|
|
01-12-2015, 05:38 PM
|
#1
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,085
|
Car maintenance/repair
For those who do not work on their cars, where do you take your car for service/maintenance/repair? Do you stick with the factory recommended service schedule? Is there a local mechanic who you like to deal with or do you use a national chain like Jiffy Lube, etc? Or do you just go back to the dealer and have it serviced there?
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-12-2015, 05:58 PM
|
#2
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
|
I stick with the factory recommended maintenance.
It is done by a local garage that has a good reputation.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 06:09 PM
|
#3
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,263
|
+1 Though I usually go to the dealership for oil changes and routine maintenance during the bumper-to-bumper warranty period. The only charge $25 for an oil change IIRC so that doesn't seem so bad.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 06:11 PM
|
#4
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The sticks
Posts: 314
|
The people who designed and built the engine would be the ones whose opinions carry the most weight. Their recommendations appear in the owner's manual, so that's what I go by.
Luckily I found a local mechanic whose work I like, so that's where the cars go.
__________________
I’m not much on seizing the day. I just kind of poke it with a stick.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 06:16 PM
|
#5
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
|
I follow the recommended maintenance in the back of the owner's manual and only have warranty work done at a dealership. I use a good independent shop for oil changes and work out of warranty. A good resource to find said good independent shop is the Car Talk Mechanics Files.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 06:16 PM
|
#6
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Madeira Beach Fl
Posts: 1,403
|
Find a busy local mechanic and treat him (or her) right.
__________________
_______________________________________________
"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do" --Bob Dylan.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 07:06 PM
|
#7
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 728
|
back to the dealership for work......they have all the right equipment and parts for my car.....they are aware of all factory recalls and give me a free loaner either free or cheap.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 07:25 PM
|
#8
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,130
|
With my current car, I rely on the maintenance minder of the car as to when to get regular work done. Only service I've needed (bought car used in 2013) is oil change. I bring that to a Car-X within bicycling/walking (well, at least in the summer time) distance.
There is an independent shop where the mechanic has a good reputation but he's always really busy. More convenient to just go the Car-X route. A dealer is the plan B, but I don't like going to dealers' shops for maintenance.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 09:51 PM
|
#9
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,863
|
As long as the car is under warranty I have the factory dealership do most of the work. (except oil changes since it's easier and much quicker just to do it myself. Also, I want to be sure the highest quality oil and filters are used)
Out of warranty, I'll typically do all the work myself.
|
|
|
01-12-2015, 11:29 PM
|
#10
|
Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
|
When my car is "in warranty", It goes to the dealer, once a month for a check-up, but that hasn't happened since 1973. Otherwise, I do it myself. Getting harder to move around under the car anymore, so I may have to look for a local shop for oil changes in the next year or two.
Since we don't drive as much, our 96 Cadillac and 98 Lincoln, don't require too much in servicing. Neither one has been to an garage in the past 3 years. Since the book value for each car is about $2000, the few annoyances that come from age... we just live with. The last major fix I did myself... four wheel brake job... new discs, fiber pads, total cost $215.
Both cars have ride level suspension systems that don't work right, so the onboard computer shuts them down. No bother... the default ride is a little bit harder, but with a repair from the dealer the cost is between $4K and 5K.
Also, on the Caddy, the onboard diagnostics light up the check engine warning about once every three months, but that's common with that car (Map sensor triggers after long idle). Just a few button pushes to turn off the light. My guess... The Check Engine light is profit magnet for dealers, especially in states that require emissions checks. The average owner is at the mercy of the dealer.
The other problem that really bothered me, was that the slow automatic trunk pull-down stopped working and I had to disconnect it. $600 to fix... no way. I liked that classy feature.The cars still look great,white with blue convertible tops and no nicks or dents. We'll probably never get another car.
About 5 years ago, I had a very noisy squeak in the steering, and, worried about a steering loss, brought it to the local Lincoln Dealership. Received a call... Cost to repair would be $5,000. No Way!... Used a printer ink syringe and some motor oil to squirt into the rubber boot of the linkage. Total cost... $0. Never problem since that day.
Oh... BTW... when I went to pick up the car after getting the call about the estimate... the damned head mechanic said he wouldn't give me the car back unless I signed a release. I was bigger than him, and at the time pretty strong and uh... aggressive. That little experience cost him, as I posted the scam on our community bulletin board. 350 car owners out of the Lincoln dealership loop in our town. Older folk are at risk for these guys.
And so... dealer trust?... No!
Both cars have excellent mechanic websites that cover every imaginable problem. If I were to ever give advice on car repair, I'd suggest finding the very best mechanic website in advance. My experience is that whenever I sense a problem, a visit to the website either gives a simple fix, or at the very least, will suggest a reasonable cost for any repair at a shop. I don't trust the dealerships.
Here's the best site for Cadillacs as a example. It's a huge site with 130 thousand members, and user friendly.
You may have to dig a little to find one of these specialty sites for your car make, but it will be worth the trouble.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/
+1 on the busy local mechanic/shop.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 03:00 AM
|
#11
|
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,653
|
BIL is a gas station mechanic, so he does the ordinary stuff. If something bigger is required, we go to whoever he suggests (usually a busy independent). He has never suggested the dealer. He says the guy at the dealer who writes the ticket gets a hefty percent of what you pay, so is incented to sell more than you need.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 08:52 AM
|
#12
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,301
|
I stick to the manufacture recommended service schedule and I usually ask for the specific item listed. In the past (i.e. fresh out of college) I went to the dealer but quickly realized that their service packages were mostly fluff and that they try to oversell services.
We found an independent mechanic that specializes in our make (honda) and they have been fantastic for service and repairs.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 09:05 AM
|
#13
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,776
|
I use a nearby old sleazy-looking garage that ironically has 2 good low priced mechanics who also own the place. I try to never go to the dealer since they are almost always way overpriced and love to suggest unnecessary and expensive work. Example: they wanted $50 to replace in-cabin air filter on my gf's car. I youtubed it to find out how to do it, and replaced it myself in 5 minutes, for $0 labor, and $10 for the new filter.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 09:17 AM
|
#14
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by heeyy_joe
Find a busy local mechanic and treat him (or her) right.
|
The Magliozzi brothers recommend bringing your mechanic(s) a batch of brownies several times a year. Here's an analysis of that advice and how to do it correctly:
As Read: Proper Brownie-to-Mechanic Ratio | Car Talk
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 10:20 AM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,594
|
Wow. Lots of folks going to the dealer. I hate to pay even an independent garage much less the dealer rates. I typically have older cars that I drive into the ground. I try to do all of the work myself. It seems like this strategy would have a significant LBYM potential over time. I do live in traditional car country however.
Our friends will tease us and such for driving the older cars, but eventually it becomes a point of pride. I also don't worry about driving these cars into questionable areas of town.
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 10:39 AM
|
#16
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
|
DW won't let me touch her scoob so she takes it in for oil changes
I DIY on my other two vehicles - I do, however, have my golf cart professionally serviced
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 10:57 AM
|
#17
|
Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,169
|
My car's a hybrid and the batteries are still w/in the lifetime (10 year) warranty. So I take it to the stealership for regular maintenance... that way I get the recall stuff handled, keep my warranty intact, etc.
They are too expensive for other stuff - new (non-hybrid) battery - they wanted $150, I got it elsewhere for $85. Torn boot - stealership wanted $850, was going to do one side only. Took it to pep boys - both boots, new axle, $600.
My husband's 95 Dodge PU gets worked on by pep boys mostly. FWIW, our closest pep boys has a great service department... Not so much at the other one about 5 miles further away.
__________________
Retired June 2014. No longer an enginerd - now I'm just a nerd.
micro pensions 6%, rental income 20%
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 11:02 AM
|
#18
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
|
$600 for a new axle? holy carp - I've done them myself on my scoob for less than $100
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 11:11 AM
|
#19
|
Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,169
|
It was universal joints, boots, and axle. I think... I'm **** NOT **** a car person. I barely figured out the boot was that piece of rubber around the joint at the end of the axle.
This is a toyota highlander fwd, and this was the front axle. Not sure if it was weirder than normal because of the variable speed nature of the hybrid.... Like I said - I'm ***NOT*** a car person so my husband had to explain all this to me.
__________________
Retired June 2014. No longer an enginerd - now I'm just a nerd.
micro pensions 6%, rental income 20%
|
|
|
01-13-2015, 11:13 AM
|
#20
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
|
some FWDs may be more of a PITA to work on - I've found that it's much easier to just replace the entire axle when a CV boot goes - don't get me wrong, sometimes I have this done for me but an axle job is about 1 hour of shop time
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|