I just got back from the dealership, pronounced stealer-ship and I asked one of the "technicians" what kind of 100,000 mile maintenance I should do to my car. He basically said ...
Fuel Filter
Spark Plugs
Coolant Flush
Transmission Flush
Now, I haven't had ANY of those done, except for the Fuel Filter (about 60k miles) and the Spark Plugs were done at or around 45k miles. I know that the dealership rapes the hell out of you for having the Coolant and Transmission Flush done, but how important are they? Is there anything else that NEEDS to be done or at least checked up upon?
I have a 2002 Cavalier with a 2200 engine
The ONLY thing that I have done that wasn't mentioned above was, alternator, battery, thermostat and the upper coolant hose (stupid GM design caused the hose to get a VERY small hole which caused a leak) And yes, I did search and came up with nothing.
Much appreciated
-dan
Just do the flush yourself. A 4 dollar bottle of prestone radiator flush, two gallons of predilluted antifreeze, a catch pan for the bad, and a hose outside or a few empty coolant jugs of water and your set. takes a while because you have to thrash the old fluid, fill up with the flush bottle and the rest with water, run car for 15 minutes with heat on high and then stop, let cool, drain the flush and water and do this again with just water. after you let cool again fill up with the antifreeze and your golden.
The fluids dont last forever. 100K is a good time to get them changed if you havent already.
I know that the coolant and the transmission flush would be ideal. But you know if you go into a dealership and show you the color's that the fluid is "suposed to be". Now, here is my ultimate question, is there really a better place than another? I mean, I know that dealerships know their cars, but do they know them better than anybody else?
Ohh, and I am at 91,6xx miles now, I'm just looking towards the future so I can have this car as long as I can
-dan
Even if they show you what the color should look like, that doesn't mean its still good. The tranny fluid should look identical to strawberry syrup. The antifreeze dependant on what you are using is either gonna be like orange soda or neon green. If its any other color chances are its no good. I would reccomend the flush on both no matter the condition of the fluid.
