Hey everyone!

I recently took our Hyundai Sonata for its 15,000 mike servie which costs $135. I also had the car inspected. After paying the bill and getting home, we realized the inspection goes over everything that basically is included in the service at the 15,000 mile point. Is this a rip off!? They basically, probably had to go over the car once and charged us twice. The only big difference would be that I had the oil changed. I'll have to go back to my manual and chec kagain to see what is *required* for the 100 mile warranty. I am not paying this much just to have them check over some odds and ends on a car wiht only 15,000 miles! The mechanic also came out and recommended we have the Fuel Injection system serviced for better performance at $100 and also to have the throttle body air intake cleaned for another $100. We ended up getting the throttle body cleaning because he really insisted this was essential. So, basically with all of this we spent $400. Seems like a lot for a car with only 15,000 miles.

Thoughts????

Thanks!
Rich

The throttle body cleaner costs about $4 a can and it takes about 5 minutes to do, even if you have never done it before. A 2006 with only 15k miles should not need a throttle body cleaning unless it is running funny. At 15k miles, an oil change, air filter CHECK (not even replaced if it doesn't need it), and lube job is about all it would need. Cars these days do not need the maintanance they once did so frequently.

I would check over the 15k mile service plan and then determine what you paid. I would go back and complain. If they won't help you out at all, ask to speak to the manager, if that doesn't work, then I would tell them you will be putting their name for hundreds of people to see that they screw people over.

You had about $50 worth of work done for $400, it sounds like.

Thanks....how about cleaning the fuel injectors?

This is what we had done:

state inspection - $72
1500 Mile service - $132
includes oil & filter, rotate tires; inspect brakes, air filter, steering linkage, ball joints, dust covers, drive shaft boots, power steering fluid, exhaust system, hoses, belts, plugs, engine coolant.
Throttle body service unit - $88
Dealer said needed air induction service,
upper plenum service.

Next time at 30,000 they say in addition, we'll need spark plugs changed, air filter, transmission filter/fluid, engine coolant - $405!
They also recommended having the fuel injection service!

I was hoping I could just change the oil for a while, rotate the tires and change the air filter. Heck, my last car I didn't touch the transmission till 60,000!

I need to check again what is 'required' for the 100,000 mile warranty.
I would think just the oil changes.

I know that the dealerships have this special system for cleaning injectors, but I doubt, again, that a car with 15k miles on it would benefit. These are things that we (when I used to work for two dealerships) we would do to car with atleast 50k miles or if something indicated it, like the car was running rough and there was reason to believe it was the injectors.

Thanks....they said we would get better gas mileage and better performance after the injections system is cleaned. Then I thought...it has 15,000, miles!

This is what we had done:

state inspection - $72
1500 Mile service - $132
includes oil & filter, rotate tires; inspect brakes, air filter, steering linkage, ball joints, dust covers, drive shaft boots, power steering fluid, exhaust system, hoses, belts, plugs, engine coolant.
Throttle body service unit - $88
Dealer said needed air induction service,
upper plenum service.

Next time at 30,000 they say in addition, we'll need spark plugs changed, air filter, transmission filter/fluid, engine coolant - $405!
They also recommended having the fuel injection service!

I was hoping I could just change the oil for a while, rotate the tires and change the air filter. Heck, my last car I didn't touch the transmission till 60,000!

I need to check again what is 'required' for the 100,000 mile warranty.
I would think just the oil changes.

Looks like a rip-off to me. Get the same check up with oil change at jiffy lube for $25 or even less at independent mechanic. Not sure about your state, in VA state inspectionis way below what you paid, I believe $30 inspection+emission. I believe you do not void your warranty if you service your car at independent mechanic, this will be times cheaper...

Boy, for an economic car, you are spending more money than my high performance vehicle in general maintanance.

Yeah, I'm quite sure it didn't "need" the induction/plenum service. Also, that's as simple as spraying carb cleaner into the induction tube.

What else is funny is that all that other crap they had on the list were just "inspections". They just look at all that stuff and make sure they look fine. THe process of just checking alot of those things is just seconds, if they are even checking them to begin with. Brakes, air filter, steering linkage, ball joints, dust covers (this one is a real joke), boots, steering fluid, exhaust, hoses, belts, plugs and coolant are all in the "look at" list. So, all they probably did was rotate your tires and change your oil, which is generally about $40-60.

Find out how long those plugs should last too. Plugs these days last much longer than they used to and usually don't call for a change until 50-60k miles.

Sounds like you got the run around. FInd out, not from the dealer, but from the manufacturer, if it voids your warranty to get those "visual" inspections. I am willing to bet they will not void the warranty.

Thanks everyone. I am not going to let it upset us because what's done is done. We learned a lesson and it won't happen again. We just bought two cars in the last year or so because previous cars were at the end of their life. Based on this last expense, I was feeling like we were right back in the thick of paying costly repairs as we did with our previous cars. Ugh! Anyway, never again! I don't know why I didn't think it through before dropping off the car. I usually do oil changes myself and even rotate the tires. However, it is a lot easier to have a place with a lift do the work. So, with that 30,000 mile check up in mind....I might just do a standard oil change, tire rotation and air filter check ,that's it! I am going to skip the transmission fluid/filter and spark plugs. On previous cars I never touched that stuff till much later. I may even talk to the dealership about this but I figure what's the point? I just won't do it again. I think the only thing about the warranty is that you have to keep up on the oil changes and keep receipts, plus it must be their certified oil filter, LOL!

What do you think I will need from now till about 50-60k? I am thinking nothing more than oil/filter changes, air filter changes, and tire rotation.

I am thinking I can skip the spark plugs and transmission filter/fluid!

Def look into when the tranny needs serviced. That may be necessary too. Each transmission has a different maintanance protocol.

I would go with what you have in the owners manual. By the letter.

Def look into when the tranny needs serviced. That may be necessary too. Each transmission has a different maintanance protocol.

You mean by looking in the manual or calling the company? I hate to trust the dealership.

I would go with what you have in the owners manual. By the letter.

Well, the owner's manual says to inspect all they mention at the dealership.....which is expensice every 15,000 miles or so. I just want to knowq what is required for the warranty. I'll have to go back and double check. I think it is just the oil changes.

Suggests or requires?

Best advice: switch garages. By law (in the States and Canada), a warranty cannot be voided just because the vehicle was not serviced at the dealership.

The manual says inspect, doesn't say a dealer has to do it. Doesn't say you can't check it yourself. Dealers are usually high priced. My daughter's Subaru recently had a starter problem, dealer quoted $390 to replace (plus tax, etc.). I did it in an hour, paid $79 for the starter (lifetime warranty) at AutoZone. I've always done my own oil changes, etc. Keep a record and proof, such as lid of oil filter box with the date & mileage and I've been told that's good for proving you've met warranty requirements.

Thanks guys! I just need to find out what is required under the warranty. I believe it is only the oil changes along with the filter. I have to double check....but I HATE calling the dealership, ugh! Maybe I can email Hyundai or call.

We live in a condo so I have to drive my parents house to do changes, hence the reason I tend to just use a local shop. The delership gives us two free changes a year so I'll at least have em do that and when i am out there I'll ask about the warranty and take it from there.

What about the transmission and fuel injectors. I am getting conflicting opinions from friends.
A friend said transmission usually gets changed at 30,000 same with fuel filter.

i have 2006 honda, i took it for inspection, and guess what, new cars,(upto 2 years) don't have to be emission tested, i only paid $10 for safety inspection, no emission tests. i'm in NY, your state might be different, but i doubt it.
if you never visit the dealer, but have all records of oil changes, and other stuf, you won't loose warranty.
dielers are rip offs, i never go to them unless the car is broke, and it's on warranty.

The emmissions requirements in Pa are absolute bullshit. My wife and I both drive BRAND NEW vehicles, but we are still required to pay $60 for an emmissions test. We come out from an inspection of a brand new car of almost $100 and had absolutely nothing done.