when I got my car it had been religiously serviced at an authorised dealership. I initially continued this, until speaking to some people who said the service schedules supplied with most cars are just money making schemes from the manufacturers who hope you will adhere to it and bring your vehicle to one of their authroised dealers.
So I stuck to just getting an oil change every 6 months down at the local and getting work done only as it appeared.
I have got my service schedule out and see there are things I haven't done to the schedules timing.
e.g coolant every 12 months for vehicles that do under 40,00km/year.
So when going to an authorised dealer I found they'd see how many km's the car had done, look up the recommend work for 'x' km's and then dothe work.
However, if I was to go to a independent garage , other than changing the oil I'd be iffy about telling them what to do to the car. Would you just look up what needs to be done as per the service schedule and then say to the independent garage, can you do the following please."insert stuff from service schedule"
and what of the term "give it a tune up".is this quite a loose term and open to interpretation by the mechanic !
Part of me thinks getting a independent to doall this may cost the same or more ! I'm really unsure
00quattro00,
Dec 26, 10:27am
Is it auto! The trans is always overlooked and never serviced, same with fuel filters and brake fluid
master-trader,
Dec 26, 10:32am
yeah it is auto. The trans is overlooked ! Do you mean when it's taken to a generic garage ! or just in general by people ! or.
00quattro00,
Dec 26, 10:37am
Generaly the trans is overlooked, you would have to request it to be done. What vehicle is it and how many kms has it done!
master-trader,
Dec 26, 10:40am
The toyota is a 94 Corona.nothing fancy, but dam reliable! Need another 2 yrs out of it.it has done 250K km
kazbanz,
Dec 26, 11:06am
According to the gubbiment you do 14000k a year so2 years is 28000km traveled. So the car for arguments sake should have done 280000km in two years time alowing a bit of wriggle room. So IMO Id be thinking. Of course regular oil/filter air filter changes and a couple of plug changes, Id future proof by fitting new pads/shoes within that time Im thinking you would once Change coolant,service transmission,change brake fluid.change plug leads as needed,change flexible brake lines as needed,
msigg,
Dec 26, 11:37am
Well yes you should get the coolant changed, that is one thing that will stop this motor,change auto oil, engine oil and that motor will do another 200.000km. very good engines. Take care.
master-trader,
Dec 26, 12:50pm
in terms of servicing the trans, what do they usually do ! flush it ! anyone have a guesstimate cost of what it may be near to get a trans service !
master-trader,
Dec 26, 12:54pm
wait I have found an old worksheet for an auto trans flush.cost just over $200.it involved 8 units of auto trans oil and this was over half the cost.wow it was done 90K km ago,.geez this was over 5yrs ago
franc123,
Dec 26, 1:08pm
Flushing is the correct way to do it yes, and replacement of the internal filter if it is of the replaceable type. The problem with just draining the oil is that most of it gets left behind in a large fluid operated component called a torque converter. The old fluid needs to be drained out of the trans casing, the pan underneath removed and filter replaced, then new fluid added, and what fluid is still left in the converter pumped out through the external cooler with the engine running until the new fluid comes through, and then more new fluid added until the level is correct. Some units have band adjustments which should be done at the same time but aren't common these days, and not all have replaceable filters either. This should cost in the 250-350 region, this is cheap compared to the consequences of not doing it. A lot of oil, 10+ litres sometimes may be needed if the old oil was very dirty.
intrade,
Dec 26, 1:16pm
you always end up using 10 liter or more to do a propper flush unless on some tini 3 speed toyota trans you get away with less but there the diff is filled seperate. all depends on what trans its got the crap gets collected in sump attached to the magnets as per above sump off . replace filter clean fit new sumpgasket fill with fluid and purge old fluids out of the box by disconecting the return from cooler till clear fluid comesthen reconnect and top up . fluids
carmad50,
Dec 26, 10:23pm
take it to a midas centre for a free quote on your trans as soon as possible ask them check the brake pads , exhaust system,oil colour in engine etc engine oil that s black needs changing , gearbox oil offa the dip stick check its consistancyshould be redish in color , be like cooking oil but not smell burnt , a trans past its service will tell u it ll slip or jump most timescan be expensive on older trans but average is 350 ish alone , brakepads 45 a set our garage fitted set 100 bucks quality pads hope that gives you a idea of pricingbut in wellys I d shop around once you ve been to midas hope this helps , I was quoted by midas down here $850 and some work was nt required at time worst was the fuel pump thats just died , I cut costs byhaving work split done by diff garage, brought the parts diff places and saved myself 300 notes
meathead_timaru,
Dec 26, 10:49pm
I'll just stop you there. Under no circumstances take it anywhere near those rogues, or Pitstop.
master-trader,
Dec 27, 9:25am
what is the general feeling of garages if you turn up with your own parts ! is it frowned upon ! or considered the norm nowadays to BYO parts !
franc123,
Dec 27, 10:39am
You will probably get charged more in the labour content since there won't be any margin in the parts. The other guaranteed way to annoy a garage is if YOU make a cockup with what you have ordered and the car has to be left in bits until the correct parts show up, this is especially so with things like cambelts and clutches etc. There is little difference in the retail price of parts bought locally and what the garage will charge you anyway.
thejazzpianoma,
Dec 27, 12:11pm
With a Toyota its probably going to be frowned upon. However, when I am too crook to service my own vehicles I take them to my favorite local garage along with the parts required. Because I own non-mainstream stuff and the owner knows I will always have the correct parts, that is actually his preferred option. He can just get on and do the job without any mucking about finding parts.
elect70,
Dec 27, 1:52pm
Mate ex panel beater buys cars under $1000doesnt do any maintenacejust puts oil in if its using any & water .Seems to getaround 3 years use out of them or until cant get WOF then sells it to localwrecker & buys another .Sometimes wonderwhether hes right .
morrisman1,
Dec 27, 2:16pm
With my vehicle, a nissan of similar vintage I do: ~ Oil and filter every 10,000km ~ Coolant 40,000km ~ Fuel Filter 40,000km ~ Brake fluid 40,000km ~ Gearbox oil has ended up being done more than engine oil with the amount of gearbox changes i've done haha. ~ Air filter just whenever it looks to need it. I give it a blow out with the compressor every oil change
franc123,
Dec 27, 5:13pm
That can work out very cheap if you do it right. A student friend of mine used to do that every six months, bought something with a brand new wof and at least 6 months licence for a grand or less, ran it for six months, spent a day giving the thing a really good DIY detail groom, and then sold it as is for the same money she paid for it, and repeated the process. Never outlaid a cent apart from fuel and the odd oil topup for about three years. She told me the only rules she followed when buying was, no Euros, No Subarus and avoid automatics if you can.
tigra,
Dec 28, 8:34am
Depends on how you view your ride. Something basic to get from A to B orwanting something you really enjoy driving that looks good too.
tigra,
Dec 28, 8:35am
Have to say over the years have tried both and decided the second way is better even if the yearly cost is higher.
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