Got an oil change

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
07/05/2019 at 12:51 • Filed to: None

And they recommended $1400 worth of service.

Honestly, the tire price isn’t terrible. The tires were recommended because I’m on my autox rubber and it’s getting low.

Brakes? They are nearly due for new pads, but $240 an axle?! That’s crazy. I’m sure the OEM pads are $50 an axle or less. I laugh at the line above the brakes, it's cutoff but it's a brake fluid flush. I have new fluid, less than 2000 miles. It does not need flushed. $50 for a cabin filter seems typical if not high, and $40 to clean my brake terminal is a bit insulting.

DISCUSSION (34)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 13:04

Cabin air filter shouldn’t be too hard and the filter itself is prob cheap online. I don’t know where it’s located on your FR-S, but I know on my Accent I can change it in 5 minutes...

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 13:09

The brake prices are right in line with what I’ve always been quoted at when I’ve gone to Subaru dealers. I don’t know how long brakes are booked at, but since they’re (supposedly) removing the rotor and resurfacing it, wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t 90 mins of labor per axle.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 13:16

One thing that I will say was better in my PoS Windscar, when V compared to the Mazda5, is how easy it was to change the cabin air filter. In the Mazda you have to take off interior panels to get to the opening. That opening is too small for the filter, so it’s in two pieces that you have to stack on top of each other. It’s easier to do the work with your head in the footwell and your legs across the top of the seat near the head restraint.

The last time I did it I used a cheap filter, and for months things smelled like cat piss if the A/C wasn't running. I have a better filter now, but I just don't have the energy to go through those contortions again...

Jayhawk Jake > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 13:21

I looked it up, it’s easy to get to behind the glovebox. Went ahead and bought one from Oreilly’s for $18. Can probably get one even cheaper online, but I’ll throw it in today and be done with it.

On my Mustang it was a HUGE pain in the ass to get to the filter. I was happy to pay the $40 or whatever it was to have someone else do it.

Jayhawk Jake > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/05/2019 at 13:23

Yeah, including resurfacing the rotors I guess it’s not THAT far off, but it still seems high especially for OEM pads.

It’s not as bad as my Mustang was though. Ford’s quicklane was running a deal, $99 an axle for brakes. I figured that was only specific circumstances and it’d be more for mine, but I asked anyways expecting to hear $200 or $300. They told me for the big brembos it would be $650. I laughed right in the service advisors face.

DipodomysDeserti > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/05/2019 at 13:37

You can buy a brand new OEM rotor for $60-70.

Tekamul > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 13:43

A couple months ago I did slotted rotors and performance pads at all 4 corners for $5 50 on my FR-S. They are super easy on that car, and now it stops like it’s trying to pull out fillings.

Also, don't waste any money on replacing the soft lines with SS. There is virtually no benefit. If you want better feel, add the master cylinder brace.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 13:49

You have to remove thr gas pedal to get at the Volvo's cabin filter. I somehow think this is Ford's doing...

His Stigness > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 13:53

$240 an axle is actually cheap compared to most prices. First off, there is always a mark up on parts since, ya know, the shop needs to make money. And resurfacing rotors takes a whole. They’re probably charging a little over an hour of labor per axle.

And brake fluid is time dependent, not mileage. You could put a million miles on brake fluid in 12 months and it would not need to be replaced for another year.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > DipodomysDeserti
07/05/2019 at 14:26

And that’s why resurfacing rotors is dumb. But the service advisors don’t tell you that, because $$.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 14:28

I make my own cabin air filters out of a household HVAC filter. Costs like $10 and you get four or six outta it depending on how big your filter is.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/05/2019 at 14:36

On my Accent, you open the glovebox, remove two stops from either side of the glovebox that then let it open farther than usual, then the filter is right there!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 14:59

I wish the Mazda was so easy. But it’s just a minor thing compared to how easy the rest of the car has been to work on (for the most part - I still haven't gotten down to the failed horn...)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/05/2019 at 15:02

Neat idea!

Jayhawk Jake > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/05/2019 at 15:27

Wat.

That seems excessively difficult

Jayhawk Jake > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/05/2019 at 15:28

That's a pretty great idea.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/05/2019 at 15:34

Is it the horn itself, or the switch in the steering wheel?

I know to get the actual horn on my car you pretty much have to take the entire front bumper off...

Kinja'd!!!

Pic is from when I was installing my fog lights, but note the horn left of center in the middle there :(

Jayhawk Jake > His Stigness
07/05/2019 at 15:44

I’m all for parts markup, that’s what I do for a living (but on airplanes), but there shouldn’t be a markup between the shop and the parts counter 5 feet away. If the brake pads are $30 over the counter they should be $30 through the shop, unless the parts counter has a terrible deal with the manufacturer where they get none of the standard markup.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 15:53

It’s the horn itself. I killed it by stupidly driving through a flooded section of the freeway. It was a little weak, then stopped working, then came back for awhile before it finally died entirely, probably due to internal rust. I unplugged it and connected a horn that I found on a Volvo at the junkyard, and mounted that horn up high in the engine compartment. The ground didn’t work so I actually have a test lead connecting it to ground. Kinda cheesy, but it’s worked for years and got me through safety inspections. Some day I’ll pull the front off of the car and do it right, but whatever - it works. I also like the sound of this horn since it sounds just like my old Vanagon. I don’t think I want to go back to the stock horn, but just want to relocate it and wire it up properly when I eventually pull the front bumper cover off; I have to do that to fix the hole caused by some idiot with a trailer hitch that backed into me and punctured the bumper :(

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 15:54

Hence why I think it may have been Ford saying “well this is the only airbox/filter/whate ver we have so.... figure out how to fit it in.” Filter is behind the green arrow. It is a rigid filter.

Kinja'd!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/05/2019 at 16:06

That’s one thing I want to do to the Accent - upgrade the horn to something a little beefier. It’s pretty weedy sounding!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 16:10

I always loved the air horns that were on my mom’s Fiat Spider. I’m sure try hat, like everything else on that car, the horns failed as well...

His Stigness > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 16:15

If you’re talking about the parts counter within the same business, then yes, it should be the same price. But if you’re talking about two different businesses, then the prices will not be the same unless you’re talking about an identical part. But, even then, prices can vary ever so slightly. I see it all the time with dealer parts online. There are always a few dealers around the country willing to cut their prices to sell online.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/05/2019 at 16:19

I’ll take it if she doesn’t want it? :P

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/05/2019 at 16:28

Oh, that was over 40 years ago. She traded it in on a 1977 VW Dasher wagon which became my first car. I almost wound up with dad’s horrible Mustang II, but the fates intervened and the dealer took that one in trade on our family’s first Vanagon.

Jayhawk Jake > His Stigness
07/05/2019 at 16:36

I’m saying the same business, as in the dealership’s parts counter.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jayhawk Jake
07/05/2019 at 16:51

Damn I hope that price for brake pads is for the best track pads you can get...

Granted, I am doing my own labor but brakes are rather easy when not dealing with frigging drums. Maybe seized /rusted calipers would be a pain, but I am assuming the price is not including shit like that anyways.

I just spent $300 on super aggressive track pads for the miata and $100 on new rotors (shipped). Street pads on the miata recently bought only cost me $60 (front and rear). Even for my STi (same tire size as you) street pads and rotors were still under $250.

In general I dont grasp the point of resurfacing rotors. Simply replacing them is often cheaper. I guess that’s not so good for the environment but metal should be pretty recyclable at least.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/05/2019 at 18:06

What model is yours? Both of mine are behind the glove box and near the blower fan.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > cmill189 - sans Volvo
07/05/2019 at 18:39

2013

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Jayhawk Jake
07/06/2019 at 18:35

lol

a powerstop pad and rotor upgrade kit for front and rear is $314 on rockauto

I mean I know they’re charging labor but like, pads and rotors take two hours, if that, in your driveway

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/06/2019 at 18:36

I took my Golf to a quick change place (ain’t nobody got time to fuck around with an oil change when a shop does it for cheaper and quicker) and they recommended a new cabin air filter

That car doesn’t even have a cabin air filter!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
07/06/2019 at 18:40

Bold statement on their part. :P

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/06/2019 at 18:44

It pays to know your car a little too well, I guess.

But also, come on VW. The intake for cabin air is under the rain tray, gotta take off like six brittle fasteners and your wiper arms to get to it. It’s not like mice like to make nest and piss in there or anything...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
07/06/2019 at 19:12

Nope, completely impenetrable to mice!