Average Cost of 100K Mile Car Maintenance? (shop, best)

[mama2three]

My Nissan mini van just hit 100,000 miles and I called a local auto shop that came highly recommended on this board. The quote they gave me to have my 90,000 mile maintenance, plus spark plug replacement which is due at 105,000 miles, was $700.

I have no idea if this is high or not and would love any input!

[hammester]

What all did that quote include? We will need that information to determine if it is a good price or not.

[bcattwood]

What he said. There is no such thing as "100K maintenance". Different car makers call for different things at different intervals. Your best bet is to drag out your manual and ask for ONLY the services listed there.

[mama2three]

It includes a full spark plug replacement, as well as the standard new fluid and air filter replacement that is done at 90,000. They said for this vehicle the spark plug replacement is a 2.5 to 3 hour job.

[zinner]

If they are doing everything in the 90k premium maintenance plus plug, it doesn't seem that outrageous. There is a lot of inspect lines, so it's possible they find more issues during the maintenance.

[Bmateo]

Originally Posted by mama2three

It includes a full spark plug replacement, as well as the standard new fluid and air filter replacement that is done at 90,000. They said for this vehicle the spark plug replacement is a 2.5 to 3 hour job.

If it includes belts and hoses, then I think it is reasonable. If not, then it's a bit much.

Also, my car has "hard to get spark plugs too". My mechanic told me "don't fix it if it ain't broke". (Specific to the sparkies, as their failure is slow, not catestrophic.)

But even still, every car is different. My toyota truck was around $1100, my old beater Acura Integra was just over $400, both for similar services. It really depends on the hours it takes to get to various parts.


EDIT: I wouldn't do any of it if it does not include the timing belt (assuming your vehicle has one, and not a chain). That and the hoses are the parts that will likely leave you stranded on the side of the road.

[frankpc]

Originally Posted by Bmateo

If it includes belts and hoses, then I think it is reasonable. If not, then it's a bit much.

Also, my car has "hard to get spark plugs too". My mechanic told me "don't fix it if it ain't broke". (Specific to the sparkies, as their failure is slow, not catestrophic.)

But even still, every car is different. My toyota truck was around $1100, my old beater Acura Integra was just over $400, both for similar services. It really depends on the hours it takes to get to various parts.


EDIT: I wouldn't do any of it if it does not include the timing belt (assuming your vehicle has one, and not a chain). That and the hoses are the parts that will likely leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Nissan V-6 is a chain cam drive arrangement. The tensioners are a bit of a weak point in some years but definitely not a belt drive.
FWIW - We have the 3L Nissan V-6 in our Maxima - I pulled the plugs at 80K because it seemed like a lot of miles. They looked new, gap measured as new, so I re-installed them. I would bet that the plug replacement is a big part of that quote - I'd ask for an itemized quote and see.


Frank

[hammester]

Also what year is your minivan? If it is after 2003 they come with spark plugs that don't even need to be looked at until 100K. I had 150K on mine and they were still perfectly fine. I think $700 is to much without an itemized list to look at.