Car Servicing
The advertised cost for the 18-month service on my 2013 Nissan Pulsar was quoted as $223.23. But the total cost was increased to $497 by tyre rotation, throttle body and intake system clean and fuel injector service. The advertised cost of the 24-month service was $455.93, but the total cost increased to $551, as it was recommended the aircon be cleaned and sanitised. Three of the additional services were "recommended" to be carried out every 12 months. If these services are recommended and required to ensure the serviceable condition of the vehicle they should be included in the capped-price service program.
I have a 3.0-litre Fiat motorhome and my question is whether I must have it serviced at a Fiat dealer. I got the first service done at a Fiat dealer in Newcastle and it cost me $550 as they changed the oil filter and oil. I had only done 10,000km. My next service is 48,000km or two years and, as I'll have done only about 20,000km, I will get it done at two years. I don't do many trips a year as I am paying it off and I have to work. The Fiat dealer told me my next one will cost $900 as they change the fuel filter and do more checks on it, and he also said if I don't get a Fiat dealer to do it then it won't be covered by warranty if something happens. I‘ve been told that if I use Fiat filters and spare parts and engaged a licensed mechanic then my warranty is still covered.
What happened to the temperature gauge on light cars? I prefer the dash on my 2001 Daihatsu Sirion, which has a temperature gauge but no tachometer. The tachometer is irrelevant on a shopping trolley. Is it cost cutting, or is it because modern cooling systems are bulletproof?
Some comments about Subaru: My last service cost $292 but the dealer attempted to double the invoice with a cabin filter for $115 and injectors "flushed" for another $150. Subaru has service intervals that are half of the rest of the industry, at double the cost. All Subaru speedos are set 10 per cent below actual speed and dealers refuse to rectify this. It means at 100,000km you have only done 90,000km and paid for an additional service. Also, you hold up traffic on the open road. I have two Subarus, a 2008 Liberty wagon and 2014 Forester.
We have a Holden Commodore SV6 Series II, which has been serviced by the Holden dealership but only does short trips. As time has gone on, the odometer reading has been far below the nominal kilometres for the scheduled service times. The car is overdue for the 45,000km service but has only 12,292km on the clock. I'm capable of carrying out the service requirements but don't know whether to use the monthly time frame or the kilometres travelled. We also have a Ford XR6 2006 which does some long trips but I service it at 10,000km intervals.
For a few weeks now, my 2001 Hyundai Accent has been running at a slightly elevated temperature. It is not affected by the hot weather, because it happens at night and on cool days too; there is no visible blockage/damage to the radiator or related parts; and the coolant (around one year old) is always filled to the top and there are no leaks. I never need to put any more in it. Nothing is being taken out of or put back into the overflow bottle. The temp increase is only slight, but I'm keen to attend to it in case it is indicative of a larger, later problem. Any advice you can give would be most welcome.
Recently my 2010 Hyundai i30 started making a knocking noise. It was not overheating, not blowing smoke and was running perfectly until then. The Hyundai dealer said that because the spark plugs were not changed at 45,000 km or 3 year they would not repair it at their cost. The car has only done 38,363 km and they are estimating it will cost $2245 or possibly more to repair. They haven't popped a scope in to have a look, they've just taken the spark plugs out and said one is broken and that the head will need to come off. Your opinion would be appreciated.
When up the front windows on my 1999 VT Series II Clubsport R8 creak. I've been told that the Bailey channels need replacing. Would this be the problem?
My 2007 Mazda BT-50 ute had a very smelly clutch problem after reversing a 16-foot caravan. Mazda denied a problem, but changed the clutch on a friend's BT-50 with the same problem. I received no reply when I tried to communicate with them. What can I do?