hey guys, I am taking my truck in for service tomorrow and I found out its the big one, $480 big! I think this is a little rediculous, but I am sure it is normal, does it sound right, or is this a little steep? Anyone know what all goes down on this service?

i'd save the money and do it yourself, you can do all the stuff listed in your manual for the 30k service, mostly its changing your fluid (engine oil, tranny, Tcase, diffs), then theres other stuff on there, i dont have it in front of me, but i think it says to change the air filter etc, def not something i'd pay over 400 dollars for

I'm not sure you can do the tranny yourself - they seem to have a definite preference to doing it so much they almost locked it.

Anyways - consider the cost of materials and if you have not done any of this before you'll likely waste 3 hours.

Be glad it's not a porsche - my friend just had his annual oil changed for $800. Yes, that was just the oil.

i hate to say, this is NOT the big one. Big one comes right around 105,000....

Actually doing the tranny yourself is better, unless they flush it (which people have their reservations about) it normally takes 3 or 4 changes until the tranny fluid is diluted enough with new fluid (with an auto due to the TC) Im getting ready to do all of mine this thursday so I would be glad to post up some pics.

I don't know why the tranny fluid would be hard to change on an Xterra. I've done it on all my other vehicles. I don't worry about flushing the system. I change it before it gets discolored/burnt. I also change it much more frequently on my vehicles when I use them for towing.

Other than taking a couple of hours, and getting your hands dirty, this is easy stuff. Read the manual to get the right fluids, take your time. You'll do a better job than a grease monkey who doesn't care about YOUR ride.

There is nothing difficult about doing a drain & fill on the tranny oil on an older Xterra (I don't know about the gen 2's)... Heck - it's easier than changing the engine oil... no 'skidplate' to remove and no filter to mess with.

Just remove the plug, let it drain, and then use a tranny funnel to put new stuff into the dipstick hole. The only tricky part is putting in the same amount that you took out (I just measure how much came out by funnelling it into old 1-quart oil bottles).. .and then, of course, run it and check the level to make sure it is right.

If you look at what they actually DO on these 'services' you'll see that it is all check this, inspect that, and change the fluids. You can do it yourself for less than $100.

There is a drain plug on the tranny on the new ones, just checked...

And per the service manual:

Changing the Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ELS001MP
1. Drive the vehicle to warm up the ATF to approximately 80° C (176° F).
2. Stop the engine.
3. Remove the ATF level gauge.
4. Drain the ATF from the drain plug hole and then install the drain plug with a new gasket. Refill the transmission with new ATF. Always refill with the same volume as the drained ATF. Use the ATF level gauge to check the ATF level as shown. Add ATF as necessary.

Simple enough. Easy access too.

Looking in the "warranty/service/repair" section, it seems that $480 isn't too outrageous for a dealership:
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000396
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000395
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000191
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000172
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000191
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000079
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000368
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000270
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000252

You get my drift...

OffroadX hit the nail on the head. Try and do what you can with the skills, tools, and confidence that you have. Then try asking some friends for some help or take the truck to a shop to get those few things done that you dont feel comfortable with. I do most of my work but some things are just too much of a pain in the ass to do at home.

Plus my fiance is a service manager so i get a cut rate on labor but....

Have fun and if you can get a hold of the X manual that will tell you everything. Also many dealers will let you make photocopies of specific pages in the manual just ask and see.

Tim

i think see a pattern there OffroadX.

Hey Andrew, please post those pics. It sounds pretty straight forward, just like an oil change but I've never done the tranny myself and would prefer to. So a little visual would be nice.

Thanks

Damn 30,000 and I am bitchin about a 15,000 mile on my 04. I agree with the others. It is time, knowledge and ability. Plus disposing the old fluids might be a problem depending on where you live. I know how to do alot of the mechanics on vehicles as well, yet I doubt that if anything went wrong, they would honor "my certicicate in automotive" when it comes to a warranty claim.

I'll go against the grain here and suggest that you go to the dealership for the work. That way, when they're checking everything over, they can fix it then before you're out of warranty.

Then again, I'm not mechanical, so maybe that's just my "civilian" opinion.

I'm sure it varies state to state, but in FL, most auto parts stores will gladly take your used oil and batteries for that matter. They have a big storage tank in the back of their shop that YOU pour it into. Absolutely painless. I use a 3 gallon jug, and when it gets full, I take it with my on my next trip to the parts store.

As for the dealership, I avoid them at all costs. I asked the service manager at our local shop and he admitted they work on commission. In other words, the more they find wrong, the more money they make. Keep that in mind. Give them half a chance, they'll find things not covered by the warranty!

Do you know what's involved in the 7500 mile
service?

why is that service a couple hundred?

Here in NY, anywhere that sells oil has to take used oil.

30,000 isnt bad, just did it. the only thing that i have not done is thee tranny fluid. still debating the whole flushing it or just refilling what i drain. want to switch to synthetic.

changerd oil and filter
replaced PCV valve
inspected belts
gonna replace pads and rotors once parts get in
replaced shocks with Rancho's

very easy for even the slighty mechanically inclined

You are replacing your rotors at 30k? WTF

You'll likely find that answered in the warranty/service/repair section, where this thread belongs...
But, the 7500 service is a joke in the first place, don't even bother.

C'mon mods, move this to the right section already...