I hate the service dept...do you go by your book or what the dealer recc.

[Leidig32]

My book says trans fluid change 50,000 rough conditions 100,000 normal conditions. I am in Michigan. Not many days over 90 degrees. I took my 2004 TB in for warrenty work and oil change tire rotation. The dealer calls 1 hour later and says the tech noticed I needed a engine filter, trans fliud change and differential fluid changed. I did not have my book to verify these things needed done so I said OK to the trans fluid change since it was not shifting and that was the warrenty work. Well, I pick up the TB and the Trans did not need changed until 100,000. I was ticked off!@!!!! So I call and complain and they ask what will make me happy and also explain why they reccommend it at 30,000 not 100,000 UGH!!! So my question is do you go by your book or the dealer?
Also the book shows NOTHING on changing the differential fluid...which costs me $180.00. Have/Do you change this fluid? What is it for?
Thanks for listening to my stupid questions!
LeAnne...very unhappy with service dept!

[rodeo02]

Generally I go by what my owners manual specs, but in the case of your transmission and differentials, I would have changed those oils long ago. Having owned several 4x4 trucks and truck based SUV's, I know the ATF and gear oils get nasty well before 50Kmi.

Joel

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by Leidig32

My book says trans fluid change 50,000 rough conditions 100,000 normal conditions. I am in Michigan. Not many days over 90 degrees. I took my 2004 TB in for warrenty work and oil change tire rotation. The dealer calls 1 hour later and says the tech noticed I needed a engine filter, trans fliud change and differential fluid changed. I did not have my book to verify these things needed done so I said OK to the trans fluid change since it was not shifting and that was the warrenty work. Well, I pick up the TB and the Trans did not need changed until 100,000. I was ticked off!@!!!! So I call and complain and they ask what will make me happy and also explain why they reccommend it at 30,000 not 100,000 UGH!!! So my question is do you go by your book or the dealer?
Also the book shows NOTHING on changing the differential fluid...which costs me $180.00. Have/Do you change this fluid? What is it for?
Thanks for listening to my stupid questions!
LeAnne...very unhappy with service dept!

LeAnne,
The maintenence schedule lists a Trans service at 50,100 and 150K miles (per GM document #1242502) if you meet these parameters
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these conditions:

In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service
Otherwise it's 100K
They no longer have a maintenence interval for the differentials do to the synthetic fluid, but I would service them at 100K.

Unfortunately you approved the work, so they followed your instructions.
Chaulk this up to a learning experiance, never approve or agree to anything before you do your homework.

[ricebike]

i'll agree w/ rodeo... to change those fluids early... but an independent shop would've done those fluid changes @ a much CHEAPER rate!!!! stealerships sux for this reason.

+ you coulda used good name brands like redline or mobil 1 for the differential...if you went to a local parts supplier to gather these items & then head to an independent.

it's not that hard to do under a truck since I can simply crawl under there on the driveway to service them w/out a jack/stand (+1)

if the brake fluid starting to look black/dark than what new fluid looks like (amber/honey) i'd bleed out the old fluid & replace w/ some castrol synthetic dot 3/4 fluid (did that to 2 of my family's trucks recently -2003 tribute -2000 explorer) reason: after time, the hygroscopic brake fluid would collect moisture over time, settling in low spots in the system & will cause some corrosion... this isn't a totally closed system & will "suck" some moisture out of the air... notice that as brake linings wear, the master cyl resevoir fluid goes down? air is left in it's place?

did they check / change transfer case fluid as well? they all mostly have metal drain plugs & you do see a good amount of metal stuck on them when doing a drain/refill on those things...

ok, i rambled too much, but you got the drift

[jozuah]

Originally Posted by ricebike

after time, the hygroscopic brake fluid would collect moisture over time, settling in low spots in the system & will cause some corrosion... this isn't a totally closed system & will "suck" some moisture out of the air... notice that as brake linings wear, the master cyl resevoir fluid goes down? air is left in it's place?

**** THIS IS NOT A FLAME!! ****

wanted to add to this a bit if i could to put your mid at ease.
unless you open the master cyl. Res. this system "is" a closed system. the cap that covers and seals out air to your hydroscopic fluid has a rubber liner with a diaphram as the fluid drops the rubber diaphram flexes allowing the pressure outside the M/S to equalize. this is why they started making res. with clear windows then just went to semi-clear ( to block some light since brake fluid is also affected by light )res.
change brakefluid as needed by O.M.R. but never open this system and its dry as baby powder
josh

[jozuah]

I use the book as a great guideline for service, however if the book says lube all door locks every 15K do i do it? no , but i do change trans. fluid the moment it gets even cloudy.

dif services, yes i WILL from now on Transfer cases and diffs are on my hit list from now on.

rule of thumb: if you "know" it need serviced do it yesterday , if you "think" it may need done ask a pro then decide
josh

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by jozuah

**** THIS IS NOT A FLAME!! ****

wanted to add to this a bit if i could to put your mid at ease.
unless you open the master cyl. Res. this system "is" a closed system. the cap that covers and seals out air to your hydroscopic fluid has a rubber liner with a diaphram as the fluid drops the rubber diaphram flexes allowing the pressure outside the M/S to equalize. this is why they started making res. with clear windows then just went to semi-clear ( to block some light since brake fluid is also affected by light )res.
change brakefluid as needed by O.M.R. but never open this system and its dry as baby powder
josh

Actually there is a small slit in the diaphram of the cap to equalize the pressure in the M/C.
This will allow a small amount of moisture into the system.
The M/C is clear so you can check the fluid level without opening the cap. (when the cap is opened, this is where you have the gross contamination)
If you keep the system "sealed" you will not have the problem with discolored and contaminated brake fluid . (my vehicle has 98000 and the fluid is clear).

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by ricebike

i'll agree w/ rodeo... to change those fluids early... but an independent shop would've done those fluid changes @ a much CHEAPER rate!!!! stealerships sux for this reason.

Not entirely true!
If you compare, dealerships are competitve with aftermarket shops.
The dealer I work for is cheaper than any independant or aftermarket shop in the area for service work.

[rodeo02]

I dont mean to go off-topic on this brake fluid thing, but you do also get water in the system on a parts per million basis thru rubber brake lines and thru the dust boots & seals on the calipers. This small amount of moisture builds up over time. Not a huge deal as even a neglected system will get new calipers and new fluid due to the caliper r/r. Cost between dealer service departments and independant shops can vary greatly. Independant shops (not chain places!!) in my area typically charge less than half what a dealer service dept will. Dealers however tend to be better equipped to handle most electronics issues your vehicle will have.

Joel

[tom3]

I'm kind of wondering about this deal. If the trans was not shifting, I'd guess they took the pan off, and I'd sure think replacing the fluid with new would be part of the warrant service. And 180 bucks for a differential fluid change sure seems high, even for a 4x4. Curious, what did they charge you, total, for the added services?