Hi:

I visited a Nissan dealer yesterday to get a front light assembly replaced on my 1999 Maxima GLE. Service Manager recommends performing a package of 30K miles services (I have done 29K on the car).

Any opinions on which particular services are useful and which not?

FYI, the price tag is $490 + tax + waste removal and included will be:

1. Change oil, filter, lubricate
2. Refill fluids
3. Inspect all dribe belts, hoses for wear and adjust as
needed
4. Service emissions system including filters perform all
necessary diagnostic CKS and adjustments
5. Perform complete transmission tune-up, make all reqd
adjustments, replace fluid clean transmission filter,
adjust throttle cable, adjust shift points
6. Service final drive repolce gear oil make necessary
adjustmenets (where applicable)
7. Flush cooling system and heating core add fresh coolant
and pressure test system
8. High speed balance and rotation of all 4 tires.
9. Service AC system and add upto 1lb Freon if needed.
Repairs additional
10.Decarbon entire intake and valve system
11.Perform major tune-up of engine, incl replacement of air
and fuel filters, breather elements, and spark plugs
perform all Engine adjustments including timing and idle.
Platinum tipped plugs additional.
12.Scope test engine, perform computer analysis of vehicle
performance, perform on-board diagnostic analysis of
vehicle performance (where equipped)
13.Inspect steering gear (including fluid levels). Inspect
and secure all suspension components
14.Clean and adjust brakes make all cable adjustments,
bleed system lubricate calipers drain and refill master
cylinder, CK linings
15.Check operation of lighting systems
16.Load test battery. Refill as required. Perform charging
system inspection. Perform starter draw test
17.Perform fuel injection system pressure check, flush and
clean injectors and rail
18.Complete hunter 4 wheel alignment
19.Test drive for performance and handling
20.Degrease engine

What do others think of the value of this package?

Sincerely,

 

Subhash,

I don't have my owner's manual in front of me but I can tell that list is too long. Read your owner' manual first before you have any work done. Dealers come up with their own maintainence schedule that maximizes their profit. Off the top of my head, 30K service should include: oil change, air filter change, possibly coolant, and inspections of the fluids, drivetrain, and brakes. I might have missed something. Be carefull! This is why I do all repairs myself. Good luck.

 

1. Change oil, filter, lubricate
Good...

2. Refill fluids
Good...

3. Inspect all dribe belts, hoses for wear and adjust as
needed
Good...

4. Service emissions system including filters perform all
necessary diagnostic CKS and adjustments
Shouldnt need any "service"...

5. Perform complete transmission tune-up, make all reqd
adjustments, replace fluid clean transmission filter,
adjust throttle cable, adjust shift points
They can't adjust the shift points...

6. Service final drive repolce gear oil make necessary
adjustmenets (where applicable)
Not applicable...

7. Flush cooling system and heating core add fresh coolant
and pressure test system
Not needed, just test the coolant...

8. High speed balance and rotation of all 4 tires.
Only if they are out of balance...

9. Service AC system and add upto 1lb Freon if needed.
Repairs additional
Is it still blowing cold enough for you?

10.Decarbon entire intake and valve system
Not needed...

11.Perform major tune-up of engine, incl replacement of air
and fuel filters, breather elements, and spark plugs
perform all Engine adjustments including timing and idle.
Platinum tipped plugs additional.
Your plugs should be fine until 60k, and platinum shouldnt be extra, the car came from the factory with platinum. They cant adjust the timing or the idle, the ECU controls these.

12.Scope test engine, perform computer analysis of vehicle
performance, perform on-board diagnostic analysis of
vehicle performance (where equipped)
If your not getting a "check engine light" they dont need to do this...

13.Inspect steering gear (including fluid levels). Inspect
and secure all suspension components
Shouldnt need adjustment...

14.Clean and adjust brakes make all cable adjustments,
bleed system lubricate calipers drain and refill master
cylinder, CK linings
Brakes should be fine, do they feel like they need to be bled?

15.Check operation of lighting systems
You can do this yourself...

16.Load test battery. Refill as required. Perform charging
system inspection. Perform starter draw test
Should be fine on such a new car...

17.Perform fuel injection system pressure check, flush and
clean injectors and rail
Not needed...

18.Complete hunter 4 wheel alignment
Your car only takes a 2 wheel alignment, dont get it done at all if you dont need it...

19.Test drive for performance and handling
You can do this too...

20.Degrease engine
You can clean your own car...




Pretty much all you need is change the oil and all the filters, plus inspect the fluids and belts. You can get this done at other places much cheaper than the dealer...

 

Please read your Owner's Manual, page 9-6. At 30K you should replace your engine oil, engine oil filter, and air cleaner filter. Everything else falls in the category of "inspect this, inspect that".

Anyone may perform the 30K service... the dealer, an independent shop, or the owner himself. If you do this work yourself it will cost about US$25.

Your dealer is trying to sell a long list of things you don't need. I suggest you politely decline his offer.

 

This is why I never go to the dealer for these tune up arrangments. On the list there was maybe 50 buck worth of work at a jiffy lube for the oil change filters and belts. Most of this you could do yourself also and knowck it down to $20.00. Much nicer than the 500.

SuDZ

 

Guys theres one thing you're all leaving out. The transmissin fluid really should be changed at 30K.

 

Well it should be changed at 30k, but it doesn't have to be. Nissan recommends 60k change intervals.

As for the $490 "tear you a new hole" service above, I would recommend:

1) Oil and filter change
2) Change air filter
3) Drain and refill ATF
4) Drain and refill coolant
5) Check brakes and suspension

That's it! Should cost no more than $150 from a reputable shop. If you do it yourself, it will be much much cheaper.

 

I respectfully disagree.

Nissan says:
If towing a trailer, using a camper or a car-top carrier, or driving on rough or muddy roads, change (not just inspect) automatic transmission fluid every 30K miles or 24 months.

Aside from this Severe Service recommendation, Nissan does not require any change of ATF. However, many owners like to perform this service with the 60K maintenance procedure. It seems like cheap insurance.

Heat is the big enemy of automatic transmission fluid. The ATF suffers most if the vehicle is driven hard (racing or towing), in mountainous terrain, or extremely hot climates. Owners who use their Maximas in this way should consider installing an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler.

 

Hi guys:

Thanks a ton to Daniel, Eric, Sudz, mzmtg, NJMaxSeltd, and Jason96GLE for the advice. I hope I have not left off any contributor's name. The opinion is unanimous that the dealer is "selling" unneeded services. If it were not for you guys and this forum, I'd have blown a hole in my pocket.

Now I will simply do the specific oil/fluid/filter changes/refills either myself or at Tuffy's or Jiffy Lube.

Regards,

 

You 'r' lucky,

I have been stupid enough to have got the 15K (200 $) and 30K (400 $) service done at the dealers. Have got infinitely wiser after I got on this newsgroup, and have been doing OK as a DIY.

Great forum, this.

Manish

 

Opinion noted. I didn't say that I use the 30k or 60k interval for ATF. I change my ATF with Redline D4 ATF every 15k (drain and refill, but did a T-tech flush with Redline last time). And yes, a transmission cooler is a good idea. Easy to install too.

 

Hi everyone...

My 99 SE is at 50K miles now.... I was wondering if I should go ahead and do the 60K miles service maintenance at the dealer? A friend of mine know this guy that works at a Nissan Dealer and quoted me $300 for the job. Is that a good price?

Also... I got quoted for $130 to replace front OEM pads and resurface the rotors.. and $120 for rears+resurfacing rotors. So total ... I would have to shell out $550.. for everything? Think is worth it? Need your opinion.....

 

This depends on whether you like to do your own "wrenching". You can perform the 60K service procedure for about $100 in parts and materials. Engine oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, coolant. Everything else is in the category of "inspect this, inspect that."

 

For the dealer, the price sounds acceptable. But why not wait until 60k to do the work? There is such as thing as "overmaintaining" a car.