60k maintenance

[jessickascarling]

soooo... i'm about ready to do my 60k maintenanance and wanted some opinions on what actually has to be done. at patriot subaru in maine they charge $400 which includes i think a coolant flush, spark plugs and a bunch of other things. is that worth it?

[MoN]

If you go to Edmunds.com they have a section called Maintenance Guide where they show specifics on maintenance for your specific car and mileage, I looked it up it sais in my area it should cost you about $327. But i dont know about up in ME, go check it out ....
http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/select.html

[xxthat girlxx]

Jessica it's expensive. The going rate for a mechanic is really about the same no matter where you go. Do it yourself. I had some great help. If I can learn to change spark plugs so can you (I would still need supervision to do so, I'm a fraidy cat)!

[jessickascarling]

i would LOVE to do it myself... but i physically don't know if i can do it right now :( i am thinking of trying to do some of it myself despite my physical incapabilites... (things are getting worse)

[arlia11]

Not that bad to do it yourself - I need to do a coolant flush too and some other things I think. Maybe we need a SubieGirl Maintenance day?

[xxthat girlxx]

I kabe my 10soemthingK knocking at my door. I'll do as much as I can myself and have someone do the timing belt for me.

[jessickascarling]

i got some prices on the spark plugs (i want to go with ngk) and i'm going to just have them do the coolant flush... it'll be easier. also, i don't need an air filter since i just put the intake on my car so that'll save on the cost as well. i think me doing the spark plugs and no air filter saves me between 150-200!!!

[bigbobchamp]

Word on the street is a subaru enthusiast site is working on creating DIY Maintenace Kits for people that don't feel like getting scammed by dealers :)

Always do as much as you can, and/or find some friends that can help with the rest.

[xxthat girlxx]

Word on the street is a subaru enthusiast site is working on creating DIY Maintenace Kits for people that don't feel like getting scammed by dealers :)

Always do as much as you can, and/or find some friends that can help with the rest.

I wonder who came up with that idea...? ;)

[jessickascarling]

hmmm well tell them to hurry up i only have 300 more miles to 60k ;) hehe

[Bu11dogg2]

PLEASE don't do what the dealer recommends!!!

Do what it says in your maintenance book!!!

[jessickascarling]

hmm i'll have to see if i even have the maintenance book! i tried to change the spark plugs today and boy oh boy was it difficult... and it wasn't even the actual labor on the vehicle!

we went to a store in portsmouth who had the NGK plugs we wanted. i went in, purchased them, came home and started digging in. we removed the first plug and i wanted to match them up to see if the gap was the same. well, the gap looked fine, it was the length of the plug that was the problem. so i called them back and they said "oh ya, we gave you the wrong model number. come back and we'll have the right ones ready for you." ok, so it's a 45 minute drive for us. we called EVERYWHERE to find out if another place had the right plugs and NO ONE did. so we hop in the car, go back to the place of purchase. i pulled the plug out of the box before purchasing it and again THE WRONG PLUG. i looked at the model number and once again it was incorrect. now i'm really pissed because i could have saved myself a 45 minute trip if they would've just looked at the box before pulling it from the shelf. also, they printed a ticket that had the correct model number on it and matched it up with the wrong box! so they go over to where the other plugs were and they only had 3 left. they had calculated their inventory incorrectly. sweet. so now it's 5:30, the sun is going down, my car is torn apart all over Dan's mother's driveway 45 minutes away and we don't have new spark plugs to put in. so they refund me the money, we purchased a knuckle joint which they gave to us for free and we take off spark plug-less. then about 15 minutes later we get a call. "just to let you know, we incorrectly refuned your card. we charged for the part you were supposed to get for free so you were only refuned $6.00 instead of $12.00. we can send you a gift card or you have to come back with your card." WHAT. that's it. i told him they're either going to give me the iridium plugs for the price of the platinum or i'm never coming back. they said to call back tomorrow when the "acting manager" is in since their manager is no longer there. ya. either way, i have to go back because i DO NOT want a gift card from them.

needless to say, this was quite an experience. at least i know how to do when i have to take it apart again.

[xxthat girlxx]

That sucks Jess.

[jessickascarling]

so they said they're going to sell me the iridium plugs for $12.00 to make up for the problems i had. :cool:

[sleepy04]

and you trust them? That sucks bad.

This is why I buy NAPA. The NAPA's around here are awesome. The people know what they are doing, will work with you. Just totally awesome.

I've only gotten one wrong part from them, and that was the O2 sensor. They sold me the downstream instead of the other. I took it back three or four weeks after i bought it cause i hadn't had time to change it. (it's a PITA by the way). I had lost the receipt but they took it back anyway and ordered the right one for me for free.

[jessickascarling]

and you trust them? That sucks bad.

This is why I buy NAPA. The NAPA's around here are awesome. The people know what they are doing, will work with you. Just totally awesome.

I've only gotten one wrong part from them, and that was the O2 sensor. They sold me the downstream instead of the other. I took it back three or four weeks after i bought it cause i hadn't had time to change it. (it's a PITA by the way). I had lost the receipt but they took it back anyway and ordered the right one for me for free.

well, i'm hoping anyway hehe. if they don't honor it then i'll call back the 800-number. corporate stores like that don't want people contacting their 800-number. i think they'll honor it because they KNOW they messed up. i would have gone to napa except they were closed when we went (on a sunday) and i had just happened to be in the portsmouth area. we'll see what happens on thursday/friday though!

[Jonathan]

I am fairly sure that the 60k service generally includes changing the front/rear differential fluids, Transmission fluid (? Not sure ?) and putting special high temperature lube on the rear disk brake "sliders", and a fair amount of other basic stuff (tyre rotation, lubing door hinges, coating the weather striping with silicon... etc).

Yeah, $ 400.00 is a lot of money to spend, but if the dealership has a reputation for doing good work its probably not too far out of line. Also If you check out My.Subaru.com your dealer will make an entry detailing the service work performed.

[Jonathan]

For the record NAPA charges more than typical chains like Advance Auto, Auto Zone, or Consumer Auto Parts. Are they worth it ? I dunno. Yeah, your chain store messed up. A lot of those younger dudes working retail auto parts stores are often times 'stoned' and mess up way more than they should.

If you are serious about doing your own work, you might want to check out http://www.rockauto.com.

[amccrazgrl]

I let the dealer do mine for me. I think mine was $500.

[sleepy04]

For the record NAPA charges more than typical chains like Advance Auto, Auto Zone, or Consumer Auto Parts. Are they worth it ? I dunno. Yeah, your chain store messed up. A lot of those younger dudes working retail auto parts stores are often times 'stoned' and mess up way more than they should.

If you are serious about doing your own work, you might want to check out http://www.rockauto.com.

I'd have to debate this. I've bought parts from NAPA after pricing them against Auto Zone and Advanced and NAPA has been cheaper for better quality parts. Plus the times I've had to deal with replacement issues because of defective parts, I've ALWAYS had to fight with the Advanced employee's, where as NAPA I've never had a problem.

The NAPA employee's are also a WHOLE lot more knowledge about what they are selling then anyone i've talked to at Advanced or Autozone. To me, if I have to pay a little more, it's worth it, cause working with NAPA i am MUCH more confident that it is the right part or if it's not, NAPA will definitely make it right without a lot of hassle.

[bannerd]

soooo... i'm about ready to do my 60k maintenanance and wanted some opinions on what actually has to be done. at patriot subaru in maine they charge $400 which includes i think a coolant flush, spark plugs and a bunch of other things. is that worth it?

60-90K you should do the following;

The service consists of draining/refilling the motor oil, transmission oil, differential(s) oil, brake fluid flush, all weather coolant flush, coolant conditioner, subaru fuel filter (not on all models), spark plugs, air filter, rotate tires, washer fluid, check/adjust tire pressures, torque wheels, and inspect drivetrain/belts.

100-125K

The service consists of timing belt, water pump, water pump gasket, crank seal, coolant, coolant conditioner, air conditioning & power steering belts, thermostat, and thermostat Gasket. SOHC cars should get cam seals as well as dohc cars should have all cam seals replaced.

150K
Following the 100K service you should buy an engine gasket kit, replace head gaskets, inspect cylinder walls and mark condition if out of round or compression is low then time for a motor rebuild. I wouldn't pay more than 350 dollars for the 1st service... 700 dollars for the 100K service and 150K could very.