They come up with all kinds of crap. Blowing out the filter will damage it. Check it yourself it is easy even for a rookie. Another favorite is the cabin filter if you even have one. I write the date and mileage on the air and cabin filters when I change them.
As said, the diff is in the maintenance part of the owners manual. Some people never change it and see 200,000 miles. I like to change it by the book or a little sooner.
Another favorite are the brakes and battery. Easy money. Really, I have to pull the wheels to check the brake pads. 3 times I was told I needed pads. I pulled the wheels and they were at least half way to new. I get 75,000 to 100,000 miles out of pads. I only replace (so thin can't resurface anymore) rotors it they are noticeably warped, once in 200,000 miles. Of course if you do a lot of stop and go driving or "rest" you foot on the brake pedal you will need both sooner.
Another is decarbonization. If they do not take the plenum off how can they tell. Injector cleaning? If it is running well, BS. Real injector cleaning involves taking them out, very expensive. I asked about the "decarbonization" since it was not in the maintenance schedule. Quote, "There was a service bulletin on it. Me, "Let me see it." Crickets.
I have had them tell me I needed a service I just had done at that same dealership the last time in. When I questioned it, I was told, oh, they go by mileage. ****, check the damn computer record. It will show what all I have had done at any MOPAR dealer over the course of 220,000 miles.
BTW, it is still under the Max Care Lifetime contract. So, $100 covers almost all legitimate repairs other than wear and tear or maintenance. That is no longer offered.
I keep a record (date, mileage, and cost) of ALL service, repairs, add ons, even when I wash and wax my vehicles. I still do it by my own hand.
I have one service writer I almost trust. He knows not to BS me. The others get a little ruffled when I question them or, God forbid, I show them my records.
Sorry about the rant. I cannot stand for folks to be f'ed over. I am a son of a widow who never put up with a service station (the name in those days) that tried to feed her BS. Her parents owned an interstate trucking company so she made it a point of knowing vehicles. My step dad was very knowledgeable of cars and especially scams. He was an army NCO.
Hi all I saw that someone else posted a similar situation with their dealer. Today I was told it was needed at the cost of $539.00 plus charge for oil change & inspection. So now I have to stop them before they do the work. Last year for inspection my truck was in with less than 20K miles they charged me $250.00 and said I needed my air cleaner blown out. I believed them so I went for it. I thought the car was new enough though that it shouldn't need any things other than oil change and inspection. I don't work on my cars/trucks anymore. So, these dealers can pull the wool over my eyes and others with no guilt. I've always wondered if they weren't on the up and up last time (old dealer). But, the dealer is under new ownership now so I thought I could trust them this time, but I think not.
