My dealer is quoting me $510 for a 30k service on my 2k SE. Is this reasonable. Includes coolant flush. Any advice would be greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance.

 

please list the other things they would be doing. Tranny fluid drain, etc....

 

They are doing the usual oil change, air filter, belts adjustment, timing adjustments, lube chasis, flush coolant, change differential fluid, rotate tires. This doesn't sound like a lot.

 

So basically you are going to get ripped off. Seems like a lot to me.

 

This is an estimate if you do-it-yourself:

oil change = $15-25
air filter = $12-20
coolant flush = $50-70
diff. fluids = $45-60
tire rotate = $15-20
timing adjustments = not necessary unless you want to advance it.
belt adjustment = maybe if the belts squeak? (inspect rather)
lube chassis = not sure if that is necessary w/modern car design?
-It should ONLY cost you no more than $200 to do the work elsewhere.

 

I haven't gone to the dealer yet for maintenance service, and I'm at 67K miles. Of course, I do the following myself...

- Oil & filter changes every 3K to 4K miles
- Air filter changes every 15K miles
- Automatic transmission fluid drains and refills every 30K miles
- Spark plug change every 60K miles
- Tire rotation every 7.5K miles
- Check fluid every now and then
- Coolant drain/flush is coming up

The car still runs like a dream.

I'll probably take the car in for its 100K/120K mile service, and I know that'll be big bucks, but at least I'll be happier knowing that I didn't get ripped off for the little things they do for the lesser miles maintenance service.

If you feel comfortable doing things yourself, then I would recommend doing it especially if the car is having no major issues. No need to waste money when a lot of times all the dealer does is check and inspect.

Peace.

 

Thanks for the advice. Does anyone have "how to's" for the coolant flush and the differential fluids?

 

If you don't want to or don't know how, I am sure your local stores like PepBoys will do the same maintanence for less... $510 sounds like a rip-off to me...

 

If you gonna do it yourself, make sure you use Nissan antifreeze coolant.
I believe that there was a thread on this forum regarding the important of its usage due to the chemistry of the coolant fluid, in reference to the waterpump longevity? Can't quite remembered...try using the search function on this topic.

FYI, The shop that I had my coolant flushed had a machine which connected to the radiator while the engine was operating.

 

Some antifreeze brands, including OEM American car company brands, use silicates in their fluids. The purpose of this is to help 'seal' very minor cracks in your cooling system as it ages. However, some believe that these silicates actually build up and cause damage to your cooling system as time goes on.

Some Japanese car maker brands of antifreeze are silicate-free. Honda sells a pre-mixed, silicate-free bottle, and I guess Nissan does too. The only problem with buying these from the dealer is that you'll usually end up paying 2 to 3 times more than 'regular' antifreeze you get at a store.

 

my local oil change place did at 15K- synthetic change ,manual tranny
fluid change serviceservice, fuel injector service for $140
so for radiator flush- $45 and to rotate tires $15-20/per tire
Yeah $500+ seems to be a rip off! And I got an ECU reading (OBM II)
for free!

 

If your going too Nissan too get it done that sounds about right. One thing too keep in mind though if you don not have all your checkup services done by nissan they could refuse too do warranty work on your car. Please correct me if im wrong on this last statement. Myself personaly never took it in for there over priced work, but thats me. just .02

 

I'd say more like $245

 

Yeah, they're taking advantage of you... seems quite common unfortunately. The owner's manual has a maintenance schedule in it. Look up what needs to be done at 30k (which isn't much) then do what you can yourself, then take it to Pep Boys or Jiffy Lube to get the rest done.

BTW, my dealer quoted less than $300 to service mine. I still did it myself.

 

You have all convinced me that the dealer is a rip-off. I have placed an order for a Haynes and will do the work myself. I usually do the work if I have a manual, but wasn't interested in shelling out $200 for the Nissan Manual. For $300, I would have gone with the dealer, but not $500. Thanks again.