Apologies for the new thread but just want to throw some estimates out there and get some advice. My dealership is recommending some non-warranty maintenance items be done. I'm sure they need doing; I'm also sure the prices are high. But they've got the car and I'm driving a loaner so there's also the "what the hell, do it" factor. How much do you think I could save at an indie? I don't have the facilities available to do any of these myself:

replace drive belt: $560
flush/replace power steering fluid: $175
intake carbon cleaning: $390

Thanks as always!

 

$150, maybe? I would have them do it if they gave you a loaner already. That alone is worth a few bucks.

 

You mean I'd save $150 going elsewhere? Actually that was kinda my mental over/under point. I was thinking if the savings would be about $150 or less I'd just have them do it.

 

If you can use a turkey baster three times, you can do a power steering flush yourself for just the cost of fluid.
Also, Intake Carbon Cleaning..... which means what exactly? Spraying a can of CRC down the throttle body? There shouldn't BE any carbon in your intake since GDI. Any carbon that would need cleaning would be the intake valves, and $390 for THAT would be an absolute steal.

 

I was thinking the same about the power steering. (idiot question: where's the reservoir?)
In terms of the treatment, its sprayed somewhere in the air intake upstream of the valves (obviously) and is specifically for that area in the intake manifold/valve stems. There are threads on the process on the forum and it's not clear to me where the entry point is, some people have mentioned drilling a hole somewhere. (Also youtube videos of it being done on other cars) If done right, as far as I can tell it takes about an hour and a half all in. Here's a video, start at the 2:30 mark. These guys are knuckleheads but they actually do go through the whole process:

 

Having done the intake valve cleaning myself manually, I can't imagine any kind of spray doing any appreciable cleaning. With the valves closed, I filled each with carb cleaner and let them soak a while. Still had to use dental picks and stiff brushes to scrub the valves clean and then used an aspirator to suck all the "muck" out. That stuff is gets caked on thick and seems rather impervious to solvent. The solvent just softened it up a little bit and made it gooey. And at 50k miles, mine weren't near as bad as many of the photos I've seen posted online. The best method is surely the walnut blasting, but as a DIY'er I don't have that special equipment.

I think those spray cleaners must be a waste of money for an already 10 year old car. Maybe if you ran a can through DIY every 5000 miles from new, then it might work to keep the valves from getting all caked up in the first place. But at $390 every 5000 miles, then you would not be saving any money.

 

flush/replace power steering fluid: $175 If they do it the way it's done in the service manual this is a realistic price. That way, it's a complete pumpthrough of new fluid in the entire system. Pretty much all the old stuff gets pumped out. If they only do a turkey baster type, draining and refreshing the reservoir a few times, it's way overpriced. I did the pumpthrough method in the manual and it worked like a charm. Consider repalcing the reservoir, since it has an integral filter.

intake carbon cleaning: $390: if this is the barely useful intake spray nonsense method, it's a ripoff. If they do a walnut valve cleaning, it's a bargain, since they have 2 headers to remove. Ask them if it's a walnut blast cleaning.

 

Yes, I was thinking you'd save $150, but as subsequent responses to your thread... You need an apples to apples quote. Seems vague exactly how they'll perform each service. I assume a franchise has to perform the service as indicated in their service guides?

 

Mosesbotbol-- good point, and I did get clarification:

Belt: pretty obvious
Power steering: full drain/flush and replace. So yeah, more than just extracting from the reservoir.
Carbon: the process takes about an hour and they use an adaptor through a breather hose and they use a more concentrated product than just the CRC spray can.

Since the car is already there, I asked them to do an oil change as well, thinking they drained the oil-- I've been doing it myself and use an extractor, but gut still says putting it on a lift and draining it is better. HOWEVER, ends up they use an extractor as well, so I don't imagine it's much different. Last I checked, I think the oil change is $240. I end up spending about $90 to do it myself, so my thinking is: have them do the power steering fluid, and do the oil change myself.
Stil on the fence abut the carbon clean.

 

In all fairness to the shop, these components do require service and their fees don’t look outlandish. But for what its worth, the power steering fluid change is as easy as Cee Jay states. Also see Ranchero’s “Let’s fix this green junk” as he goes the extra step and cleans the filter in the reservoir…. I take it you found the reservoir, next to the front side of the drivers side wheel well.

i do agree with you, I’d prefer a proper oil draining too. But running a shop is all about efficiencies…. most shops will deviate from their optimized processes and procedures but expect a premium charge or adjustment.

 

I will say, at least on the 4.2L cars, The belt changes aren’t very difficult, easier than on my X100. I’m even talking the supercharged cars where it’s two belts.

I replaced mine in the spring of 2019 since they were squealing like a banshee, and one looked a little iffy with light cracking. I remember doing it in the driveway and don’t even remember much in the terms of tools, just a long handled half or three eighths breaker bar? It was so easy I barely remember it. I don’t recall pulling any brackets or hoses or anything, just remove belts and replace belts.