Free tires for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jestmaty]

I was going through my sale paperwork from 3 years ago and found something funny.

My dealer was running a special ' Tires for life when you buy your new car from us' deal. Basically the rules said that if you had ALL of your service done at the dealer, you would get replacement tires for free when the time came. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?

Sorry, that is a Monty Python joke

I have done all of my maintanence myself and have certainly saved the equivalent $$ that a replacement set of Goodyear Integrities would have cost!!! Can you imagine getting ANOTHER set of GY's , thinking they were "free" because I had all my maintanence work done there??

NOT!!!!!!!!

"And just HOW much is the charge for a VTM4 fluid change?"

[eluwak]

I'm coming up on my 7th oil change and I've spent maybe $200 for dealer service in 43k miles. Still don't need tires tho...

Those programs are crap anyways. If they offer it just negotiate it out of the price.

[jestmaty]

I know there are at least a couple of VTM4 changes by 43k miles.... and it seems dealers charge a lot for the procedure.

Plus, I think dealer charges for 15k and 30k are well over $200 if you have them done there.

Anyway... I wouldn't have them put Integrities back on anyway. The tires have performed well, but the seem kinda wimpy for our Pilots.

I like the squared off, more aggressive looking treads and sidewalls found on Michelin, Yokohama, Fortera, etc....

[eluwak]

I have an '06 2wd so no VTM4 and I follow the maint minder. I will next weekend be doing the trans flush and the brake fluid change. Dunno what the dealer charges for those but I'm sure it'll be a ~$100-$150 bill which is cheaper than my time to do it.

[jestmaty]

Oops, my bad, I didn't see that you are 2wd.

The transmission fluid change, if done correctly by the dealer will use about 11 quarts of fluid at a minimum. I've done it twice already at 15k and 30k and the fluid is only available from the dealer for approx $4.50 per quart.

$50 bucks for fluid alone.... The proper way to do it is to drain/fill 3 times to get a full exhange of old fluid out of passages and torque converter.

I am kind of skeptical if the dealer techs drain, fill, drive to circulate fluid 3X. I would bet that they drain the 3.5 quarts out and just fill it back up and give you the keys, "yep, we're done"

And your're right.... the tranny fluid change alone takes a couple of hours to do it right. Add in a thorough brake fluid bleed and you are now into a half a day's work.

If you can get 'er done for $150, you have a generous dealership who doesn't gouge too badly for maintanence.

Let us know if they do it right and how much that 45k service costs... Good luck

[larryziegler]

I just had an oil change and VTM fluid change. It was $92 for the VTM fluid change.

[Sportymonk]

Originally posted by eluwak
I have an '06 2wd so no VTM4 and I follow the maint minder. I will next weekend be doing the trans flush and the brake fluid change. Dunno what the dealer charges for those but I'm sure it'll be a ~$100-$150 bill which is cheaper than my time to do it.

Why are you flushing the brake fluid, especially on an 06. I thought brake fluid was flushed every 3 years and even then I am not sure if this is a "stealer recommendation". I don't think! have ever had the brake fluid flushed on any of by vehicles (72 Pinto -102,000 miles, 78 Ford Fairmont - 98,000 miles, 84 Plymouth Voyager 71,000 miles, 91 Chevy Astro 127,000 miles, 01 Chevy Impala - 78,000 miles. Wife's 79 Camaro -115,000 miles, used Chevy Corsica with 13,000 miles, driven to 95,000 miles, and 00 Chevy Malibu 136,000 miles)

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Sportymonk


Why are you flushing the brake fluid, especially on an 06. I thought brake fluid was flushed every 3 years and even then I am not sure if this is a "stealer recommendation". I don't think! have ever had the brake fluid flushed on any of by vehicles (72 Pinto -102,000 miles, 78 Ford Fairmont - 98,000 miles, 84 Plymouth Voyager 71,000 miles, 91 Chevy Astro 127,000 miles, 01 Chevy Impala - 78,000 miles. Wife's 79 Camaro -115,000 miles, used Chevy Corsica with 13,000 miles, driven to 95,000 miles, and 00 Chevy Malibu 136,000 miles)

Brake Fluid flushing is MUCH cheaper than the alternative replacement of brake parts (ABS, etc.)

[eluwak]

Originally posted by Sportymonk


Why are you flushing the brake fluid, especially on an 06. I thought brake fluid was flushed every 3 years and even then I am not sure if this is a "stealer recommendation". I don't think! have ever had the brake fluid flushed on any of by vehicles (72 Pinto -102,000 miles, 78 Ford Fairmont - 98,000 miles, 84 Plymouth Voyager 71,000 miles, 91 Chevy Astro 127,000 miles, 01 Chevy Impala - 78,000 miles. Wife's 79 Camaro -115,000 miles, used Chevy Corsica with 13,000 miles, driven to 95,000 miles, and 00 Chevy Malibu 136,000 miles)

Brake fluid absorbs moiture like a dry sponge and should be changed every two years. If this doesn't happen then the long term affect is rusty brake lines.