30K Service

[NY.AD.MAN]

So, I just got the transmission fluid flush (6spd.) and the full 30K service (total = $360) and it is more than worth it...

I've taken so many long trips that my car was starting to feel like I was losing power! Well, after all was said and done, the car ended up getting better mileage, feeling more powerful and riding more comfortably...

I am, however, concerned with the price.

It is ridiculous that they were going to charge me $500! for basic labor! Thankfully I talked them down and they only went since I had been there for countless other services and referred them business... I just think that those of you who are to pay full price to look elsewhere for the same work...

[kc5f]

The problem I ran into with my dealer is that their service department had their own list of items to be done at various service intervals. Some matched the Versa suggested maintenance intervals, some were things not suggested, and there were things in the manual they didn't list to do.

So from my 15,000 mile service forward, I've had my favorite local mechanic's shop do what's recommended by Nissan, and if they've felt it needed something else they'd let me know. So far, it's worked out just fine, and a whole lot cheaper!

(They've helped me squeeze 220,000-250,000 miles out of a couple of other cars I've owned that usually never make it nearly that far...)

[my_new_v]

Becareful when doing that, here in arizona (i dont know if dealers in different states have different rules) if you dont do a real service (not just the typical oil change) with them, it can void the warranty on it.

[kc5f]

Not a problem I've ever heard of, since there's nothing in the warranty that specifies the service be done by a dealer. Just keep your receipts. (And in my case, the warranty is a thing of the past!)

[my_new_v]

OH! Now i see haha. Yeah I heard about it from my parents, they said it happened to them with their Ford...my personal opinion...Fords service and cars/trucks suck

[Ever Victorious]

OH! Now i see haha. Yeah I heard about it from my parents, they said it happened to them with their Ford...my personal opinion...Fords service and cars/trucks suck

You're talking about a company that mis-designed the plug threading in their cylinder heads, issued a TSB, and stated in the TSB that if a plug breaks coming out to apply the fix, that drilling out the plug is NOT covered under the TSB. There have been a couple people locally that complained to the papers, showing invoices from Ford dealers charging them $1200 or more to remove a broken spark plug that broke because Ford's faulty design CAUSED it to break.

But on-topic... my major maintenances are, like kc5f, done by my favorite independent mechanic. Much cheaper, and I haven't had a complaint about their service.

[my_new_v]

You're talking about a company that mis-designed the plug threading in their cylinder heads, issued a TSB, and stated in the TSB that if a plug breaks coming out to apply the fix, that drilling out the plug is NOT covered under the TSB. There have been a couple people locally that complained to the papers, showing invoices from Ford dealers charging them $1200 or more to remove a broken spark plug that broke because Ford's faulty design CAUSED it to break.

I think the only word I understood was spark plug. lol jk. I dont like fords cause they flat out arent reliable...at least with my experience along with many others. But I have seen some fords that last a long time...mainly the older models lol. And I also heard that the truck models had some electrical problem in their cruise control that started fires and they recalled them for that. And aslo here in Arizona a cop was set on fire while in his squad car because of a faulty gas tank found on all Crown Victoria's :\ He had gotten in an accident with a pole but once they did their research thats when they found out it was cause of the car. The cop lived but hes all burnt up now.

But on-topic... my major maintenances are, like kc5f, done by my favorite independent mechanic. Much cheaper, and I haven't had a complaint about their service.

Im gunna look more into that now, cause if it doesnt void the warranty, im deffinently doing what you guys are

[BBISHOPPCM]

The problem I have with these $500 30k services, is they really don't do anything... seriously. In the old days, a 30k service included new belts, coolant service, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, various fluids... but the Versa needs none of these things... The CVT trans does not need a flush for almost 60k, and even that's debatable. So I'm paying some schmuck $500 to flush the radiator and tell me I need brakes? C'mon!

[my_new_v]

I agree with ya there bro. Dealerships are just out for money :/

[frankoV]

The problem I have with these $500 30k services, is they really don't do anything... seriously.

C'mon . . . they do lots: inspect, inspect, inspect.

Of course, Midas muffler will do the same for $39.95. But it isn't a genuine Nissan™ inspection.

[Ever Victorious]

I agree with ya there bro. Dealerships are just out for money :/

This isn't exactly a news flash.

1) They're a for-profit corporation. That's kind of a "duh" there.

2) Given that the internet has opened a flood of information and competition, many dealerships are finding it harder and harder to sell cars even for MSRP, so their profit margins in the cars themselves are dwindling, so they have to rely more on service and parts.

I don't blame them one bit for trying to get your money. But they usually just end up asking too MUCH money, so they don't always get their business that way either.

C'mon . . . they do lots: inspect, inspect, inspect.

Of course, Midas muffler will do the same for $39.95. But it isn't a genuine Nissan™ inspection.

Last time I used Midas and they "inspected" my brake system, I ended up with a ton of air in my brake lines. I almost ended up not being able to brake for this lovely 90 degree turn that has an oil pipeline on the other side if you miss. My new independent mechanic now does all my brake work. Meineke gets my muffler/exhaust work.

[frankoV]

Last time I used Midas and they "inspected" my brake system, I ended up with a ton of air in my brake lines. I almost ended up not being able to brake for this lovely 90 degree turn that has an oil pipeline on the other side if you miss. My new independent mechanic now does all my brake work. Meineke gets my muffler/exhaust work.

I have an indie mechanic myself, but I don't know the national companies in the States other than Midas -- and I was certainly not going to mention WalMart as a place to get work done. On par with Canadian Tire up here.

True story: my sister-in-law went to Canadian Tire for an oil change and wound up "needing" $500. worth of brake work. Six months later she was in Canadian Tire again and knew it was time for an oil change, and again wound up "needing" $500. worth of brake work. A year after, same thing.

I was out for a visit just after the third time and she asked me if she thought that there was something wrong with her braking system that they needed to be fixed so often. I held my tongue and did not suggest that there was something wrong with her head to keep going back there, but instead merely said that she might want to find another mechanic and see if that made a difference. Lo and behold, the brakes gave her no trouble for years!