Car Servicing

I recently had my 2006 Mitsubishi Colt LS serviced at a Mitsubishi dealer. It was in the workshop for 1 hour and 10 mins, and I was charged $234 for labour, not including parts, etc. that were used. The service assistants weren't very helpful when I queried the cost. Can you advise me if this is an excessive charge?

I did 285,000 km in my last car, a Toyota Camry, without ever touching the injectors, but at every service of my Toyota Aurion I am advised to have the injectors flushed and cleaned (at $130). Is it really necessary?

My 1992 Mercedes-Benz S320 has started making some noise and is bubbling when in reverse gear. It has only done 112,000 km and has been serviced all its life. How can I fix the problem and which workshop specializes in MB transmissions, and how much would I reasonably expect to pay?

I recently filled my Alfa 159 diesel with Caltex Premium Diesel, which I believe only has a detergent to clean fuel lines/injectors etc, but I swear after two days the car is running better. The small amount of turbo lag it had seems to have gone, and it seems to accelerate better. Is that something you would agree, or is it my brain playing tricks on me?

My Hyundai Sonata CRDi seems to surge and miss for the first 2 km from a cold start. It is ok for about 2000 km after a filter change, but then it begins again. What do you think?

I just got my 2010 Holden Cruze serviced and they said it needed new front brake discs as they had worn beyond serviceable. It's only done 23,000 km and I don't drive the car hard or brake hard. I can understand the pads wearing, but I thought the discs should have lasted longer than that before needing replacement. What do you think?

I am thinking of having the "Crystal Glaze Paint protection" applied to my new Holden Cruze. Having witnessed the lacquer finish peel off on old cars has made me think twice. Would you recommend it?

I am experiencing a frustrating ongoing problem with the battery going flat on 2011 Proton Savvy. It has happened four times now and the dealer won't acknowledge that there is a problem. What can I do?

My 1999 Holden Jackaroo 3.0-litre turbo-diesel began running a bit roughly a couple of months ago. At first it was difficult to start, stalled occasionally, but then lost power. The mechanic changed the glow plugs, but other than this had no interest in looking at it further. I don't know a lot about engines and was after a simple explanation as to what the problem could be, but he kept talking in circles and could not give me any idea about the cause, other than to tell me to get on the net and research it. He also said that many mechanics avoid them like the plague, but I still see many on the road, so there must be mechanics with the necessary knowledge and willingness to work on them. In your opinion, are these vehicles worth the investment to repair?

The owner's manual for my 2010 Hyundai Getz suggests that the coolant does not need replacing until 120 months or 210,000 km, but the service book suggests it should be every 24 months or 45,000 km. Which is correct?