[jeb6294]

Went in to the dealership for my oil change on Saturday at ~75k miles (dealership does the oil changes because I got the truck there used and it has a lifetime powertrain warranty as long as I have them do maintenance). Guy comes out and gives me a list of stuff they're "recommending" that comes out to over $800. I don't have the list with me, but I'll give it a shot:
Oil Change - free (I had 4 changes prepaid)
Diff fluid change - $200
Fuel system flush - $200
Tune up - $400
Tire rotation - $20

I went ahead and had them do the diffs and rotate the tires, but hold off on the other two. He said the tune up is so expensive because they have to take out the fender liners to get the sparkplugs changed?

I need to check my paperwork from when I bought the truck, but I think the only maintenance I had to have them do was oil changes and transmission flush. If that's the case, do I really need a tune up and fuel system cleaned out?

 

[DetroitDoc]

* Tire rotation - legit
* Diffs - legit but outrageously expensive
* Tune up - on a modern vehicle this is just spark plugs. I think your year called for 32,000 mile spark plug replacement. If you haven't done them in 32,000 miles it's legit yet again, really, really expensive.
* Fuel System Flush - pure snake oil! Run a bottle of Techron in your next tank of gas if you want.


I'm surprised they didn't recommend doing the transfer case.

It's is why I do my own work. It would probably cost me $45 to do the diffs, maybe $60 or $80 for the plugs, etc. And I get to spend some quality time with my truck and make sure the job is done right.

 

[starquestbd22]

If you have to follow their recommended maintenance and pay those prices for it, that powertrain warranty will quickly become useless to you. At that rate, you will end up paying dearly for it.

 

[Ramzaq]

No! They don't have to take out the fender liners to do a tune up. If the truck is running fine and isn't using any extra gas I might go a little farther on the tune up. The plugs that I have seen didn't look bad when changed at the 30k mark but that is up to you.

It is a little pricey, but it is a dealer and they tend to be higher. If you are going to pay that much I would try to get them to knock off the price for the tire rotation at least.

 

[jeb6294]

When I got the truck it already had 50-somethin thousand miles on it so I can't say if the plugs were already changed once. If I don't "have" to have them do it, I will check a few of the local shops and see what they would charge. Knowing they don't actually have to do anything to the fenders is good to know.

Going to them for oil changes actually isn't too bad. I've been getting pre-purchased contracts of 4 changes for $80 so it comes out to $20 per. I could do it a little cheaper myself, but I'm not going to complain when that gets me a lifetime warranty.

 

[Thumper14]

Holy cow, 200 bucks for the diffs? That is seriously ridiculous...

 

[hydrex]

You should really think about doing all that yourself. Buy the Mopar fluids, 16 Champion plugs= $32 or so. Buy whatever tools that you need, torque wrench, some jack stands, a car/truck jack, etc. Plugs should take no more than 2 hours. Differentials are very easy, 30 min tops. Take the money that you saved, buy yourself something nice!:smileup: One tip: Gap the Champion plugs to .40 or even .35 and they will last 100,000 miles. You don't need to remove fender liners, maybe on a Chevy, not on a hemi.

 

[Ranman]

You should really think about doing all that yourself. Buy the Mopar fluids, 16 Champion plugs= $32 or so. Buy whatever tools that you need, torque wrench, some jack stands, a car/truck jack, etc. Plugs should take no more than 2 hours. Differentials are very easy, 30 min tops. Take the money that you saved, buy yourself something nice!:smileup: One tip: Gap the Champion plugs to .40 or even .35 and they will last 100,000 miles. You don't need to remove fender liners, maybe on a Chevy, not on a hemi.

x2:smileup:

 

[RansRAM]

You should really think about doing all that yourself. Buy the Mopar fluids, 16 Champion plugs= $32 or so. Buy whatever tools that you need, torque wrench, some jack stands, a car/truck jack, etc. Plugs should take no more than 2 hours. Differentials are very easy, 30 min tops. Take the money that you saved, buy yourself something nice!:smileup: One tip: Gap the Champion plugs to .40 or even .35 and they will last 100,000 miles. You don't need to remove fender liners, maybe on a Chevy, not on a hemi.

^^^ X3 :smileup:

 

[Hermes1]

^^^ X3 :smileup:

^^^^ x4 Legitimate services, but ridiculously expensive, to the tune of bend over and grab your ankles. As others have said many of not all of the services can be done yourself, if you are willing, able and so inclined. If not I'll bet you can find a good local independent mechanic who can do the work for much less.

 

[PaulMys]

^^^^ x4 Legitimate services, but ridiculously expensive, to the tune of bend over and grab your ankles. As others have said many of not all of the services can be done yourself, if you are willing, able and so inclined. If not I'll bet you can find a good local independent mechanic who can do the work for much less.

Agree 100%.

However, WAY out here on the very tip of Eastern Long Island, my dealer (Mullen Motors) has adapted to the times and the competition. They were founded in 1934 by Richard Mullen, and the dealership is still family owned.

LSS.. They now work on many other brands, and have great prices on all service.

(They have been Chrysler 5-star every year since the early '80's)

So, there ARE great dealers out there!!!

 

[huntergreen]

i follow the maintanence in the manual. spark plug changes are recomended every 30000miles. so what does a tune up consist of for 400.00?

 

[Ramzaq]

Was thinking about that fender statement and remembered this photo.

SOP when working on a Ford heavy duty diesel engine.

 

[Hemi All Day]

Was thinking about that fender statement and remembered this photo.

SOP when working on a Ford heavy duty diesel engine.

Only ford engineers... Haha
On the other hand, these cabs are designed to be removed and they are relatively easy to remove.

 

[namretsud]

My local Chrysler Dealer was doing Hemi tune ups for just over $200 Cdn.

 

[huntergreen]

what does a tune up consist of, if they are not doing plugs.

 

[Hermes1]

what does a tune up consist of, if they are not doing plugs.

Dealership speak for we are going to soak you.

 

[bearphoto]

The fuel system flush is a total waste of money. As someone else said if you want to clean it just buy a bottle of Techron fuel additive and it will do the same thing.

Diff fluid changes? hmmm I have 140k miles on my 2001 dodge diesel and i have never changed the fluids so maybe I'm not the best one to comment on routine maintenance!

 

[Turbovsix]

Any dealer that tells you they have to remove the fender liners to do the plugs is an idiot of the highest order.

 

[twooldfarmers]

they are called 'stealerships' for a very good reason

they are in general actually a crooked industry but not so much that you can toss them in the slammer for it

which is unfortunate