My 2003 Durango has 115k and I took it to a garage to have a tune up done. This is something i could do some of i imagine decisive is hectic right now so thought best to have a garage do it.

They quoted $840 for:
New plug
New air filter
flush brake fluid
Clean fuel injectors
Replace front and rear differential fluid
Replace transfer case fluid

1- is this a fair price (seemed high but what do I know!)
2- how difficult are the plugs and fluid changes? I am reasonably handy and work on my old VW all the time, but do not do the newer auto stuff much.

Thanks for any advice!

 

1) please read https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-d...s-section.html

2) make sure your posts end up in the correct section, ill move this one for you

 

That’s way too high. If you can change the oil & plugs on a VW you can do most of this yourself for around $100. I would have a shop flush the brake fluid only if it’s dark and/or tests bad with a test strip (should be less than $80). And as far as the injector cleaning goes, I would wait until after the plugs and oil are changed to see if you are still having performance/idle issues. Otherwise it’s not doing much more than running a bottle of Techron through the tank.

 

+1 ZCR1

I would do everything myself other than the brake fluid stuff. With the transfer case, make sure you take out the top plug first, because if you drain it and find you cant get the fill plug out, well then your screwed.

 

Sounds really high its something you can do on your own for maybe less than 100

 

A transmission purge is probably in order for it too. I'd do it all myself too. It's pretty easy to change plugs.

 

The bill said that the shop spent 7.8 hours on doing what I had mentioned before. They bill at $90/hour


- New plugs
- New air filter
- flush brake fluid
- Clean fuel injectors
- Replace front and rear differential fluid
- Replace transfer case fluid

My last question, how long SHOULD it take. I don't like to be ripped off when I trust a shop.

I feel it is important to let a shop know when I have been overcharged unjustly and I just want to have a good opinion from you guys on what a reasonable amount of time would be.

Tom

 

here's what i would charge

- New plugs 30 min
- New air filter 1 min
- flush brake fluid 30 min
- Clean fuel injectors 30 min unless there pulling them
- Replace front and rear differential fluid 30 min
- Replace transfer case fluid 10 min

Shop rate is way to high when i had my shop it was $60 an hour.

Is the price with parts ?

 

7.8 hours seems excessive to me. It would likely take me and dad (since dad is a mechanic I always like to have him there just in case) about half that time. There are very few things that I wouldn't feel comfortable working on. Major engine or transmission work are the only things I'd take it in for, mainly because I don't have the room or equipment to really do it.

Ou of curiosity I asked my boss what servicing his 4x4 Nissan Pathfinder runs, for all that he said it usually costs him about 200 or so.

 

This looks about right, give or take how fast your mech is on his feet. At any rate, I think you can negotiate a better bill for your tune up. As mentioned, plugs and filter change are two simple things that you can do yourself in about an hour.