My 2018 Ram has 153k miles and felt like it might be time to get some new brake pads. I drop it off at the automotive place and the guy said it's close to needing new rotors also and I said sure do that too and he said everything would be nearly $1,700! Dang, my oil changes were 26 bucks prior to Covid and now they're over 55 dollars. I know many things have gotten more expensive but those are double the price before Covid. Has their material and labor cost gone up that much or are they charging that because people are willing to pay it?
The cost to get a vehicle serviced nowadays, Wow!
- Thread starter Farmer17
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Some things should best be left to experts, but some things are a rip off IMHO.
A friend told me he took his Mazda CX-5 to the dealer for annual safety inspection, and he was told he needed an engine air filter, a cabin air filter, and a new battery for $495!??
I went on the web and lined him up with
Costco battery +tax = $117.66
O'Reilly engine air filter + tax = ~$20.13
O'Reilly cabin air filter + tax= $25.43
Total: $163.22
Less than 1/2 hour for us to install - Savings = $332!
My friend took my wife and I to dinner = Priceless!
A friend told me he took his Mazda CX-5 to the dealer for annual safety inspection, and he was told he needed an engine air filter, a cabin air filter, and a new battery for $495!??
I went on the web and lined him up with
Costco battery +tax = $117.66
O'Reilly engine air filter + tax = ~$20.13
O'Reilly cabin air filter + tax= $25.43
Total: $163.22
Less than 1/2 hour for us to install - Savings = $332!
My friend took my wife and I to dinner = Priceless!
Last edited:
venomballistics
Member
was the original battery and "AGM" type?
Geezers have $$$'s.
Many are too lazy, too out of condition to spend a minute on their knees or back, have no clue, don't have the tools or facility, spending their money while they can, too busy taking expensive cruises, buying/trading into new cars like changing their Depends, too complicated to work on, and on and on.
Many are too lazy, too out of condition to spend a minute on their knees or back, have no clue, don't have the tools or facility, spending their money while they can, too busy taking expensive cruises, buying/trading into new cars like changing their Depends, too complicated to work on, and on and on.
Last edited:
venomballistics
Member
It's not a field I'd like to be in as a profession.
I do my own work, but that has become a frustrating proposition.
More often than not I get "We can order it for you" from most parts places.
Well, in this day and age I can order it myself. I only go to a parts place to try to spare myself the delivery time.
Alas, the parts will be here Tuesday ... but seldom today.
This, as well as supply line and other issues drive the cost up.
Back in the day, a job that might have taken three hours, including parts runs now takes days.
That lot space occupied by that car waiting for parts prevents accepting several other jobs
I do my own work, but that has become a frustrating proposition.
More often than not I get "We can order it for you" from most parts places.
Well, in this day and age I can order it myself. I only go to a parts place to try to spare myself the delivery time.
Alas, the parts will be here Tuesday ... but seldom today.
This, as well as supply line and other issues drive the cost up.
Back in the day, a job that might have taken three hours, including parts runs now takes days.
That lot space occupied by that car waiting for parts prevents accepting several other jobs
For over 25 years we have used Performance Honda, Tire Discounters and Valvoline Instant Oil Change. We are well pleased.
Be glad you don't have a Porsche.
I have a porch in the front and a deck in the back, but they never seemed to have an impact on my truck repair costs.
Maddog 521
Member
If I can do the work myself, I do it. The cost of maintenance is unbelievable and way over priced.
I have a tree that was killed in our "100 year freeze" in February 21and I need it cut down. Twenty years ago it would of been cut, split and stacked by now. Age sure has limitations.
I have a tree that was killed in our "100 year freeze" in February 21and I need it cut down. Twenty years ago it would of been cut, split and stacked by now. Age sure has limitations.
mckenney99
Member
I used to perform all my own oil, lube, brake and other work when I was younger and always had a spare vehicle on hand. After getting divorced then being retired and forced to downsize everything (including lifestyle) I found that buying, maintaining and insuring a 2nd vehicle was no longer cost effective. If you only have 1 vehicle and you start into a job and find that you need a part/tool or were given the wrong part (never happens .
. .) or you twist off a bolt or fitting, you are pretty much stuck. Some of us just have to resort to getting someone else to service our vehicles out of necessity, it's not because we are lazy.
. .) or you twist off a bolt or fitting, you are pretty much stuck. Some of us just have to resort to getting someone else to service our vehicles out of necessity, it's not because we are lazy.
Cadillac dealer gets $225.00 an HOUR!!
to install wheel guards ( Mud Flaps
)
Yes I walked out and installed the parts myself
to install wheel guards ( Mud Flaps)Yes I walked out and installed the parts myself
I have a porch in the front and a deck in the back, but they never seemed to have an impact on my truck repair costs.
Strong Mid-season entry for Funniest Post of the Year.
A selfie would clinch it, but I'm not going there. My wife likes to say; "You're funny, but looks aren't everything...".
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Took my wife's car in for routine service at the usual dealership. When I arrived they had the work order filled in waiting for my signature. Seems it was time for the 36,000 mile service package including brake fluid replacement, transmission service, cabin air filter, and a few other things (probably including turn signal fluid), all conveniently packaged for only $379.
I politely declined and requested just the oil change and filter. Some minor interrogation tactics about whether or not I was adequately protecting our investment in that fine automobile, which I managed to sidestep. Aw golly gee, poor guy had to print out a whole new service order, delivered with a small dose of attitude.
Forty minutes later the car was ready to go, all except for the cabin air filter (a bargain at only $75.00 installed). I declined. The disbelieving service people promptly re-installed the old filter, so we are now living with compromised air inside the car as we drive.
Went to checkout and found that my bill included tire rotation (another bargain at only $39.00). Told the nice gentleman that I requested only the oil change and filter. He rather dubiously replied that since it was already done there was little he could do. I replied that they had succeeded in interrupting the Michelin dealer's ongoing maintenance schedule so perhaps it would be best to replace the wheels and tires where they were when I pulled in. He cancelled that charge so I allowed him to get away without re-doing the rotation.
Only $89 later I was back on the road with a fresh crankcase of oil (4.2 quarts according to the manual) and new oil filter in the 8-year old automobile that will now find a new service resource.
My conclusion is that these bozos genuinely believe that they have a right to rip people off at every opportunity.
I politely declined and requested just the oil change and filter. Some minor interrogation tactics about whether or not I was adequately protecting our investment in that fine automobile, which I managed to sidestep. Aw golly gee, poor guy had to print out a whole new service order, delivered with a small dose of attitude.
Forty minutes later the car was ready to go, all except for the cabin air filter (a bargain at only $75.00 installed). I declined. The disbelieving service people promptly re-installed the old filter, so we are now living with compromised air inside the car as we drive.
Went to checkout and found that my bill included tire rotation (another bargain at only $39.00). Told the nice gentleman that I requested only the oil change and filter. He rather dubiously replied that since it was already done there was little he could do. I replied that they had succeeded in interrupting the Michelin dealer's ongoing maintenance schedule so perhaps it would be best to replace the wheels and tires where they were when I pulled in. He cancelled that charge so I allowed him to get away without re-doing the rotation.
Only $89 later I was back on the road with a fresh crankcase of oil (4.2 quarts according to the manual) and new oil filter in the 8-year old automobile that will now find a new service resource.
My conclusion is that these bozos genuinely believe that they have a right to rip people off at every opportunity.
The dealer has to use factory parts to do any work, so right off the bat you are going to pay higher prices for the pads and rotors. Since it is a truck, the rotors and pads will cost more than a car would. Also, at the mileage you cite, they are probably going to replace the brake fluid which is supposed to be done at 5 years / 100,000 miles.
Replacing pads and rotors is pretty easy provided you have the tools. Replacing the brake fluid is a bit more complicated. I don't know about your truck, but mine requires a sequence that differs from the old process of bleeding first from the furthest wheel cylinder from the master cylinder and working your way to the one closest. On my 2018 Colorado, the sequence for bleeding is:
RIGHT REAR
LEFT FRONT INNER
LEFT FRONT OUTER (There are 2 bleeders on the front calipers because there are two pistons on each side of the caliper)
LEFT REAR
RIGHT FRONT INNER
RIGHT FRONT OUTER
Use of a power bleeder is mandatory but recommended.
So when you add up everything, yeah it's not going to be cheap.
Replacing pads and rotors is pretty easy provided you have the tools. Replacing the brake fluid is a bit more complicated. I don't know about your truck, but mine requires a sequence that differs from the old process of bleeding first from the furthest wheel cylinder from the master cylinder and working your way to the one closest. On my 2018 Colorado, the sequence for bleeding is:
RIGHT REAR
LEFT FRONT INNER
LEFT FRONT OUTER (There are 2 bleeders on the front calipers because there are two pistons on each side of the caliper)
LEFT REAR
RIGHT FRONT INNER
RIGHT FRONT OUTER
Use of a power bleeder is mandatory but recommended.
So when you add up everything, yeah it's not going to be cheap.
Wow the prices these days. Still driving bought new '95 Dodge w/bells & whistles for $18K. 136k original miles. No big expenditures but do PM's as should. Maybe i'll give out before it does.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
No, it was a wet battery and that's what we put back, an Interstate from Costco.
The battery wasn't dead, but at 4-1/2 years old its CCA was down to 330, should be 600+.
My time is worth money, and it's more than the
shop labor rate. . .
shop labor rate. . .
Telecaster
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2015
- Messages
- 2,792
- Reaction score
- 5,056
They rip people off because they can.
