newmaxguy

I took my car in for an inspection. Basically, wanting the guy to tell me what kind of preventative maintainance I need. This is basically what he gave me:

Turn Rotors (front): $80
Replace 3 belts (not timing): $175
Tune up: (plugs, clean throttle body?, injector cleaner): $140
Battery Service (clean off corosion): $24
Break Fluid change (it's been 60k): $90
Drain and fill tranny (not flush): $55
Cooling system flush (it's been 60k): $105

Ok...not $1500...but pretty privey for my blood to do it all. I'm pretty savvy with doing this kind of stuff.

I can get the rotors turned I"m guessing for 30ish down at Autozone.

I've never replaced the belts, and I'm not sure what the throttle body is, but I can put cleaner in the gas and change the plugs. Battery service..pffft.

What is there to changing break fluid?

I could probably drain and fill the tranny.

Also, I've seen kits for cooling system flush that use a hose etc...do those work?

Any ideas on where to best put 2 or 300 dollars here?

Thanks
Matt

MaximaGuy719

clean throttle body

http://www.geocities.com/bracecraig/maxima/tb/tb.html

midnight

Buy a Hayne's or Chilton's and you will be able to do almost all of that myself. Save yourself a lot of money.

newmaxguy

From reading around (and the posts above) it looks like the toughest thing is going to be the belts. For a novice, is this job impossible? Or can it be done in a few hours?

Spipedong90

For anyone even mildly competent, the belts can be done in far less than an hour. My belts were 30-something for the set of three and I got the Dayco Polycog set.

Menel

you can get a pair of brand new Brembo's for $40ish each on tirerack.com will equal his $80 for turning your old ones.

and the 3 drive belts are easy to do yourself. don't pay someone. 175 is rediculous

shoult

iTrader: (1)

Is there a reason you want the rotors turned? You just don't get them turned for maint reasons. Even so, Autozone (as well as others) will sell you new front rotors for as little as $22/each. Even those are better then ANY resurfaced rotor. And there is little more to replacing them then just taking the tires off. $44 for 2 or $88 for 4

Figure $30-45 bucks for 3 new belts. There are instructions online on how to do it. If you have 12mm and 14mm sockets, a few extensions and a rachet you can do this in a few hours (first time, 30-45 minutes really). Another $40 into the car. Total $130 or so this far.

Battery Service? Come on.. buy a $2 tool and do it yourself. Just remeber to remove the negative cable first.

For brake fluid change order a MityVac from Harbor Frieght for $35 or so and you can bleed your brakes (and clutch if you have one) in no time by yourself. Besides, you end up with the tool instead of paying a Mechanic to use his. Go to Ford and get their Heavy Duty Truck brake fluid. Comes in quarts for about $6. It's got the highest boiling point of any brake fluid EXCEPT Motul. One SHOULD do you if you don't empty the master cylinder while bleeding and have to start over. Another $40 or so, but $35 of that you get to put in your toolbox.

Your now at about $180.

Get the radiator flush kit that goes in your heater hose for $3-4 and get a can of flush for about $7-10. Two gallons of a good anti-freeze will run you from $10-15.

Your now at $210 and you have two new tools in your box.

I didn't cover your tranny flush cause you didn't say whether it's auto or manual.

That should give you a rough idea. There isn't anything hard about any of this and you can do it ALL in a weekend.

Have fun!

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

exactly what he said.. then the tranny flush will require about 5 qts of fluid whether you're auto or manual. procedures are the same, but the fill and drain points are different. it's not any harder than changing your oil, but you gotta be more careful when refilling to get the proper level. it's not something you just drain out and pour 4 2ts of oil back in and go.

all of that I would do in an afternoon for about $150 in labor. if you're anywhere near Tulsa and need a mechanic, let me know and I'll be glad to take your money.

nubiannupe

iTrader: (9)

MrGone

iTrader: (30)

the only thing I can see a novice having some issues with is the brake lines, but as long as you follow the directions and understand the concept and what your doing, you shouldnt have a problem.

also for best results, just use what the manufacture reccomends.

MrGone