15,000 mile service...$400.00 later...

[mconstable]

Had my service done today to the tune of 400 dollars, that hurts this close to Christmas. They did put synthetics in the diffs, though, only part I'm happy about. I like how their 48 dollar fuel filter that takes 10 minutes to change ended up being 80 dollars!! Thank God I do my own maintenance in between 15,00 mile intervals!! When I went in, I had accidentally looked up schedule A, so I thought it was simple filters, oil and lube, what a wake-up call:--) I am definately in agreement with a previous post on these costs being a definate reason to slap the Mag-Hytechs' on and do-it yourself. 'nuff rambling... have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!

 

[XcumminsX]

wow man sorry for you money being torn out of your hands by those monsters . that is rediculus..... 400 dollars... . id expect maybe a 200 dollar bllOo.

 

[DPKetchum]

Most expenses is labor. Its that way in any business. To cut costs its also the first item chopped. had customers all the time say DO WHAT!! Its that MUCH! Well do It yourself I'd reply. 99% of the time they would think,look around and say you do take charge cards,right.

 

[rrausch]

Mag Hytec's are great. I love mine. Got one on transmission and one on the rear Dana.

 

[Pugster]

The dealer I purchased my 03 CTD from did the first oil change and service for the same price on special as for a gas pickup plus the difference for the 3 gals. of Mopar diesel oil and the Mopar oil filter for the Cummins. Total cost 45. 50 + 6% PA sales tax. He sold me an extra Mopar filter for $15. 50. Asked him for a price on a fuel filter. Was quoted $45. 50. Passed on that. Now buy filters from a local Cummins shop. Fleetguard Stratapore oil filter $8. 25, Stratapore fuel filter $8. 50.

 

[ab7fh]

I priced out Mopar synthetic fluid before I did my 15k service. It would have cost $200 just for the fluid.



I sure wish I knew who to complain to at Dodge about the errors regarding diff fluid change intervals in the owners manual. There is NO way that it is correct for the Schedule B to require diff fluid changes every 15k while Schedule A NEVER requires the diff fluid to be changed. Some one screwed up with the manual and it's Dodges customers who are going to be paying out the a** for Dodge's mistake.

 

[DPKetchum]

I don't know why its a never under the lite maintance its a never change. Under heavy use 15k has been standard for a while. I use to get $350 for a 15k maintance on 1980/81 etc. Nissans. $275 on 210s and four banger trucks. Now that did include plugs,valve adjust and frt wheel bearing repack as well as fliuds etc. Had many a $800 30k when they needed brakes and tires/alignment. Had days we did 6 to 10 autos a day like that plus others or other repairs on other autos.

 

[ssanders60]

Re: $ 400 chg for 15,000 service

I checked with the shop foreman at my dealer

for the price of changing the fuel filter and

he advised that the filter is $60. 00 and the

labor labor is$60. 00, a total of $120. 00.

They gave me 2 years of free lube service, I

only have to pay for the oil and filter disposals

which amounts to just less $6. 00. I purchased

the truck in may of this year. I understand

that dealers are offering up to 4 years now,

anyone buying a truck might insist on this

feature before the deal is closed.



I purchased the air filter and fuel filter

at the local Cummins outlet here at Jax, Fl.

for about $37. 00 Total. Chrysler is much

to expensive on their shop work and parts,

I found that out with my '96 Cherokee.



'03 2500 CTD 4x4 HO, 3:73 rear end, re48

auto. SLT, Fine machine!!, no vibrations,

11,000 miles on it.

 

[Hunter1]

That is how stealers make their money, they give you free oil changes and rape you on the other stuff!



Genos Garage $11. 95 for a fuel filter and 10 minutes of free labor.



Total savings $108. 05!



Just like grocery shopping or anything else, you gotta be alert and keep up with the prices



Hunter1

 

[DPKetchum]

I could see a . 5 labor on the fuel filter. thats all we charged on the hard nasty ones in 12 valves etc. Lots of them the water sensors were glued in and a pain. Besides they were just nast to deal with. but . 5 is plenty

 

[sellisrulz]

I just had my 15K service, a little late at 16K, at my local *******, to the tune of $529. 00.

I'm still feeling it. His selling point was "we change all the fluids to an Arctic Blend" for us this far north.

I'm not complaining tho, I plan on keeping the truck forever, and figure its maintenance insurance.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Oil changes

When I bought my truck the dealer sold a contract to me for 250. 00 to change the oil FOREVER:--) and they even wash it and vacuum it. About a month after I got it they found out that it was costing them too much money.

 

[Moterhead]

Why didn't you just do it yourself? It's not hard. Oil change is easy, if messy, fuel filter, easy, air filter? easy. What else is done on a 15,000 service? You can do the engine oil and filter , fuel filter and air filter yourself and pay someone else to do the other parts that you don't want to do.



AND it's NOT required that you have the dealer or anyone else do your service to maintain warranty.

 

[mconstable]

I've been doing all my own so far... but I let it get to 15,300 miles, and knew I wasn't gonna have time anywhere in the near future because we're visiting family, and travelling a lot, so I bit the bullet, I'll do the rest until 30,000, and let the dealer do it again... maybe... biggest reality check is I was looking at the wrong schedule and thought I was doing a simple oil and filter, fuel filter, chassis lube, even though I've been following the 3,750 mile changes. I just had a brain fart I feel confident doing everything but the diffs, transmission and t-case.

 

[sellisrulz]

I guess its paying for the convenience. Not a huge problem turning wrenches, changing filters & fluids and such. Its the time, having a place to do it when its dipping to negative double digits, disposing of all the waste fluids, buying all the different fluids, rotating them big ol 17" wheels & tires. Its different when you have to turn wrenches cuz you cant afford to pay the dealer, but now I can afford it, heck let them earn their paycheck. Ya know what I mean?? And they washed it too!!!

Pay the pilots to fly the plane, I'll sit in the back and enjoy the ride.

 

[DPKetchum]

Here/Here!!! I'm not about to rotate tires or change my own oil if I can help it. Can,did,maybe will again but not if I can afford not to. Oo.

 

[Hunter1]

Had my 30,000 mile done today. $20 discount on the lube/oil/filter part, so it shoulda been $20 more than the below total, but still not worth it to me to do it myself!



Had lube/oil/filter change, air filter change, rear differential change and new synthetic fill, front differential change and new synethetic fill.



Wash the exterior



Total $177. 12



Hunter1

 

[Mad Bomber]

30k

Hunter1, come over to www.nwbombers.com we can help you do maint. on your truck at our bomb parties. It's a free site for the NW chapter.

 

[d90boy]

I do my own work for several reasons:



1. I worry about accidental damage due to carelessness. Stuff like hitting things with my truck, leaning against it and scratching the paint.

2. Dealers taking the truck on "test drives" to taco bell for lunch, hot rodding around.

3. Not doing the work right. I'm a better mechanic than a lot of the "professionals" at the dealer that are used to working on Neons.

4. I enjoy doing it myself and saving the money. Plus the dealer usually doesn't want to put non-Mopar fluids in.

5. It's more convienent than making appointments and spending hours at the dealer.

6. I just plain don't trust strangers around my truck except for one tech at one dealer. If I have a warranty issue I go see him and no one else.

7. Am I obsessive? Absolutely.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Service

Originally posted by d90boy

I do my own work for several reasons:



7. Am I obsessive? Absolutely.

I think we ALL are.