$2,000 service, are you serious?

[Shank2117]

I dropped off my car yesterday for an oil change. I get a call this afternoon from one of the service advisors of university dodge. He starts telling me that my oil dosn't need to be replaced but what I should have replaced are

- Two back tires (they have about 60% thread left) $500 each.

- My two front tires need to be balanced $35.

- My tranny fluid looked brown? $260?

- My clutch fluid should be replaced $190?

- Differential Fluid? $200?

- Oil Change $140

And i think he told my my differential fluid or something? $200?


its a 06 viper with 12,000 miles on it. Everyone recommended me Mark Leslie up in University dodge? are they serious about this?

im thinking of getting the car and taking it to Doug Levin and see what he thinks. I dont know how honest university dodge really is.

---

EDIT:

Looking over the service records now it shows the oil was changed at 9,966 miles, the differential fluid was changed at 10,800 miles when the 3.73s were installed.

I spoke to the service manager of the dealer I purchased my car from and they stated most of the fluids such as tranny fluid dont need to be replaced till atleast 21,000 miles.

 

[Newport Viper]

Get the oil change....Damn the clutch price seems high?

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

$500 each on rears sounds about right, assuming they are going with PS2's. Jon B. at PartsRack.com can save you some $$ on the tires. Do the oil change yourself for ~$65. Buy the oil in 5 qt jugs at Wal-Mart ($26 each for Mobil One) and filter from Dodge ~$10.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Clutch fluid for 190?????!!!!!!!???????

HOLY $#!+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No where near that cost to replace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Newport Viper]

Clutch_Care

 

[MoparMan]

$500 each on rears sounds about right, assuming they are going with PS2's. Jon B. at PartsRack.com can save you some $$ on the tires. Do the oil change yourself for ~$65. Buy the oil in 5 qt jugs at Wal-Mart ($26 each for Mobil One) and filter from Dodge ~$10.

I think part of his point with the rear tires was that they still have 60% tread left and don't need to be replaced.

 

[Bobpantax]

The services suggested are not unusual. As for prices, fluids are not inexpensive and the labor associated with the fluid changes is what it is. You might take the time to check the cost of Mobil 1 and the tires. Neither is inexpensive regardless of where you buy them. For the tires, check JonB at PartsRack or Luke at TireRack - both VCA sponsors. I take my car to Mark; know him well; and, trust him. None of the prices quoted above are unusual. A dealer will generally be a bit more but I think it is worth it to have a knowledgeable dealer Service Manager like Mark stand behind the work. If you want to save some money, perhaps you should consider doing some of the work yourself. Many VCA members change their own fluids. Minimally you should have the front tires balanced immediately. Driving a Viper with improperly balanced tires is not safe. Please keep in mind that the Viper is a high performance vehicle and requires proper maintainence to keep it in top condition. Assuming that you have used some of that performance over the 12,000 miles and you have not previously changed any of the fluids mentioned, you probably need all of the above. In any event, I recommend that you call Mark directly and discuss the matter with him as opposed to discussing it here. He is a very knowledgeable and reasonable person and will answer any questions you may have.

 

[SquadX]

I had. Y clutch. Diff and trans done for 330 by a viper tech at the dealership.

 

[Bandit3]

You DO know they all work on commission, right? With things being slow, I suspect they try to upcharge everybody whenever they can.

 

[dave6666]

Run from that place. Anyone that says you need new tires when they have 60% tread remaining is trying to rip you off.

If you let them do that list they'll add to it with broken gear teeth found in the diff and tranny fluids, cracks in all of your rims, radiator fluid found in the clutch fluid reservoir...

 

[Bobpantax]

I think part of his point with the rear tires was that they still have 60% tread left and don't need to be replaced.

1. How old are the tires? They get harder and harder with age. This can be dangerous. Old tires with 100% tread can be dangerous. There are many posts on this.

2. Do the tires have any flat spots?

3. The front tires are out of balance. Are the rears? If so, wear would be uneven. Even if they are in balance, if there have been repeated burn outs, wear could be uneven.

 

[dave6666]

Also, those fluid prices are from the hosemobile. DIY cost for DEALER fluids tranny, diff, PS, plus Wally Mart for oil is right around $200.

That's $590 in labor. Hook me up bro! I'll be your mechanic!

The local track shop here charges $7.50 per wheel for balance.

Run... You are getting hosed.

 

[bluesrt]

tires seem right,but they are on ****** if they think they can charge that and not get executed for doing that,that is double prices on that stuff...

 

[RavenFan_94]

Sounds like you took it into the local stealership. Second opinion for sure.

 

[bmw2nv2000]

$1,000 for tranny, clutch, diff, and oil change. DANG

 

[Disturbed]

$500 each on rears sounds about right, assuming they are going with PS2's. Jon B. at PartsRack.com can save you some $$ on the tires. Do the oil change yourself for ~$65. Buy the oil in 5 qt jugs at Wal-Mart ($26 each for Mobil One) and filter from Dodge ~$10.

You can also get the mopar oil filter at wal-mart too...it's about $6.

 

[albinonile]

damn-thats where i go for service----that is quite disheartening

 

[sniper1]

I had a similar incident happen to me with a local dealership. I was a little too busy to bother with my Dodge truck's heater motor and wiring problem so I took it to them. Their estimate was $485 for the repair and a list of other things that would cost over $900. I promptly paid them for the required $80estimate charge and left, quickly! I examined all the areas listed by them, and found no problems. My serpintine belt was on their list of items needing replaced, and I still had the receipt for it in the glovebox where I replaced it just 2 months earlier. I ended up buying the blower motor from a local parts store for $38 and installed it myself in less than 30 minutes and repaired the wiring damaged by the bad motor. Dealers are for getting hard to find dealer items only and nothing els! As for the tires, 60% is plenty of tire still left, but when you're ready for new tires, get your best quote from the online RACK GUYS and then take it to a respectable local tire dealer and I'm certain he would match it or beat it with mounting/balancing and a warranty. You get to build a relationship with the dealer whom you can see and shake hands with and that you can go to anytime you need to. Lastly, get a lift or at minimum, a quality floorjack, four small jack stands and a manual and become familiar with your car.

p.s. I did call the dealer back and voiced my complaints and concerns but I'm not certain they cared very much.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

You can also get the mopar oil filter at wal-mart too...it's about $6.

Wal-mart has the generic filter that fits Vipers, Jeeps and 90% of everything Dodge makes and some Mitsubishis. Nothing wrong with that, but the much improved (design derived from the Comp Coupe oil filters) "Viper only" filter is only available at dealerships as far as I know. The OLD part # (the one available at wal-mart) is 05281090.

 

[Bandit3]

Some small independent shops are just as good or better than dealerships. To ease my customers concerns when they come to me for the first time, I ask them if I didn't work here in this shop, could I not work in a dealership? Only difference is I have no pretty girl answering the phone and no free coffee. Guess who pays for that, not the dealer--YOU DO. Same work with lower prices. In my shop we do not upsell customers unless it will be dangerous not to repair an item or the item is related to the original complaint. Havn't spent a penny on advertising and been here for 18 years, all word of mouth. Try an independent with a recomendation from local viper people. Save some money. They may even let ya watch so you can do it next time.

 

[Bobpantax]

If you buy the tires elsewhere be sure and check the manufacturing date on the tires. Make sure the dates are recent and the same or close to the same for each tire. Sometimes local tire places match JonB's or TireRack's price by selling you older tires.

 

[Viper Wizard]

I dropped off my car yesterday for an oil change. I get a call this afternoon from one of the service advisors of university dodge. He starts telling me that my oil dosn't need to be replaced but what I should have replaced are

- Two back tires (they have about 60% thread left) $500 each.

- My two front tires need to be balanced $35.

- My tranny fluid looked brown? $260?

- My clutch fluid should be replaced $190?

- Differential Fluid? $200?

- Oil Change $140

And i think he told my my differential fluid or something? $200?


its a 06 viper with 12,000 miles on it. Everyone recommended me Mark Leslie up in University dodge? are they serious about this?

im thinking of getting the car and taking it to Doug Levin and see what he thinks. I dont know how honest university dodge really is.

---

EDIT:

Looking over the service records now it shows the oil was changed at 9,966 miles, the differential fluid was changed at 10,800 miles when the 3.73s were installed.

I spoke to the service manager of the dealer I purchased my car from and they stated most of the fluids such as tranny fluid dont need to be replaced till atleast 21,000 miles.

I don't see a lube job in their list? I would certainly ask for it because it would be better then taking this dry!!

RUN away from that Dealer!

 

[plumcrazy]

what tator said .....RUN FOR THE HILLS and FAST, never to go back there

 

[JonB]

If you buy the tires elsewhere be sure and check the manufacturing date on the tires. Make sure the dates are recent and the same or close to the same for each tire. Sometimes local tire places match JonB's or TireRack's price by selling you older tires.

EXACTLY! We just got FRESH PS-2 tires in THIS WEEK!

Thanks

 

[sniper1]

If you buy the tires elsewhere be sure and check the manufacturing date on the tires. Make sure the dates are recent and the same or close to the same for each tire. Sometimes local tire places match JonB's or TireRack's price by selling you older tires.

I agree completely and vise versa with the deals by rack guys... You can have the manufacturing dates checked by the dealer when you buy them as with any dealer before you pay up

 

[VAViper]

I don't see a lube job in their list? I would certainly ask for it because it would be better then taking this dry!!

RUN away from that Dealer!

But did he get a kiss..

 

[Bobpantax]

Guys. Everyone needs to take a breath and calm down about the dealership. Since Mark is a friend. I called him. Here are the facts. The car was bought used from some third party. Neither Mark nor the owner knows the car's history so Mark said that he would carefully inspect the vehicle and discuss his observations with the owner. The car has a 3.73 rear end. It sings at 50 MPH. The wear on the rear tires is uneven and there is between 1/32 and 2/32s of an inch left before the wear bar indicates a need to chae them. In other words about six percent left on the tires - not 60%. The tires are also as stiff as a board and are probably the original tires that came with the car. The floor pan is pushed up under both the driver's side and the passenger side of the car indicating some form of past problem. Since the wear is differnt on the tires side to side and the diff is singing at 50 MPH and the diff fluid looks like s**t, minimally a change of diff fluid seemed like a good idea. There is more to the story but I think those of you who jump in with negative criticism so quickly might consider checking the facts first.

 

[albinonile]

I hope we find this to be an accidental overcharge on the quote for the fluid changes

 

[dave6666]

All this talk of lube and smooching is making Dave kinda

Romance aside... Bob, you're one of the respected crowd here and your opinions here are as valuable as ever. BUT, $590 in labor for a partial chassis fluid service is outrageous.

I don't think anyone is questioning the validity of having the fluids changed at 12K miles, but the labor there is bizarre. I could do all of that in about 2 to 3 hours with ramps and jackstands with my Mityvac equipment. A lift and some real goodies? Sub 1-1/2 hour job. That's $393 per hour. Hook me up!

 

[mad0953]

Guys. Everyone needs to take a breath and calm down about the dealership. Since Mark is a friend. I called him. Here are the facts. The car was bought used from some third party. Neither Mark nor the owner knows the car's history so Mark said that he would carefully inspect the vehicle and discuss his observations with the owner. The car has a 3.73 rear end. It sings at 50 MPH. The wear on the rear tires is uneven and there is between 1/32 and 2/32s of an inch left before the wear bar indicates a need to chae them. In other words about six percent left on the tires - not 60%. The tires are also as stiff as a board and are probably the original tires that came with the car. The floor pan is pushed up under both the driver's side and the passenger side of the car indicating some form of past problem. Since the wear is differnt on the tires side to side and the diff is singing at 50 MPH and the diff fluid looks like s**t, minimally a change of diff fluid seemed like a good idea. There is more to the story but I think those of you who jump in with negative criticism so quickly might consider checking the facts first.
__________________
Bob, I hear what you are saying but......all of the other items mentioned are WAY out of line. I think you would agree that the cost of the other services would cause you to re-think getting service there.........right?

PS: If Tator says run.....I'm runnin'!!!!!