30,000 mile service ??

[Puck]

I took my car in for the 30,000 mile service. The dealer called and advised that in addition to the items I had listed to do, they recommend changing the auto transmission fluid and cleaning the throttle body along with injector service. I've read the comments posted here on transmission fluid and had decided to change mine at 36,000 miles instead of the 48,000 in the manual. Besides, the 30,000 mile service is expensive enough without adding another $150 for transmission fluid change.

The throttle body and injector service was quoted at nearly $200. Does 30,000 miles sound like a reasonable time to do this service. I thought the throttle body just passed air. How does it get all that dirty? My car runs great and idles perfectly.

I've never had to have injector service on a car before and have driven F.I. cars for over 150,000 miles with no problems. I thought the gas we use today had additives that kept the injectors clean.

As you can see, I'm no mechanic. Any advice on throttle bodies and fuel injectors would be appreciated.

[Ratdaddy]

MX5 Take this one---

[MX-5]

Do you live near a large lake?

I think the owner needs to make his boat payment!

30K should not need an injector service yet. I do them, and they work well. I don't see clogged injectors until after 60K (not counting the GM 3.1L that comes with clogged injectors when new).

The throttle body gets slimed from the PCV make-up air hose. The 2001 design runs the hose AFTER the air filter. This allows the slime to get to the throttle plate. The 2002 & newer hose goes BEFORE the air filter to combat the buildup of crud on the throttle.
You can clean it with a $3 can of throttle body cleaner spray and a rag.

Both of those services are HUGE PROFIT MAKERS for the dealer. They are both quick and cheap, but they rape you on the cost.

Stick with the sever service schedule in your owner's manual. Only seek service when something is wrong. (except the auto tranny fluid. Change it twice as often as suggested).

[Puck]

Originally posted by MX-5
Do you live near a large lake?

I think the owner needs to make his boat payment!
.
You can clean it with a $3 can of throttle body cleaner spray and a rag.

Both of those services are HUGE PROFIT MAKERS for the dealer. They are both quick and cheap, but they rape you on the cost.
.

No lake but a lot of nice rivers big enough for large boats!

Thanks for the advice. I'll have the transmission fluid changed at next service. I don't drag race and seldom exceed 4,000 RPM when accelerating so 33,000 Miles should be OK.

I assume to clean the throttle body you must remove it. There's a removal and installation guide on ptdoityourself.net which looks pretty straight forward.

Again, thanks for your help!

[FlowRW]

I reckon Chrysler/Dodge dealers are no different from any of the others. I took my 2002 Dodge Intrepid ES in for the 30,000 mile thing (company pays for it). I was quoted over the phone by one guy, $480 with an oil change. Made the appt, took it in and a different guy said on my way out, "By the way, this is going to cost you $645." I made a quick turn around and explained I already have a price of $480. and gave him the name of the guy who told me. He said, "Uh..OK". I suppose they will charge what they can get away with. And it SUX big time.

[MX-5]

You don't have to remove the throttle body. Remove the air intake hose, sray the cleaner inside, wipe it clean.\
You can hold the plate open and clean as much as you can reach inside and around the plate sealing area.

That's it. A 10 minute job that they charge $100 bucks for.

Now how big of a boat did you say he has?

[Puck]

I think he has a condo on this ship. They sell for $2,300,000 to $5,600,000 plus annual maintenance fee. I snapped this picture in Alaska a few weeks ago.

[AndyKay]

Originally posted by Puck
I think he has a condo on this ship. They sell for $2,300,000 to $5,600,000 plus annual maintenance fee. I snapped this picture in Alaska a few weeks ago.

Hey Puck, Where in VA is Mechanicsville?

[Puck]

Originally posted by AndyKay


Hey Puck, Where in VA is Mechanicsville?

Rt. 360 east of Richmond a few miles.

I actually live north of Richmond just off 95 (51 miles south of Mary Washington College). I drove there a lot when our daughter was there.

[moorecruizin]

I think the only major item in the 30,000 mile service is the spark plug change. It doesn't require a lot to do this the first time except time to find all the things to unscrew to remove the intake manifold to get at the plugs. The first time I did this it took 1/1/2 hours. When I went back and upgraded the plug wires to 8mm, the whole procedure only took me 45 minutes.