30,000 mile service costs $1,100???

Exactly. Piece meal it.. the 2 filters cost $40-$50 and take 5 mins each. Wiper blades = another 5 mins and cost about $25(inserts). Get differential/xfer case changes and it'll be a lot cheaper than $1100.

 

I was charged 170 for labor for a serpentine belt + $90 for the belt last week. I've had my 2016 serviced there every 5k for oil changes and our 4R and I'm never going back. They told me like 30-40 bucks because I was getting an oil change & trans service. I was pissed.

 

YouTube is your friend. There are tons of DIY videos out there that can help. It all just depends on you and the time you’re willing to take and the money you’re willing to spend. Do what’s best for you and your situation. Use your best judgement on some of the more expensive fluid changes. Some people love being under the hood/truck, others have no desire to get under there.

 

I don't want to be spending time wrenching on my truck... I'd much rather pay someone to do it... but for $1239.79 I was quoted just to have it done (most likely incorrectly), so at those prices I HAVE to do it myself. I just cant bring myself to pay that much for basic type maintenance that took 2 me hours.

I dont have the desire to be swapping differential fluid/oil/filters/wipers on a Tuesday night after work, but I also dont have the desire to get bent over the table and take it up the butt for $1200 on some fluids and filters... its sickening

 

Maybe on a low key weekend?

 

So you're mad that you were only charged an hour of labor for a serpentine belt?

 

My guess is this is probably the 5-6th post in this thread about you commenting about your high salary.

 

It’s great isn’t it. I moved from Utah to NorCal. It’s so nice not having to do anything for the winter.

It’s also nice seeing cars from the 80’s or older with nothing other than some pain fading. Utah they are pretty much destroyed.

 

Yes. Old habits die hard which is why I did the cosmoline. Also just in case I take a road trip to somewhere salty.

I bought a 99 Civic coupe manual from a buddy. Fun little extra car. I really dont need it but I am having a hard time parting with it because it is rust free.

 

I wouldn’t recommend going to a dealership for service

 

Exactly. I work my ass off and get 2 days off a week. Would I rather be camping/fishing/ drinking beers or under my truck draining fluids on my day off?

Besides the fact the last 2 years I’ve been remodeling my house, so I’ll not worry about saving $400 on a service while I’m busy saving tens of thousands of $$ doing that work myself.

My neighbor changes his oil, but spent $14K getting a deck built. Meanwhile I built one twice as big for $5K in materials. To each their own.

 

Dont get me wrong.. I did it and I don't really mind. I'd just rather hand someone I trust all the fluids, washers, filters, etc. And pay him a couple hundred bucks.

More money in my pocket = BHLM

 

Agreed. You can't assume someone who doesn't do their own auto maintenance can't do their own maintenance.

I do so much different stuff, am an avid DIYer (also currently remodeling) and people often ask me, is there anything you can't do? My stock answer is "I can't change my own oil". Could I? Absolutely. But you have to draw the line somewhere, and I have a trusted mechanic.

Person 1 may think it anathema that Person 2 doesn't do their own auto maintenance, but maybe Person 2 drywalled his whole basement and can't believe Person 1 didn't. Everybody's got something.

 

I guess I enjoy doing it myself when the weather is nice. I get to see the used fluids and check the brakes and parts when I rotate the tires. Plus, on a side note, my truck uh she don't like other people wrenching on her. So there is that...

 

I make my own beer lol.

 

I'm pretty well versed in a lot of things; but oil is such a pain in the ass for me. Not the actual act of changing it, but having to deal with the used oil and transporting it to a recycler. Plus with coupons the cost for materials compared to OEM (for better or for worse) is less than $20. I spend more on White Castle lmao!

 

This is the key right here... most folks dont have good experiences with the dealership service techs and have to pay what I would consider high prices.

When my trusted mechanic was alive he would do this entire service for around $350-$400. That's all fluids, filters, gaskets etc. Included... it would be done quick, it would be done right, and it would be done at a fair price. He would explain everything he did afterwards as well.

Trusted machanics are not a dime a dozen

 

That's why dealerships charge fair rates. Trusted / trained mechanics are not a dime a dozen.

 

It's so highly subjective and so high stakes too. Not like someone forgot my order of fries in the drive-thru. Someone forgets your oil plug and it's a big deal.

My mechanic is directly across from where I work. It started out as a relationship of convenience and eventually I grew to trust him. I've been going there nearly 20 years. About 50% of my coworkers hate him and think he's a thief. 50% love him and patronize him. It only takes one bad experience / or "my uncle said he could do it cheaper and you're ripping me off" / or I took it in for X and he also wants to charge me $$$ to fix Y / to paint someone's impression of a mechanic forever.

Is he cheap? Probably not, but I don't have a gearhead uncle and I don't shop around on him. But he's NEVER left me stranded and I've always done everything he has recommended on all our vehicles and he's the only one who touches them. It's just worth it to me to have a single point of failure so to speak. If something goes wrong I only have to point the finger at one person.

 

Well said!