30000 mile service

[lostru]

Ok, before I show my evil side. What in the 30000 mile service costs $409? Not Dinars or yen but hard US cash. I have read the maintenance manual and the only thing different is the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. I can change those. I will be asking him tomorrow but I thought I would ask the forum.

[DAMON]

in my hanes manual it lists the following for 30k:

check clutch pedal
replace fuel filter
drain, flush, and refill coolant
check emissions
change automatic diff fluid
change manual transaxle fluid
check/tighten critical body fasteners
replace spark plugs
inspect/replace spark plug wires

I would ask them what all it includes for that price and work from there. Good luck!

Damon

[jhmesquire]

WHat year? WHat dealer?

[lostru]

2006 SE 3.3 and its North Point Toyota. The service writer is a good guy but he will have to really convince me that any extra other than the book required maintenance is needed. Let you know this afternoon.

[jhmesquire]

Scary! Keep us informed.

[wiccanferret]

Sounds like typical dealership scamming to me. If you're capable of doing it yourself, then do it yourself. Don't let those monkeys touch your baby.

[DAMON]

those things I listed were from the haynes manual for the 99-03, but Im sure the same things apply.

[lostru]

Here is the skinny on the $406. Most of that work was what the "Factory Recommends". Things such as changing Transmission, Anti freeze, Cabin Air Filter, and engine Air filter. After a small discussion on what is required for warranty vs. what the Factory Wants. There is a real big difference. I basically walked away for $100. Oil change, tire rotation and they even washed and vacuumed it without me asking. The service writer Matt was a good sport about it. Never once did he BS me about the requirements. He shot me the real deal.

[expressrun]

The service dept. is the bread and butter of any dealership. They will rebuild the engine and tell you that is recommended ! Recommened by there bottom line. If your stuipid enough to let these crooks take your money you only have yourself to blame. At 30K just change the oil and buy an air filter from Walmart, do it yourself. While your at it take out the cabin air filter and blow it out with an air hose,it will last for years if you clean it regular. It is a 5 min. job and the owners manual will tell you how to do it. Total bill ...25 bucks, Done!!!
Most important is follow your owners manual maintinence.NOT what the dealer "recommends"

[romeo1]

Originally Posted by lostru

Ok, before I show my evil side. What in the 30000 mile service costs $409? Not Dinars or yen but hard US cash. I have read the maintenance manual and the only thing different is the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. I can change those. I will be asking him tomorrow but I thought I would ask the forum.

I just investigated this. I had service done outside Toyota and cost $128.00
Had Air filter, Cabin Filter, Oil/Filter/Tires Rotated. Rest of BS from dealer is something they are doing anyway, looking unless blind. Nothing else needed

[littlebookworm]

My 05 Solara V6 requires change of anti-freeze and plugs at 100k, not 30k. Transmission fluid change is at 60k. I replaced the cabin filter myself. I've learned from another site that you can buy a home heating/air-conditioning filter at Lowes or Home Depot and cut it into 4 cabin size filters. I haven't tried that yet but plan on doing so soon since I have 68k on the car already. Rotating tires and looking at your brakes is a good thing to do every other oil change. The rest keeps the dealer's service department in business. Recommended but not necessary. Hy

[Gadgetjq]

The model (Gen 1 or Gen 2) is important because the service requirements are different. Example, the fuel filter gets changed on the Gen1, it's a 'lifetime' (theoretically) filter in the gas tank for the later model car.

The 30,000 mile service on your '06 is pretty basic. Change air filters (engine and cabin), oil, rotate tires and inspect suspension and other parts.

If you have the place to do it change the oil yourself. Less than half an hour and under $30 even if you use synthetic oil.

If you have a "Discount Tire" outlet near you they (and probably many others) will rotate your tires for free every 5000 miles and will inspect your brake pads while they're at it.

New cabin air filter, $16 or so from most any auto parts store. Alternative part numbers and a 'how to' here: http://gadgetjq.com/solara/cabin_air_filter.htm

Engine air filter, get a K&N for about $32 and you'll never have to replace it again, just annual cleaning/re-oiling. Info here: http://gadgetjq.com/solara/k&n.htm

So, for roughly $80 and a few minutes of your time you could have new filters, new oil, tires rotated and a visual inspection of the underside of your car.

Now, the 90,000 mile service...'that's the one you might want to take the car to a mechanic for...it's timing belt replacement time and shade tree wrench or not, most of us just don't want to deal with it. 100,000 is spark plug and coolant replacement time, both do it yourself items if you want to save big bucks.

Cheers