I just recently purchased a 2003 with 35,000 miles on it. I ran a CarFax and I appear to be the 5th owner. The car was originally sold in Oklahoma and the first reported service was at 73 miles in Paris Texas where the oil pan gasket was replaced. The car passed through a Auction in Michigan with 17,000 miles on it and ended up in New Mexico. It changed hands again and ended up at a Audi dealer in New Mexico where the folks that I bought it from got it. The only other maintenance items reported were the fuel filter and fuel cap were replace at 28,000 miles. The last service item was the air filter was replaced at 33,000 miles. There is a oil change sticker on the windshield non dealer at 34,000 miles.

I checked in to changing the fluids and got a quote of $625.00. I did not have the owners manual but I got one on Ebay and when I checked the maintenance schedule, I was surprised that under normal service the trans does not need service until 100,000 miles.

To make a long story short, what is the opinion of fellow forum members?

The car is a 03 Anniversary with auto so I expect that it was not tracked.

 

I had the same question for my '03 AE and asked Bill Curlee what he recommend, this is a copy of his reply.
Sonny


Heres what I would do:

Oil and filter are always good BUT, your OEM Oil Life Monitor is reliable on calculating when you need to change the oil. Just reset it at time of oil change and it will tell you accurately when its time to change oil.

Fuel filter is most likely good till 50-60K and then some. Unless your pushing big HP and are worried about maximizing fuel flow, you should be good. Add some Chevron Techron Fuel System cleaner and you will be doing well.

PCV valve should be good BUT,,, the rubber boot that houses it and the hose that comes off of it are well known to deteriorate and cause vacuum leaks. Check out the rubber PCV Fittings and rubber hose.

Coolant. Check out this U tube link:


If you are not sure when the last time that yours has been changed, its a good time to change it. I use distilled water for the change dilute.
Make sure that you use DEXCOOL or equivalent.


Trans fluid. If you have an A4 Auto, your most likely good to go. If you have a MN6 or MN12, change to AMSOIL Torque Drive, Contact forum member SUBDRIVER for a good deal on trans fluid.
The newer ATF is beter fluid, especially the AMSOIL ATF.

Differential, again, you are good to go unless you drive very aggerssively like me and then I changed mine at 35,000

Under normal sane driving 50,000 miles is fine.

Some more stuff:

Clean your MAF and throttle body with MAF cleaner. Change/check the airfilter.

 

The car's ten years old, so in my view, anything that hasn't been changed . . coolant, brake fluid, trans fluid, power steering - - I'd do them all to make sure I had a baseline and felt sure everything was fresh and seals are new.

I always change oil/filter when getting a new/used vehicle- more personal preference than anything.

Here's a link to a discussion earlier in the week about member's service preferences:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-schedule.html

Congrats on the new Vette . . .

 

Congrats on the new 03!

I agree with the above, given the uncertainty in the fluid life and changeouts, I'd replace it all. If you are DITYer, the cost of a complete changeout of fluids is well below (like really far below) the cost you cited above.

You can find the AMSOIL fluids available via this link:
AMSOIL Online Product Application Guide

If you do opt to try any of the AMSOIL fluids, more than happy to get AMSOIL products for forum members at dealer wholesale pricing, about 25% below retail, via the AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program. Drop me a PM if interested.