5-Year Maintenance Recommendations
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5-Year Maintenance Recommendations
My 2004 A4 vert just had its 5 year birthday. Although not a garage queen, it's a low mile weekend driver.
I will be installing a new battery, however in addition to my annual oil change, I plan to change the necessary fluids as well. After reviewing the service manual and talking with some friends, they recommend changing the brake fluid and radiator fluid. Since it's an A4 transmission, I was told even with the low miles, it should be fine for another 5 years at a minimum. GM recommends the transmission fluid be changed at 150K miles. At the current mileage rate, that wouldn't be for another 20 years, however I don't want to change it just for the sake of changing it.
A friend of mine just purchased a mint, low mileage 99' verte. Although the previous owner kept it in great condition, my friend still brought it into his local dealer and requested all the fluids be flushed. The invoice was about $1,000!
Can anyone recommend the service work and preventative maintenance I should have done and how much I should expect to spend? The car has less than 10K miles.
Thanks!
I will be installing a new battery, however in addition to my annual oil change, I plan to change the necessary fluids as well. After reviewing the service manual and talking with some friends, they recommend changing the brake fluid and radiator fluid. Since it's an A4 transmission, I was told even with the low miles, it should be fine for another 5 years at a minimum. GM recommends the transmission fluid be changed at 150K miles. At the current mileage rate, that wouldn't be for another 20 years, however I don't want to change it just for the sake of changing it.
A friend of mine just purchased a mint, low mileage 99' verte. Although the previous owner kept it in great condition, my friend still brought it into his local dealer and requested all the fluids be flushed. The invoice was about $1,000!
Can anyone recommend the service work and preventative maintenance I should have done and how much I should expect to spend? The car has less than 10K miles.
Thanks!
Drifting
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Less than 10k??
Brake fluid for sure just to flush out the moisture. Radiator would be #2 on my list and maybe could get changed too. Probably several years early for the tranny and differential.
I did all the above other than the tranny on my 2000 at around 35k (when I purchased it). A couple years later is has 45k on it and I was planning on doing the tranny next year. Most guys around here flush their tranny at around 50k.
$1000 seems pretty high. But I can imagine at a dealership to do all the fluids it's going to cost you at least $600. The probably added the fuel system cleaning to the overall bill also and that jacked the price up.
Brake fluid for sure just to flush out the moisture. Radiator would be #2 on my list and maybe could get changed too. Probably several years early for the tranny and differential.
I did all the above other than the tranny on my 2000 at around 35k (when I purchased it). A couple years later is has 45k on it and I was planning on doing the tranny next year. Most guys around here flush their tranny at around 50k.
$1000 seems pretty high. But I can imagine at a dealership to do all the fluids it's going to cost you at least $600. The probably added the fuel system cleaning to the overall bill also and that jacked the price up.
Last edited by j84buick; Nov 20, 2009 at 09:28 AM.
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Thanks for the response. I want to go into the dealership with the specific list of maintenance items and I don't want to be sold a package that includes maintenance that doesn't need to be performed.
I appreciate any/all feedback.
I appreciate any/all feedback.
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Had my 03 at/15K done last year at local Corvette shop. Changed coolant (every 5 yrs), brake fluid (every 2 yrs) and installed new gatorback belts (originals had slight squeal at start up), a little over $300. I supplied the belts and Dexcool. Was advised no real need to do the tranny fluid.
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$1,000 just to change fluids is outrageous, but typical of dealerships. At those prices you might as well buy your own lift, which I did last year and it makes things alot easier.
My 02 coupe had 9,000 miles on it when I bought it last year. I changed the anti-freeze, brake fluid, battery and oil. Did it on my lift and all told it cost me about $150 including the battery.
My 02 coupe had 9,000 miles on it when I bought it last year. I changed the anti-freeze, brake fluid, battery and oil. Did it on my lift and all told it cost me about $150 including the battery.
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$1,000 just to change fluids is outrageous, but typical of dealerships. At those prices you might as well buy your own lift, which I did last year and it makes things alot easier.
My 02 coupe had 9,000 miles on it when I bought it last year. I changed the anti-freeze, brake fluid, battery and oil. Did it on my lift and all told it cost me about $150 including the battery.
My 02 coupe had 9,000 miles on it when I bought it last year. I changed the anti-freeze, brake fluid, battery and oil. Did it on my lift and all told it cost me about $150 including the battery.
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Here's what I did to my '00 at about the same ownership time frame - clutch fluid change, brake fluid change, new plugs and wires, coolant change, new fuel filter and a general inspection of the belts and hoses - I had about 30K miles on the car at the time. $1K for the work you describe is insane. For all my work, including parts, I paid less than $350 and the work was done by my local Chevy dealer.
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Here's what I did to my '00 at about the same ownership time frame - clutch fluid change, brake fluid change, new plugs and wires, coolant change, new fuel filter and a general inspection of the belts and hoses - I had about 30K miles on the car at the time. $1K for the work you describe is insane. For all my work, including parts, I paid less than $350 and the work was done by my local Chevy dealer.
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Less than 10k??
Brake fluid for sure just to flush out the moisture. Radiator would be #2 on my list and maybe could get changed too. Probably several years early for the tranny and differential.
I did all the above other than the tranny on my 2000 at around 35k (when I purchased it). A couple years later is has 45k on it and I was planning on doing the tranny next year. Most guys around here flush their tranny at around 50k.
$1000 seems pretty high. But I can imagine at a dealership to do all the fluids it's going to cost you at least $600. The probably added the fuel system cleaning to the overall bill also and that jacked the price up.
Brake fluid for sure just to flush out the moisture. Radiator would be #2 on my list and maybe could get changed too. Probably several years early for the tranny and differential.
I did all the above other than the tranny on my 2000 at around 35k (when I purchased it). A couple years later is has 45k on it and I was planning on doing the tranny next year. Most guys around here flush their tranny at around 50k.
$1000 seems pretty high. But I can imagine at a dealership to do all the fluids it's going to cost you at least $600. The probably added the fuel system cleaning to the overall bill also and that jacked the price up.
I put a new battery in 3 years ago on my 2003, and I had all of the above done by my chevy dealership last year including flushing the brake fluid and it only cost me $600.00 ?
