated that the front brakes were down to 2mm and should be changed - for $193. Joanie thanked them - explaining that her husband (me) would look at them. Well, I stopped by NAPA on the way home and bought their best pads for 50 bucks, knowing that I had recently put lifetime guaranteed rotors from Performance Brakes on the front of this rig.

Well, pulled the wheels - measured the rotors at .00 run out and looking brand new - and pulled the calipers and imagine my surprise when I saw the pads and they looked like they had a lot of wear left on them. They measured at 5/6mm. I will say that when I called the service manager, he was very nice and wants to see the pads..

I dunno - They also told her that the rear differential seal was leaking and they want $500 for that..

Where have all the good, honest mechanics gone? Trust is everything and once lost, it's tough to regain (at least with me).

[IC2]

My wife's car is a Ford Escape.
Great little car. I took it in for NY State inspection and told them to dump the brake fluid, i.e. bleed the brakes completely as the car is 6 years old and it was a bit cloudy. Supposedly they broke the RR bleed screw and had to replace the wheel cylinder - for $181. Not happy - I've been working on cars for over 50 years including 30 years full or parttime for $$ and have broken a grand total of one - and on my own car. I blew my cork!! Since my truck was also due for NY inspection, it went in the next day - it took them less then 10 minutes - and it was free. BUTTTTTT - yesterday I inspected the rear brakes(drum) on the Escape , and if that's a new cylinder, I'll eat the @#$% thing.

Oil changes - too easy on that car to pay someone else. The plug and the filter are right out in plain sight. Now, my truck - what a PITA!! A V10, 7 quarts and usually ends up wetting down the LF tire as the drain plug aims right at it and the oil is hot.....

My old F150 - quoted ball joints - all four - $1200 to $1500. I did them for less then $200

[robot]

It's a sign of the times.....dealers sure arent paying the bills from profit on the sale of new cars so the bean counters put the squeeze on the service and parts department to sell more. At $100 per hour (or more) that most dealers charge, the bill goes up like a skyrocket. It's frustrating to go in for an oil change and get asked if you want nitrogen in your tires (no, the atmosphere that I breathe is good enough for the tires), an internal engine flush (with mineral oil? Isnt that laxative stuff?), brake jobs when you have 50% pads left, rear axle fluid flush and change, etc, etc.

It isnt always the service writers fault...they're being hammered to increase the revenue. I shudder to think what the dealers do when they get a car that has a warranty....they must really pile on the bill.

[glennsexton]

Not to hijack the thread, but today’s Automotive News reports:
“U.S. auto sales overall are expected to come in at a 9.2 million vehicle annualized rate and retail sales are forecast as the worst of the year, J.D. Power said. Its forecasts were based on sales through the first two-thirds of September.

The overall rate would about equal the result from February, the worst annualized sales rate of the year. J.D. Power maintained its full 2009 and 2010 sales outlooks.

U.S. auto sales in July and August were boosted sharply by the government's cash for clunkers program that provided incentives of up to $4,500 to consumers to turn in gas-guzzling vehicles and buy new more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Several other notes that didn’t seem to “make the news” –

Few, if any, parts and distribution jobs in the automotive industry were restored as a result of the program as dealers drew down existing (excessive) stocks.

Most dealers of domestic automobiles are still “overstocked” (with some interesting exceptions – the Mustang GT, the new Camaro in V8 models and the Hemi Challenger are in short supply).

The news continues to indicate that this will be a “jobless recovery”. What that really means is that small businesses (including many affected by the automotive industry) that are able to survive will be very hesitant to rehire as margins have been drawn down and a lot of small businesses are running on much extended lines-of-credit. They will wait until such are paid off and significant profits are enjoyed before hiring again.

Large corporations (OEMs and those producing large ticket items) are also running lean and have experienced (probably needed in most cases) reorganizations and downsizing.

The only place where employment numbers have actually increased is the federal government.

Lord help us…..

[HWORRELL]

I love the dealer stories, Makes me look like the good guy.

[ted dehaan]

hay if you hated trickle down economics then you have to love trickle down poverty don't forget America wanted change......ted

[Dave Severson]

Kurt, you're a taxpayer!!!! Go to them chebbie guys and tell them you're one of the new owners, and you ain't gonna put up with that crap!!!!!! Maybe some of them government accountants were down there training them guys on how to cook the books!!!!!!

[t0oL]

nitrogen in my tires?
air is ~70% nitrogen already

[vara4]

You know Dave, Henry Ford made a good car cheap so everyone could afford them.
I think we need another Henry Ford today for these times here.
Affordable cars wow, there is a concept. Kurt

[NTFDAY]

You know Dave, Henry Ford made a good car cheap so everyone could afford them.
I think we need another Henry Ford today for these times here.
Affordable cars wow, there is a concept. Kurt

Obama and the unions would kill it.

[jyardgirl]

i believe that they are making the cars, trucks, and suv's to be disposable. my girlfriend needed new plugs in her 2000 expedition. i offered to do it for free but her hubby said that he would take it to the dealer. they can do a better job. ended up costing him $800.00. they said that they had to take alot of the engine off to get to the plugs and some of the things were not meant to be removed and had to be replaced. he told me that next time he would get me to do it. i told him no thanks. sounds like the job was too hard for a little girl like me to do. enjoy the dealer prices.

[NTFDAY]

Way to go Barb. A fool and money don't mix.